What’s in this issue of Friday Fix?
- Welcome from Sarah
- Summer Party RSVP reminder
- Awards 2025 reminder: A message from Stuart Render
- BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner Charity – REMINDER
- Sri Lanka coverage
- Events for Manchester Members
- Congratulations to Becki Enright
- The Wonders of Cappadocia webinar – hosted by Shebs Alom
- Applicants to be gazetted
Hello, Guildies near and far,
How are you all? I hope you’ve had a super week. I returned from Boston on Tuesday, after a fab few days with the wonderful Renate Ruge, who has an incredible ability to stay positive through any hiccup … and on her return to the UK, there were definitely a few. Cheers for being such a star, Renate!
Speaking of stars, the launch of DK’s first Albania guidebook, co-authored by Tristan Rutherford and Suzy Pope, was held at the Albanian Embassy on Wednesday night. Delicious food, dangerously quaffable wine and, of course, a superb achievement from two of our brilliant members. Congratulations to you both!
I hope you all have a happy and relaxing weekend ahead, and to see some of you at the Summer Party next week (a reminder on details below).
Take care,
Sarah
Summer Party Reminder
We’re hoping to see you at the Guild’s Summer Party, and 6pm today is your last chance to RSVP with any dietaries (otherwise it’s gruel and a crust in the corner for you)
Date: Tuesday, 22 July
Time: 5.30 – 9pm
Location: Ellen Kensington 18-26 Barkston Gardens, London SW5 0EN
RSVP: Alicia.Sheber@BGTW.org
A message from Stuart Render, Awards Director
The number of nominations for the BGTW International Tourism Awards is very low. We always receive a flurry of nominations at the last minute, and let’s hope we do this year, otherwise we may not have any ITA successes to celebrate later in the year. The closing date for nominations is 27 July, a week on Sunday. So please do think about tourism projects you’ve visited that have opened or started in the last three years, and which you feel deserve greater publicity, and nominate them. Remember, if your project is shortlisted you get a comp ticket to Gala Awards Dinner in November. Here’s the link.
There’s better news for the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards, and thank you to members who have already entered. But again, numbers are lower than they usually are at this stage in proceedings. Don’t forget, winners of the four portfolio categories receive £1,000, and winners of the other categories receive £500. The closing date for entries is 4 August. Here’s the link: Here’s the link.
Make sure you’re logged into the BGTW members’ page to access the entry form!
BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner Charity – REMINDER
Each year the BGTW selects a charity to support at the dinner. It is a hugely effective way to get the chosen charity both money (we get up to £4000 on the night), and enormous exposure.
Charities can be national or international. Just a few of the previous very varied charities include:
Family Holiday Charity
Tusk
Joliba Trust
3H Foundation
The Not Forgotten Association
Please nominate your chosen charity here.
Sri Lanka coverage
For those who attended the Sri Lanka convention, please could you forward your coverage to Charlotte asap – or, if your work has not yet been published, get in contact with an update/ ETA.
Events for Manchester Members
Manchester members! Don’t forget that there’s a meet-up taking place on 6th August at the Treehouse Hotel, Manchester. Please email Alicia Sheber for more details and to RSVP.
For those wanting to stay overnight, the hotel is offering a media rate.
King room: £70 room only, or £85 B&B
Studios Suite: £96.00 room only, or £111 B&B
Also in Manchester, Daniel Stables will be discussing his new book, Fiesta, at House of Books & Friends on 15 August at6pm.Tickets are £5 or £20 including the book.
Congratulations to Becki Enright
Very warm congratulations to Becki Enright, whose Lonely Planet Guide to Prague and Czechia was published last week. A huge achievement, Becki – well done!
The Wonders of Cappadocia webinar – hosted by Shebs Alom
“With its surreal landscapes, rich Islamic heritage, and cave hotels steeped in history, Cappadocia isn’t just beautiful – it’s a must-include for your Türkiye travel itineraries.
‘The Wonders of Cappadocia is a special webinar designed to inspire travel professionals and highlight the region’s first halal-certified luxury stay.”
Date: 24.07. 2025
Time: 2pm – 3pm BST Live via Zoom – register here
Applicants to be gazetted
We have 3 applicants for your consideration. ‘Gazetting’ means you, as current members, have 28 days to review new applicants and advise Membership Director, Sarah Rodrigues, or BGTW Administrator, Charlotte, if there are reasons why the Guild should not approve them for membership.
Melanie O’Shea
A highly experienced writer and editor, Melanie has spent twenty years as a freelance travel journalist. With her family in tow, she’s wandered the world, capturing the smallest details in the biggest settings and bringing far shores to life in print and online. In conjunction with various personal travel blogs, her work has appeared within numerous platforms and publications, from BBC Countryfile to Delicious Magazine, Secret Trips and The Times.
Alongside this, Melanie has joined forces with award-winning travel teams working with their content creators to refresh, expand and boost their brochure copy and web content. She is a regular contributing editor for travel content on The Good Schools Guide website, and has written extensive blogs, itineraries and destination guides for bespoke travel brands: Audley Travel, Kapara Collection and Red Dot Tours.
See some examples of Melanie’s work here
Joshua Zukas
Prioritising depth over breadth, I write exclusively about Vietnam, a country I’ve called home since 2013. I’ve contributed to nine guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel and Hardie Grant, and I’ve authored my own Bradt Guide to the country (published in August 2025). I’ve also taken part in Lonely Planet’s mentoring scheme, where seasoned authors coach fresh, local writers to help expand the breadth of perspectives in their guidebooks.
When it comes to magazines and websites, you’ll find my byline in some of the world’s top publications, including The Economist, Wallpaper, Business Insider, Interior Design Magazine, Michelin Guide, Adventure.com, Hidden Compass and Asia’s first-rate in-flight magazines. I also design audio city walking tours in Vietnam for VoiceMap.
Check out Josh’s website here
Jay Cannon
I am the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sail Away Magazine, the UK’s most candid and fiercely independent cruise publication. Over the past two years, I have spearheaded unfiltered investigative features, bold opinion pieces, and in-depth ship reviews that put passengers first and challenge cruise industry spin.
Under my editorial leadership, Sail Away has grown its subscriber base, expanded into a successful podcast (Sail Away: Uncensored), and built a strong social media following, including collaborations with leading British travel influencers and journalists.
My work has been featured in national outlets and shared across major cruise and travel communities. Beyond traditional print, I have produced and presented video reviews, destination features, and interviews with industry insiders, including renowned naval architect Stephen Payne OBE.
I remain committed to honest, engaging travel journalism that gives readers the full picture — readers deserve no less.
Read some example’s of Jay’s work here
