Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2019 - Winners Announced
Bronze Award Winner Ismail Ingrioui
Awards season is upon us and we are thrilled to, once again, be involved in one of our favourite ceremonies, the Wanderlust Magazine World Guide Awards 2019 (now in its 14th year) which honours the often unsung heroes of travel, who work so hard.
The guides flew in from all around the world and the winners were revealed on Wednesday 02 October at the National Geographic Society in London by Wanderlust founder and editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes, travel expert Simon Calder and photographer and tour guide Paul Goldstein.
The Gold medal went to Chantha Meas from G Adventures, Silver to Nitin Dhami who works for his own company, as well as for global tour operators including ElderTreks Adventures, and joint Bronze to Indika Prasad Kumara who guides for Intrepid and Ismail Ingrioui who until recently, guided in Morocco for G Adventures.
Belfast’s Paul Donnelly took the Top UK Guide for his effortless and insightful tour of his hometown and its turbulent past, while another Brit, Tim Syrad, who guides for his own wine tour company was awarded Top Specialist Guide. Other ‘specialist awards’ saw James Nampaso, who guides for Kicheche in East Africa commended as Top Safari Guide.
Top Tour Leader Guide went to Brett Plotz from Inside Japan Tours, Top History and Culture Guide went to Eireann Marshall who guides in Italy for Andante Travels and the Top Conservation Guide went to Johnny Villalobos from Exodus Travels who guides in Costa Rica.
This year all ten finalists will receive a bursary, that goes to some incredible sustainability and local community projects they are involved in. Craghoppers UK and Malta Tourism Authority have each donated generous amounts to the four medal-winning guides which will be put towards very special projects and charities of their choice, whilst The Derek Moore Foundation is giving five of the ‘Special Award’ winners £500 each (including Top Tour Leader, Top UK, Top Safari, Top Conservation, Top History & Culture) and AITO is giving the Top Specialist Guide a bursary of £500 too.
