Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Travel + Leisure Entry Title: Travel + Leisure Entry Credit: Jacqueline Gifford Judge Comment: Inspiring photography, beautiful writing, informational details and a dose of fun create a publication that’s immersive and varied. A mix of service-driven shorter stories introduce readers to places such as an underwater sculpture park in Grenada or kid-friendly spots in Paris, while immersive features trek to Brazil, Thailand and Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The “Intelligent Traveler” section is especially smart with plentiful travel tips and trends. Travel + Leisure uses all the tools in its publication arsenal – a variety of story formats plus maps, illustrations and infographics that add texture and detail. The constant is an expert, often playful voice and the how-to details to get you there.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Condé Nast Traveler Entry Title: Condé Nast Traveler | May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct 2024 Entry Credit: Jesse Ashlock Judge Comment: With the in-the-know experience of a seasoned globetrotter, Condé Nast Traveler guides readers on a journey. In a single issue, experience the lasting spirit of Istanbul, take in the grandeur of ancient rock formations in Chad and tour the best of the Philadelphia food scene, plus all the necessary “where-to-stay” details. The beautiful, lush photography grabs your attention while the personalities of the writers invite you to stay. The people encountered while traveling have a huge place on these pages as well, and the notion of “slow travel” – to stop and enjoy the unexpected – emerges as a recurring ethos. Besides, as one writer contends, the most memorable part of travel often is when plans go awry.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Afar Entry Title: Afar Magazine Entry Credit: Julia Cosgrove Judge Comment: A focus on the unexpected, plenty of personalities and rich photos make Afar a true travelers’ resource. The “25 places to visit in 2025” package is especially well done. The variety of visuals keeps it moving while the writing tempts with lively sights and experiences – so it’s a good thing each destination includes the needed “make-it-happen” details. Essays about traveling with aging parents keep it real while recognizing travel sometimes isn’t as pretty as the pictures. All-around, the stories are robust and help readers feel equipped to explore the world like a local.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Ori Entry Title: Ori Entry Credit: Kade Krichko, Jessie Gallagher, Josh Malczyk Judge Comment: The pages of Ori are full of life. One after the other features starkly beautiful photographs, sometimes from perspective-dizzying angles that emphasize a landscape’s clean lines and sometimes gritty close-ups meeting locals face-to-face. Stories take readers places they might not expect, whether that’s sitting down to play backgammon in Beirut or exploring the people of Cuba’s underground pirated internet. The writing is rich in detail and full of uncommon delights, from sharing a cup of Moroccan tea to perusing old postcards to following a woman making waves in a West Papua annual diving tradition.
