Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards

Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards

A celebration of UK Media working towards a future of sustainable travel in Spain

The Spanish Tourist Office is proud to launch the inaugural Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards to celebrate the UK media that best showcase sustainable travel in Spain encompassing social, cultural, economic and environmental sustainability.

The awards will recognise the work of 2022 UK Media that highlights sustainable travel themes within Spain, which could include social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. The categories will recognise the importance of forming a connection with local people and cultures when visiting, whilst also minimising any harmful impact on communities and the environment. Travelling sustainably means exploring lesser visited areas, visiting out of season and taking part in low-impact activities such as cycling and walking. 

2023 categories (UK MEDIA ONLY):

• Consumer National Newspaper Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award (print) 
• Consumer Magazine Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award (print) 
• Online Consumer Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award  
• Sustainable Blog, Vlog or Podcast of the Year Award    

Criteria: 

• All submissions need to have been published/executed between 1 January 2022 and 31 December.
• UK Media Only
• Third parties such as PR companies, tour operators and tourist boards are permitted to nominate individuals.

Those shortlisted to win an Award will be invited to the Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards Ceremony, held on the 26 April 2023 at The Conduit, where the winners will be announced. 

JUDGING PANEL

THOMAS POWER, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF PURA AVENTURA

Having previously guided tour groups throughout Spain, Thomas co-founded the award-winning sustainable tour operator Pura Aventura, which enables clients to experience the highlights of Spain (as well as Portugal and Latin America), away from the crowds. Pura Aventura has been recommended by The Independent, Wanderlust and Condé Nast, amongst others, for innovative sustainability initiatives​, and is known as a voice for certifiably responsible travel by BBC Radio 4, Which?, The Financial Times & CNN. In 2020, Pura Aventura became one of the first UK travel companies to achieve B Corp certification. 

CAROL ROSE, SENIOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER AT ABTA

Under ABTA’s ‘Tourism for Good’ framework, Carol’s role is to deliver ABTA’s strategy for sustainable travel and tourism, across the areas of environment and climate change, destination management, and local impact, human rights, and animal welfare.  Carol comes from the Fashion and Textile industry and has travelled extensively around the globe, working strategically with diverse supply chains to refine design and production techniques.

Additionally, Carol was the Technical Advisor to Defra’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) at WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), delivering on the objectives for the fashion industry to reduce the carbon, water, and waste footprint of clothing on the environment. Carol has also worked as a Principal Net Zero Consultant guiding businesses to develop and implement their sustainability/net-zero strategies. Carol brings a multisectoral approach to the travel and tourism sector, where she believes the lessons learned on her journey will help to support ABTA Members to bring positive change to the industry.

RICHARD HAMMOND, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER  OF GREEN TRAVELLER PRODUCTIONS

Richard Hammond is a writer and videographer specialising in the production of sustainable tourism and travel videos. Richard founded his media production company 'Green Traveller' in 2009 promoting low carbon travel and adventures that have a positive impact on the planet. Previously, he spent 12 years as a sustainable tourism journalist, editor-in-chief of TravelMole, eco travel correspondent for The Guardian, and travel editor for National Geographic Green. He was a consultant to the Travel Channel TV series 'How to Holiday Greener', has co-authored and contributed to books on sustainable travel (Guardian Books, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides), and has written articles for a variety of titles, including National Geographic, Telegraph, The Times, and The Sunday Times. Richard recently published The Green Traveller Book that helps travellers to plan an eco-conscious trip, including ways to see through “greenwashing”.

MANUEL BUTLER, DIRECTOR OF THE SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE (UK)

Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (Turespaña), Manuel Butler Halter, has participated in the highest levels of Spanish tourism promotion for over 25 years and is a strong sustainability advocate. Butler previously served as Tourism Counsellor from 1999 to 2004 for the Spanish Tourist Office. His illustrious career includes time as Counsellor for the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, Head of Turespaña in both Miami and Frankfurt, and Director General at the Turespaña headquarters in Madrid. Moreover, Butler was previously President of the European Travel Commission and rejoined Turespaña in London in 2021 having completed three years as Executive Director of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). UNWTO strives to promote tourism development that supports the conservation of biodiversity as well as the social welfare and the economic security of the host countries and communities.

Under his new leadership, Turespaña in London has set out its strategy to re-establish Spain as Britain’s favourite tourism destination following the pandemic period and associated travel restrictions. Butler is a passionate advocate of sustainable travel and will ensure that his tourism strategy has a long-term and sustainable approach. The strategic focus will be on key niche segments and tourism pillars to help spread the geographical and seasonal distribution of tourism throughout Spain.