The awards followed the Spain Talks Conference, themed ‘A Destination Blueprint for Improved Tourism Management’, which brought together senior figures and professionals from the Spanish and British travel industries to explore how destinations can manage growth sustainably while protecting local communities and enhancing visitor experiences.

The Spain Talks Media Awards recognise excellence and innovation among UK journalists, travel trade and content creators who champion Spain as a sustainable tourist destination. Entries were judged across social, cultural, environmental and economic sustainability criteria, with a strong emphasis on geographical and seasonal diversity and fresh perspectives on lesser-known regions of Spain.

Spain Talks Media Awards 2026: Winners and Highly Commended

The Ambassador Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Content Creator)

• WINNER: Amanda O’Brien – Social campaign ‘Spain is Much More’ (@theboutiqueadventurer)

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Vanessa Ball – How to Explore Sierra Norte de Sevilla: Life Beyond Andalucia’s Capital (She Wanders Miles)

The Business Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Travel Trade)

• WINNER: Emma Dooney – ‘Accessibility is seen as a hassle’ – now one country is on a mission to drive change (TTG Media)

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Simon Britchfield – The Secret Spanish Foodie Haven That Will Leave Clients Hungry for More (TTG Media)

The Experience Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Consumer Print/Online – Specific Region, Island or City)

• WINNER: Eddi Fiegel – Exploring Melilla, the Spanish exclave on the north-west coast of Africa (Wanderlust)

• WINNER: Fiona Dunlop – Show us your mussels! A mouthwatering trip to Vigo, Spain’s seafood capital (The Guardian)

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ross Clarke – Land of Lava (Postcards Magazine)

The Media Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Consumer Print/Online – All)

• WINNER: Teresa Machan – Conservation, food and local culture on Gran Canaria (Green Traveller Media)

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Norman Miller – What Santiago’s Many ‘Camino’ Pilgrims Often Miss (BBC Travel)

The awards were judged by Jessica Harvey Taylor, Head of Press at the Spanish Tourist Office (UK); Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability at ABTA; Thomas Power, CEO of Pura Aventura and Joanna Reeve, General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid Travel.

The event also marked Manuel Butler’s final edition of Spain Talks as Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), with TTG CEO Daniel Pearce acknowledging his leadership in advancing industry dialogue around sustainability, accessibility and responsible tourism.

Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome such a strong gathering of travel trade and media professionals to our fourth edition of Spain Talks. Following insightful discussions across our three panels, Spain’s ambition to become a leading sustainable destination for both visitors and residents remains unwavering. Responsible travel continues to sit at the heart of the Spanish Tourist Office’s strategy. I extend my congratulations to all winners and shortlisted entries in this year’s Spain Talks Media Awards. It is a delight to see Spain’s diverse landscapes and cultural richness so well represented by journalists, bloggers and content creators. I would also like to congratulate Amancio López, President of Grupo Hotusa, for his ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable practices.”

Guests at the ceremony enjoyed a selection of Spanish canapés and drinks inspired by Andalusia and Gran Canaria, the destination sponsors of Spain Talks 2026.

Congratulations to all winners, highly commended and shortlisted entrants!

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) published the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024, placing Spain second out of 119 economies in travel and tourism. Spain was given an index rating of 5.18, only surpassed by the United States with a score of 5.24. Index scores are based on five key dimensions, including Enabling Environment, T&T Policy & Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure and Services, T&T Resources, and T&T Sustainability. The United Kingdom was placed in seventh position.

The TTDI 2024 is the second edition of a ranking that evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) series, an iconic ranking of the World Economic Forum that has been in production since 2007. Learn more here

The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) has revealed the winners for Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards, announced at a ceremony at The Conduit, London, on Wednesday 17 April 2024, following Spain’s Sustainability Summit, which featured important discussion and debate on key issues relating to the travel industry and sustainability.

The awards opened by the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr José Pascual Marco Martínez recognised the best travel content by UK writers showcasing themes which correspond to Spain’s sustainable tourism pillars, such as seasonal or geographic diversification, forming a connection with local people and cultures, visiting lesser visited areas and taking part in low-impact activities.

Prior to the media awards, a ‘Special Recognition Award’ was presented by Lyn Hughes, founding editor of Wanderlust Magazine and Miguel Sanz, director of Turespaña, to Luis Gallego Martín, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG), for his part in creating the roadmap to becoming the first global airline group to commit to becoming net zero by 2050 and the first European airline group to set the target of 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030.

The winners and runner-up for each category in Spain’s Sustainable Media Awards 2024 are as follows:

Content from a Content Creator

WINNER: Simon Parker - The Guide to Cycling in Mallorca: Exploring Beaches, Coves, and Mountains | Times Travel (The Times YouTube)

RUNNER-UP: Joanna Nemes - Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Cordoba Patio Festival – Fiesta de Los Patios (Andalucia in My Pocket)

Trade Tourism Feature of the Year (Print/Online)

WINNER: Charlotte Cullinan - How an Iberostar Majorca fam showcased the impact of sustainability (TTG)

RUNNER-UP: Robin Murray - An e-bike tour shows the Spanish city’s less-visited natural side, finds Robin Murray (Travel Weekly)

Online Consumer Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year

WINNER: Emma-Louise Pritchard - I chose a 33-hour ferry over a 2-hour flight to Spain for a slow trip all about nature (Country Living)

RUNNER-UP: Meera Dattani - What a slow trip to northern Spain really looks like (Wanderlust)

Consumer Magazine Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (print) 

WINNER: Stephen Phelan - Hike the Highlands (National Geographic Traveller)

JOINT RUNNER-UP: Ross Clarke - Myths, monoliths and markets: JRNY Magazine (JRNY Magazine)
JOINT RUNNER-UP: Marti Buckley - Hidden Spain: Tiny wine regions (Decanter)

Consumer National Newspaper Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (print) 

WINNER: Chris Haslam - I made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela by rail. This is why (The Times)

RUNNER-UP: Sarah Gordon - The exhilarating road trip around Spain’s most underrated region (The Times)

The judges of Spain’s Sustainable Awards were Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability at ABTA, Thomas Power, CEO of Pura Aventura, Richard Hammond, Founder of Green Traveller, Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel, Manuel Butler, Director of The Spanish Tourist Office in the UK

Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office says:

“Sustainable travel is at the heart of our strategy here at the Spanish Tourist Office and we are delighted to see the variety and quality of the pieces submitted for our inaugural media awards. I would like to congratulate everyone that made the shortlist, and we thank the UK media for illustrating such important topics.”