THE SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE SPAIN TALKS AWARDS
The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) has revealed the winners of The Spain Talks Media Awards at The Conduit, London, on Wednesday 30 April 2025, following The Spain Talks Conference, where leading travel industry figures from the UK and Spain shared strategies and best practices for a more sustainable tourism future.
The awards, opened by Manuel Butler, Director of the STO (UK), and Miguel Sanz, Director General of Turespaña, and hosted by Jessica Harvey-Taylor, Head of Press at the STO, recognised best sustainable travel writing by UK media. Content was recognised that showcased themes corresponding to Spain’s sustainable tourism pillars, including seasonal or geographic diversification, connecting with local people and cultures, discovering lesser visited areas and travelling with a lower carbon footprint.
Prior to the media awards, the Tourism Personality of The Year Award was presented by Lyn Hughes, Founding Editor of Wanderlust Magazine, and Miguel Sanz, Director General of Turespaña, to Simon Pedro Barcelo, Co-Chairman of Barceló Corporación. The award recognised the group´s long established commitment to sustainability. Recently this has included its new Barcelo REGEN strategy, launched to create a positive impact and lead in regenerative tourism. Initiatives include a commitment to local employment, promotion and visibility of relationships with local suppliers and businesses and the protection and enhancement of the cultural and natural heritage of Barcelo hotel destinations.
Manuel Butler and Miguel Sanz, alongside Lyn Hughes, then presented Turespaña’s Most Sustainable Tour Operator to Spain Awards recognising operators for their commitment to promoting responsible tourism to Spain. The Bronze Certificate was awarded to G. Adventures, The Silver Certificate to Pura Aventura and The Gold Certificate to Exodus Adventure Travels.
The winners and runner-up for each category in The Spain Talks Media Awards 2025 are as follows:
The Ambassador Award for the Sustainable Content Creator Feature of the Year
WINNER: Abi King - Inside the Travel Lab
Trade Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (Print/Online)
WINNER: Teresa Machan - This is how you completely reinvent Benidorm for your clients (TTG)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Debbie Ward - Show your clients a more adventurous side to Tenerife (TTG)
Online Consumer Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year
WINNER: Chris Haslam - The European destinations broken by tourism (and how we fix them) (The Times)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Cathy Robinson - Want to see Japan's cherry blossom without the long-haul price tag? Try Murcia (The I)
Consumer Magazine Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (print)
WINNER: Orla Thomas - Paella villages, cycle paths, and wetland boating on a slow tour of the Valencia region (National Geographic Traveller)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Robin Catalano - Explore Lanzarote through an artist's eyes (Wanderlust)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jessica Vincent - Rewilding central Spain’s Iberian Highlands (Wanderlust)
Consumer National Newspaper Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (print)
WINNER: Chris Haslam - Islands of the gods (The Times)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Emma Featherstone - Peak position: hike off the tourism trail (The I)
The judges of the Spain Talks awards were Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability at ABTA, Thomas Power, CEO of Pura Aventura, Richard Hammond, Publishing Director of Green Traveller, Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director EMEA 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 very heart of the Spanish Tourist Office´s strategy and we are delighted to see the variety and quality submitted for our third media awards. With the expansion of this year’s awards to five categories that highlight and celebrate initiatives promoting responsible growth in the industry, we are thrilled with the diversity of topics and regions covered by journalists, bloggers and content creators alike. Congratulations to everyone who made the shortlist and thank you to the UK media for showcasing important sustainability initiatives in Spain. I’d also like to congratulate Simon Pedro Barcelo, Co-Chairman of Barceló Corporación, for his commitment to implementing sustainable practices.”