The Special Contribution Award is presented by the Travel Media Awards organisers and advisory panel for lifetime contribution to the field of travel media. The recipient of the 2022 Special Contribution Award will be announced on 25 July.

Past recipients have included Ade Adepitan, Paralympic medalist, TV presenter and journalist; Levison Wood, adventurer, author and photographer; Hilary Bradt, founder of Bradt Travel Guides; Lisa Minot, travel editor of The Sun; chef and television presenter Rick Stein; journalist and broadcaster Michael Portillo, and bestselling author and TV presenter Simon Reeve.