The Travel Media Awards advisory panel consists of leading travel businesses and specialist travel PR companies, and plays an important role in shaping the awards.
The panel also provides invaluable knowledge and insight into the travel media sector, helping to ensure the awards remain a must-enter event for travel writers, broadcasters and photographers.

Anthony Leyens, Chairman, APL Media Ltd

Anthony Leyens is Chairman and Co-Founder of the multi-award-winning APL Media Ltd, publisher of National Geographic Traveller (UK) Travel Media Awards, ASTA and a wide portfolio of lifestyle initiatives with national newspapers.

With over four decades of experience across tour operating and international media, he is renowned for his expertise in luxury travel, branded content, strategic partnerships and global events. He is widely respected for creating influential media platforms and delivering high-impact international collaborations.

Giles Harper, Managing Director, Travega

Giles Harper is Managing Director of Travega, established in 2014 and offering a wide range of travel marketing solutions to both business and leisure travel organisations, revenue generation for a number of leading UK travel industry events, alongside bespoke event creation.

Co-founder of the Travel Media Awards, and Ambassador and fund raiser for the travel charity Just a Drop.

Emma Cashmore, Founder & Managing Director, Axis Travel Marketing

Emma is the Founder and Managing Director of Axis, one of Europe’s leading tourism representation and communications agencies, with a presence across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and Scandinavia.

With over 20 years’ experience in travel and tourism, Emma has worked with destinations, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and corporate travel brands. She founded Axis to bring fresh thinking, strategic insight, and authentic storytelling to tourism marketing, helping clients build stronger brands, protect their reputation, and inspire meaningful connections with travellers.

Jonathan Sloan, Director, Sloan Squared Travel Marketing

Jonathan is a travel, tourism, PR and marketing specialist with almost 30 years' experience helping destinations, hotels, airlines, attractions and tour operators grow their profile and achieve commercial results.

Before joining Sloan Squared in 2025, Jonathan spent 17 years at Hills Balfour, including a decade as Managing Director, before moving to MMGY Global as EVP of Europe & Middle East Strategy following its acquisition of the agency. He later established and led the company's UK Media & Creative division.

Jules Ugo, Founder, Palma & Partners

With almost thirty years in the communications landscape Jules is one of the most respected and well-known practitioners in the industry.

As Founder of recently launched Palma & Partners she brings a new approach to the tourism and hospitality sector offering strategy and GEO-enabled comms based on understanding that AI and changing consumer behaviour has transformed not only the way we search travel, but also what we want from our travel experiences.

As CEO of LOTUS she grew the business into the leading travel and tourism integrated communications agency in the UK. She also created and oversaw an ambitious expansion plan taking the business into new markets, including Saudi Arabia, where she was the first person to open an independent agency, led wholly by Saudi women.

Featured annually in PR Week’s Power Book in the top five for the sector Jules has served on the PRCA Council, been Vice Chair of the PRCA Travel & Tourism group and is a regular judge for industry awards. She has sat on the advisory committee of the Travel Media Awards since its inception.

As a commentator she has spoken across the globe at events including Future Hospitality Summit, Arabian Travel Market, ITB, World Travel Market and Tourism Innovation Summit.

Maria Pieri, Editorial Director, APL Media Limited

With more than 25 years’ experience in publishing and media, Maria Pieri is Chief Operating Officer and Editorial Director at APL Media, overseeing National Geographic Traveller (UK) and its associated brands, content marketing and its wider brand portfolio.

A former Chair of the British Society of Magazine Editors and BSME Editorial Director of the Year 2025, Maria also oversees the Travel Media Awards, which are owned and operated by APL Media, leading the team responsible for delivering and developing the awards each year.

She co-founded the Travel Media Awards’ Step Up initiative to support emerging talent, reflecting her commitment to championing excellence and nurturing the next generation of travel media professionals.

Amy Skelding, Consultant

With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Amy is a leading travel PR specialist having worked with some of the UK’s best known destinations and brands.

Lauren Khawam, Senior Communications Manager, easyJet Holidays

Lauren Khawam leads the Communications function at easyJet holidays, one of the UK’s leading package holiday provider.

Lauren oversees and manages the company’s public relations strategy and activities, and its internal communications programme.

Clare Copperwheat, Senior Associate Director , MMGY Grifco PR

Clare has over a decade of expertise in luxury travel PR. She has delivered successful campaigns for a diverse range of clients, including international hotel groups, boutique family-owned properties, award-winning spas, safari operators, villa specialists, and global destinations.

With a background in journalism, Clare combines editorial insight with strategic PR acumen. She excels in developing and executing creative communications strategies, securing high-impact media coverage, organising and hosting press trips, and cultivating meaningful partnerships.

A trusted advisor to clients and a mentor to junior colleagues, Clare is recognised for her ability to craft compelling narratives, build strong media relationships, and deliver measurable results that elevate brands in the competitive luxury travel sector.

Kate McWilliams, CEO, LOTUS

Kate McWilliams is a founding member of travel consultancy LOTUS, a two-time winner of TravMedia’s PR Professional of the Year and an honouree of the 2026 PR Power Book (top 5 in travel).

She has led numerous award-winning campaigns across the global travel, tourism and hospitality sectors building authority and visibility for destinations, travel associations, industry leaders and hospitality brands. Kate is a founding member of Spain’s travel industry advisory board on accessibility, and a Trustee of the LATA Foundation. She is also a regular commentator on travel industry issues.

Victoria Trott, freelance travel writer

An alumnus of Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Victoria worked in PR before moving into travel writing almost 20 years ago. She has written for a wide range of national and international media and contributed to guidebooks for most major publishers. She's a graduate in French and Spanish and these days mostly writes about France and Belgium as well as Wales, where she lives.

Lottie Gross, freelance travel writer, Talking Travel Writing

Lottie Gross is a travel writer with well over a decade in the industry and bylines at major national newspapers and magazines under her belt. She writes for the likes of The Telegraph , Times , i paper and AFAR , and is the author of several dog-friendly travel guidebooks for Bloomsbury and Bradt. She is also the co-founder of the respected Talking Travel Writing newsletter, a Substack that helps demystify the travel media for freelance writers.