Five join AWTE Influential Women list
Five women have joined the prestigious AWTE Influential Women in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Honours list.
The five were: Lorraine Barnes Burton, CEO of the British Travel Awards, Sarah Johnson, creative director for travel PR firm Lotus, and Carol Dray, commercial director for Visit Britain, Simone Buckey, chief executive of ITM, and Deirdre Wells OBE, chief executive of UK Inbound.
They join the existing 65 women on the Honours List’ that was created to celebrate AWTE’s 60th Anniversary year in 2014.
AWTE chair Debbee Dale said: "Every year we are bowled over by the standard of entries for the Chair Awards. This year’s shortlist made the job of choosing a winner extremely challenging, as all of the women on the list are raising the bar in their respective fields within travel and tourism.
"Looking at the Honours List we are also delighted to welcome these five inspirational women to this very special group of inspirational women in the travel industry. They will now go on to nominate five up and coming women from the travel industry who will be given a free, membership to the AWTE."
The awards were presented at a lunch in London this week, where the headline sponsor was the BTAs.
Brighter Group received The Company Award, intended to celebrate a business’ commitment to gender equality by encouraging female staff to have the opportunity to reach their potential.
The Business Impact Award, designed to award the heights of innovation in business, went to Kirsty Sando from Heathrow Express, while the Honorary Award went to Lindsay Garvey Jones, from Holiday Extras.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026