Travel trade photographer dies after contracting Covid-19
World Travel Market has paid tribute to industry photographer Alastair McDavid, who has died three weeks after contracting Covid-19.
Alastair was well-known in the travel industry and was the owner of Digital Asset Lab, the company responsible for the WTM Portfolio’s Media Libraries. Previously, he ran Thistle Photography, which worked extensively on travel trade photoshoots.
He died on Thursday, April 30.
WTM press and PR manager Natalia Hartmann said: "On behalf of the WTM Portfolio team and WTM photographers, we want to express our most sincere sympathies.
"Alastair was a highly valuable and respected professional, and the effects of his passing are already being felt here by us.
"He was a fantastic photographer, manager and entrepreneur who understood the meaning of the word ‘team’.
"Alastair was the glue that stuck the WTM photographers together and made for a lovely collegiate atmosphere. He will be very sadly missed, and WTM will not be the same without him.
"He made many significant contributions to the way the WTM Portfolio store images. He helped the marketing, public relations, conference and photography teams move forward in numerous ways giving his opinions before, during and after the exhibitions.
"For those of us that had the privilege of calling him ‘friend’ outside of work, we were humbled by his kindness and compassion to everyone around him.
"He will be greatly missed, and his death saddens everyone here.
"Our sincere condolences for the family. Alastair was a remarkable man."
Fellow photographer Matt Sprake said: "Alistair was a good man, always happy to help and will be sadly missed. WTM will never be the same again."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026