Award-winning radio show

The US edition of Around the World Travel Radio (parent show of the Aussie edition which I produce and host each week) has won the Best of Travel & Dining in Radio gold from the IRHAS International Restaurant & Hotel Awards, the Oscars of the travel world.

The competition for the coveted award included finalists The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer, Chef’s Challenge, The Food Programme, from cities and stations such as NYC, Sydney and the BBC.

Congratulations to US show hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards (pictured above) and Producer Graham M. Brown and Assistant Producer Linda Jorgensen. Keep listening to segments from the US-based show in the Australian edition of Around the World!

Radio show nominated for international award

I'm proud to announce that the US-based parent show of my travel radio show, 'Around the World' has been nominated for the 'best of travel and dining in radio' award in the 2008 Irhas International Restaurant & Hotel Awards.

The show, which originates out of the studios of KZSB AM 1290 in Santa Barbara (California) will be competing for the coveted 'gong' with co-nominees The Food Programme (BBC Radio 4, United Kingdom); The Travel Show With Arthur Frommer (WOR 710 HD New York, United States) and Chef's Challenge (702 ABC Sydney, Australia).

For many years I have hosted and produced the Australian spin-off of the US show, featuring locally produced segments as well as grabs from the US show. I'm also the Aussie correspondent for the nominated US show, so have a close connection with the program. Thus we will keep our fingers crossed on the awards night, November 16, at the home of the 'Golden Globes', the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The star-studded event will be hosted by Mark DeCarlo from 'Taste of America' on the Travel Channel.

We will keep you posted on the outcome of the awards. Meanwhile, my congratulations on being nominated to the US team, led by amiable co-hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards.

For more details on the US edition of Around the World travel radio log on to www.aroundtheworldradio.com

Australia triumphs at World Tourism Awards

Australia had a night of triumph at the inaugural World Travel Awards Australasia Ceremony at Sydney’s Observatory Hotel on Tuesday, June 10.

They emerged with a fistful of overall category prizes including Qantas, who scooped the coveted Leading Airline and Sydney, which captured the much sought Destination honour.

But there was also major acclaim for New Zealand, the Cooks Islands, French Polynesia and Fiji.

Australia walked away with 13 of the main awards from across the region while New Zealand’s The Spire, Queenstown took the Leading Boutique Resort as well as Leading Ski Resort. The InterContinental Hotel in Wellington was awarded the Leading Business Hotel.

Given the stiff competition on the night, perhaps the biggest achievement was reserved for the smaller destinations.

French Polynesia, for example, was delighted to take the Leading Spa Resort with the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa.

The Fiji delegation also celebrated by becoming the first winners of the new category of Leading Green Hotel - presented to the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort.

The unique charm of the Cook Islands’ Aitutaki helped it to win not only the Leading Beach at One Foot Island, but also the Leading Boutique Resort at the Pacific Resort.

A total of 429 travel companies and businesses were nominated for the event.

In all, there were a total of 52 award categories including travel operators, airlines, hotels, spas, resorts and destinations in Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Micronesia Federated State, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

All the winners for Australasia are listed on the World Travel Awards website www.worldtravelawards.com