Swindon Business News travel writer Anne Gorringe has been named as one of the winners of the prestigious Business Travel Awards, collecting her trophy last night at a glittering ceremony in the heart of London.
Anne, 
scooped the Best Newcomer title for two articles, one of which appeared on the Swindon Business News website and its sister sites Bristol Business News and Bath Business News at the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Business Journalism Awards at the luxury five-star May Fair Hotel.
Anne’s victory places her among the elite of travel journalism – other winners included The Independent’s Simon Calder, and writers for national newspapers and broadcasters and the travel trade press.
Anne said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I had no idea I was even on the shortlist. At the drinks reception before the awards I got chatting to three people at the bar who turned out to be three of the judges. When I introduced myself, not a flicker of recognition registered on their faces so I wrongly assumed that my articles hadn’t made much of an impact. I had no idea I was on the short-list – let alone was up for an award!
“The competition was extremely stiff as these awards have been going now for nine years. The judges said there were more entries this year than ever before. I’m so delighted to have won.”
Although a highly-experienced journalist, Anne has only been writing travel articles for the past 18 months, since contributing to Swindon Business News and its sister websites.
The judges said they loved Anne’s article describing how business travellers should not be concerned about travelling to London during the Olympics, together with a second feature on a joint scheme between the First Great Western and Destination Bristol, offering conference travellers in the city cut-price
Anne is now invited to a special celebration lunch in January with members of the judging panel.
It is Anne’s second trophy this year. In February she won the Online Travel Writer of the Year Award as voted by the Italian Tourist Board.
