Travel Weekly took home two national awards for business-to-business journalism at the annual Azbee Awards of Excellence, which is conducted by the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
The Azbee Awards recognizes outstanding work by business, trade, association and professional publications in 59 categories, across print, email and digital publishing.
The cover story "A chill in the air for pride" was awarded national gold in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category. The article, written by Johanna Jainchill, looked at why some members of the LGBTQ+ community, who had been expected to travel to the U.S. for 2025 Pride events in large numbers, were choosing to go elsewhere. A subsequent episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly podcast featuring Jainchill also addressed these issues.
The report "Growing inclusivity at sea," written by Teri West, received national silver in the same category. For this article, West spoke to cruise executives and Black travel advisors about why Black travelers who enjoy cruising don't always feel comfortable onboard, and the benefits for cruise lines that incorporate more inclusive practices.
The winners were awarded in a presentation May 14.
"The Azbees are considered some of the most prestigious awards in trade media," said Ken Shapiro, senior vice president and content director for Northstar Travel Group's Retail Group, which includes Travel Weekly. "Travel Weekly's strong showing is a testament to the professionalism, passion and talent of its staff. The stories they cover address important topics in our industry, and it's gratifying to have their hard work acknowledged."
Travel Weekly also won bronze in the Original Research Article category in the Azbee's Northeast Region contest for Travel Industry Survey. Editors Jamie Biesiada, Brinley Hineman, Johanna Jainchill, Christina Jelski, Robert Silk, Rebecca Tobin and Arnie Weissmann contributed. The regional winners were announced in April.