‘A Taste of Travel’ Region’s most talented travel photographer revealed

Radisson Royal Hotel, in partnership with Lonely Planet Traveller magazine and supported by flydubai, have revealed the winners of a UAE-wide travel photography competition to find the country’s most talented amateur photographer.

Marking the launch of Lonely Planet Traveller magazine in the Middle East, the competition and exhibition, ‘A Taste of Travel’, asked aspiring travel photographers to post their top travel snapshots onto the Radisson Royal or Lonely Planet Traveller Facebook sites. Over 400 entries were received during the two months’ submission period, themed around four categories; ‘nature’, ‘architecture’, landscape’ and ‘people’.

Last night, the winners of each category were awarded at the opening of the ‘Taste of Travel’ exhibition at the Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai.
• Nature – Enjo Mathew
• Architecture – Sanjay Pradhan
• Landscape – Leila Cranswick �
• People – Shaikha Al Khayyal
• Wild Card: Social Media – Celso Creer

The grand prize was awarded to Leila Cranswick for her stunning landscape shot. Leila won a trip for two, to the beautiful capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi, with three nights’ accommodation in the five-star Radisson Blu Iveria, Tbilisi, plus flights courtesy of flydubai, Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline.

There were also three prizes for the runners-ups, including a weekend stay at the Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah, luxury stays at Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai, and photography equipment from Canon.

The winners were chosen by a diverse and experienced judging panel, including the editor of Lonely Planet Traveller magazine from the Middle East, and experts from Gulf Photo Plus.

Editor of Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East, Georgina Wilson-Powell commented, “It’s a testament to the wealth of local talent and enthusiasm for beautiful photography, that our first ever photo competition has had around 400 entries, many of them of an impressively high standard. People are inspired by travel photography, and at Lonely Planet Traveller we aim to showcase the best images every month, from both international photographers and our fabulous local ones.”

The ‘A Taste of Travel’ exhibition features a collection of stunning photographs from around the world, borrowed from the Lonely Planet archives, plus the winners of the amateur snapper’s competition.

The exhibition opens to the public from 13th February until the 7th March.
Location: Radisson Royal Hotel, Origami space
Entry: Free
Timings: Accessible 24 hours a day
Enquiries: Tel: 04 308 0000

Taste of Travel is brought to you by Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai and Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East magazine and Fly Dubai.
Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai
Rising high in the city’s skyline, the shimmering glass exterior of the 51-storey Radisson Royal Hotel is a stylish landmark along the bustling Sheikh Zayed Road. The hotel is perfectly situated in cosmopolitan Dubai, from exploring the sand dunes to shopping in the city, everything is close by. This lavish hotel is just minutes away from the tallest tower in the world the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall. Only 15 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport and within walking distance of the World Trade Centre Metro Station. In addition to its ideal location, the Radisson Royal features three restaurants, two bars, a gym, an outdoor pool and a spa.

Radisson Blu Hotel,Tbilisi
First-class amenities and services promise indulgence and enjoyment for guests staying at the 5* Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi. Guests can enjoy the convenience of a business centre and the relaxation of the infinity lounge pool, plus an onsite casino. Spectacular rooms and views ensure the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi is the number one hotel in town.

Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East
Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East is the UAE’s first international consumer travel magazine. Building on 40 years of travel experience, and often regarded as the world’s leading source of travel advice, the Lonely Planet Traveller brand is one that is trusted all over the world to bring readers insightful, inspiring and intelligent articles on both famous and up and coming destinations. Part of Lonely Planet Traveller’s award-winning appeal lies in its use of stunning imagery, which invites armchair travellers to delve into a country from the comfort of their own home. Having run for 4 years in the UK, this market leading magazine will launch in the UAE in 2013.

flydubai
flydubai is Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline, offering affordable fares to more than 50 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Subcontinent, Asia, CIS and Central & Eastern Europe. The airline also offers convenient connections across its network to help more people travel more often for less.