Bill Fink’s travel writing has received over two dozen awards and honors from national organizations and publications, including selection as a “notable story” in the Best American Travel Writing series, and multiple SATW Lowell Thomas Gold Awards.
2019: Society of American Travel Writers, SATW West
Judged by University of Missouri School of Journalism
– “Best North American Travel Story“ Gold
The Stairways of Pittsburgh, Southwest Airlines Magazine 10/2018
– “Best International Travel Story“ Silver
The Twilight Zone of Transnistria Adventure.com 1/2018
Travel Classics Competition
Best story 2019: Beneath the Surface: the Murals of Montreal
Best story 2015: B.C. Billy–the Spirit of the Canadian Coast
2016: Lowell Thomas Gold Award: Best Travel News/Investigative Reporting
– To Hunt or Not to Hunt: Yahoo Travel
Society of American Travel Writers Western Chapter:
Best Magazine Story: 2013, 2014, 2015
Best Travel Column: 2015– Yahoo Travel’s Road Trips
Best Newspaper Travel Feature: 2012
Best Newspaper Travel Short Story: 2012
2013 Society of American Travel Writers Western Chapter
– Gold: Best Magazine Story: Interior Motive on Bora Bora
– Bronze: Newspaper Travel Story: Dubai, Oasis or Mirage?
2012 Society of American Travel Writers Western Chapter
– Gold: Best Newspaper Feature Travel Story:Colombia’s Ciudad Perdida
– Gold: Best Short Newspaper Travel Story: Home in Hiroshima
– Silver: Short Magazine Story: Glacier Park Adventures
2011: The Best Travel Writing Travelers’ Tales anthology
– “All in the Same House” Story of visiting Hiroshima
2010 BATW Best Newspaper Travel Story
* On the Transsiberian Railroad “Gold” award from the Bay Area Travel Writers
2010 BATW Best Magazine Travel Story
* Battle for a Philippine Bus Seat “Silver” award from Bay Area Travel Writers group
2009 SATW Lowell Thomas Gold Award: Best Newspaper Travel Story
* Magic Realism of Colombia
Society of American Travel Writers award from UNC Journalism faculty
– Judges Comments
2009 Best of Lonely Planet Travel Writing
* The Road to Nowhere (Thailand) Published in Lonely Planet anthology
2009 Bradt Travel Writing Competition: Shortlisted Selection
* The Robe (Morocco) selected in worldwide Bradt competition
2008 Deloitte Consulting Research Papers: Top 10
* Corporate Manufacturing Strategies National White Paper competition
2007 Best American Travel Writing: “Notable Story of 2007”
* Accidentally Enjoying Albania Listed as “notable story” in annual anthology
2007 Bay Area Travel Writers–Best Newspaper Travel Story
* Accidentally Enjoying Albania
– Judge’s Comments
2006 Travelers Tales- Best Travel Writing
* Reading Between the Arches Annual travel writing anthology from Travelers Tales
2004 Book Passage Travel Conference: Best Essay
* Reading Between the Arches Grand Prize winner from travel writing conference