AWARDS

2021 Newsweek Future of Travel Award Winner for Storytelling

Writing

2019 Bessie Awards – Women in Travel Summit (WITS)

WINNER – Most Impactful Piece of Writing – The color of adventure: When will travel show more diversity?

2019 Traveler’s Tales Solas Awards

Honorable mention – “Going the way of the qivittoq“

2018 Pushcart Prize – Nomination

Panorama Journal – “Going the way of the qivittoq”

2018 Lowell Thomas Awards (SATW)

Category 118:  Travel Book
GOLD: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, “Due North: Collection of Travel Observations,” Geotraveler Media Sweden

2018 NATJA Awards

Category 147: Culinary Travel – Online Publication
GOLD – Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “Seal soup for dinner? Get to know Greenland’s Inuit cuisine,” Adventure.com

Category 102: Destination Travel – Online Publication
SILVER: Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “Inside Ilulissat, Greenland, the iceberg capital of the world,” Adventure.com

Category 104: Illustrated Story – Online Publication
BRONZE: Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “Beyond Petra: Hiking borderlands and finding community in northern Jordan,” Adventure.com

Category 175: Photo Essay, Print
BRONZE: Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “In Pictures: Greenland,” National Geographic Traveller

Category 144: Historical Travel – Online Publication
BRONZE: Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “Beyond Petra: Hiking borderlands and finding community in northern Jordan,” Adventure.com

Category 142: Sports, Recreation and Adventure – Online Publication
Honorable Mention: Lola Akinmade Åkerström, “Inside Ilulissat, Greenland, the iceberg capital of the world,” Adventure.com

2017 NATJA Awards

Category 170: Photography: Overall Excellence – Print Publication
GOLD: Lola Akerstrom, “In Pictures: Greenland,” National Geographic Traveller 

 Category 190: Travel Guide or Book
FINALIST: Lola Akerstrom, “DUE NORTH,” Geotraveler Media Sweden

2016 NATJA  Awards 

Bronze
“Nordic Vibe – Stockholm”, KLM Holland Herald – Category 103: Destination Travel, International Magazine

Finalist
“Nordic Vibe – Stockholm”, KLM Holland Herald – Category 120: Special Focus Travel Articles – Print: Lifestyle
“How Sweden makes Outdoor Fun a Priority,” Outside Magazine – Category 142: Special Focus Travel Articles – Internet: Sports, Recreation, and Adventure
“How Sweden makes Outdoor Fun a Priority,” Outside Magazine – Category 150: Special Focus Travel Articles – Internet: Cultural, Educational, Self-Improvement Travel”110 Everyday Photos of Bologna, Italy,” Geotraveler’s Niche – Category 176A: Photography: Photo Essay – Online Publication

2017 Eastern Chapter Writing/Photo Awards – Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

Category 1 – Single Destination – PHOTOGRAPHY
Second Place – Lola Akerstrom, for Stockholm
First Place – Lola Akerstrom, for Lagos

Category 4 – Food and Wine – PHOTOGRAPHY
First Place – Lola Akerstrom, for From Sea to Table

Category 5 – Sport or Adventure – PHOTOGRAPHY
First Place– Lola Akerstrom, for her photo of the Northern Lights

Category 7 – History – PHOTOGRAPY
First Place – Lola Akerstrom, for Enchanting Odense

2016 SATW Lowell Thomas Awards
Bronze – Best Travel Blog – Slow Travel Stockholm

2016 SATW Eastern Chapter Awards 
Several articles and photography awards

2016 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Honorable Mention – The Terracotta Life

2015 NATJA – Category 127: 50+ Travel
Gold – “The New Age of Adventure,” Women’s Adventure Magazine

2015 NATJA – Category 125: Personality and Profiles
Silver – “The New Age of Adventure,” Women’s Adventure Magazine

2014 NATJA – Category 140: Local Lifestyle
Bronze – “The Silence of the Swedes,” Roads & Kingdoms/Slate

2014 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Bronze Award – Travel & Shopping – Fake Birds

2013 NATJA – Category 193: Travel Tips & Advice
Silver – “5 Ways to Get More Mileage From Smart Phone Photos,” Mashable

2013 NATJA – Category 140: Local Lifestyle
Bronze – “The Silence of the Swedes,” Roads & Kingdoms/Slate

2013 NATJA – Category 172: Landscape, Seascape
Bronze – “10 Tips for Photographing Northern Lights,” Fodor’s

2013 NATJA – Category 125: Personality and Profiles
Finalist – “Insight-Ice Hotel/Arne Bergh,” Qatar Airways Oryx Inflight Magazine

2013 NATJA – Category 149: Culinary Travel
Finalist-  “Navigating Gothenburg’s Culinary Scene,” BBC Travel

2013 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Gold Award – Culture and Ideas – Decoding Lagom (Sweden)
Bronze Award – Brown-eyed Girl Meets Blue-Eyed Boy

2012 NATJA – Category 173: Portrait, People
Bronze – “Through the Lens: Kwazulu-natal, South Africa,” National Geographic Channel

2012 NATJA – Category 149: Culinary Travel
Silver – “10 Things to Know About Sweden’s Food Culture,” Sweden.se
Bronze – “Sweden’s Stinky Tradition,” BBC Travel

2012 NATJA – Category 132: Eco, Environmental or Special Purpose Travel
Finalist – “Stockholm’s Green Groove,” Thai Airways’ Sawasdee In-Flight Magazine

2012 NATJA – Category 176: Photo Essay
Silver – “The Spirit of Lapland,” Wild Junket

2012 Professional Journalism Scholarship Award
International Food, Wine, & Travel Writers Associations

2012 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Silver Award – Travel and Food – Meat My Love (Global)

2011 NATJA – Category 145: Personality and Profiles (Internet)
Gold Award – “Slow Food From Sápmi” – Sweden.se
North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)

2011 NATJA – Category 149: Culinary Travel (Internet)
Gold Award – “Revamping classic Irish tea at Dublin’s Merrion Hotel” – Matador Network
North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)

2011 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Silver Award – Travel and Food – Sweet Pillows (Portugal)

2011 Black Weblog Awards
Judges’ Vote – Best International Blog – Geotraveler’s Niche

2011 Lowell Thomas Award – Silver (Group Award)
Online Travel Journalism Site – Matador Network
Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

2010 NATJA – Category 140: Local Lifestyle (Internet)
Silver Award – “Back to Sender” – Matador Network
North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)

2010 NATJA – Category 120: Local Lifestyle (Print)
Bronze Award – “Röckåbilly” – Hemispheres
North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)

2010 Lowell Thomas Award – Silver (Group Award)
Online Travel Journalism Site – Matador Network
Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

2010 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Gold Award – Travel and Shopping – Walkway to Nowhere (Nigeria)

2009 Solas Awards – Best in Travel Writing
Bronze Award – Travel and Shopping – Market Hopping Around Lagos (Nigeria)
Honorable Mention – Our Engagement or Yours (Nigeria)
Honorable Mention – Racing on Thin Ice (Sweden)

2008 Narrative Travel Writing Contest — Runner-Up Winner
Transitions Abroad – Market Hopping Around Lagos (Nigeria)

Photography

  • 2020 Bill Muster Travel Photography Awards – View winning images
    • People Portrait – Silver Award
    • Natural Scenic – Bronze Award
    • People General & Portrait – Honorable Mentions
  • 2019 American Photography 35 Winners (Chosen) – Link to gallery
  • 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist (Two images)
  • 2019 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year – Shortlisted
  • 2018 Bill Muster Travel Photographer of the Year – View Announcement
  • 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist (Travel Portfolio)
  • 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist (Two images)
  • 2016 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist  (Three images)
  • 2016 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year – Shortlisted (Two images)
  • 2016 PDN World in Focus Competition – Winner – Professional: Outdoor Scenes – View Site
  • 2015 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist – “Colors of the World” Category – View Site
  • 2015 Bill Muster Photo Competition – Four (4) Awards
    Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) – Gold – People, Bronze – People, Bronze – Action, Bronze – Portrait
  • 2015 Årets Instagraminspiratör, Travellink.
  • 2015 FlipKey – 10 Travel Photographers to Inspire You – View Site
  • 2015 Sensational Travel Photos of 2015 – Holidaylettings/TripAdvsior – View Site
  • 2014 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year – Shortlisted
  • 2013 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist, Vanishing and Emerging Cultures.
  • 2012 Nigerian Blog Awards – Nominee for Best Travel Blog – View Finalists
  • 2012 Editor’s Weekly Pick – National Geographic Traveler’s  Contest – Travel Portrait
  • 2012 Photography Masters Cup – One (1) nomination – Portrait Category
  • 2012 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year – Two (2) Shortlists – View Gallery
  • 2011 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Finalist – “Spirit of Adventure” Category – View Site
  • 2011 Photography Masters Cup – Two (2) nominations – Food and Portrait
  • 2011 Editor’s Favorite Pick – National Geographic Traveler’s World In Focus – Four (4) Photos
  • 2011 ISLANDS Magazine– Honorable Mention for photo “Aeolian Islands”.
  • 2011 PLANET Magazine– Three (3) Photos – Honorable Mention
  • 2011 Nigerian Photography Awards– Two (2) catgeories – Honorable Mention
  • 2010 Editor’s Favorite Pick – National Geographic’s Your Shot – On The Go – View Site | View Photo
  • 2010 Photography Masters Cup – Nominee in People Category
  • 2009 Honorable Mention – Explorers’ Corner Photo Contest
  • 2009 International Photography Awards – 2 Honorable Mentions – Deeper Perspective, Travel/Tourism
  • 29th Annual Spring Photography Contest – Finalist – Publication in Best of Photography 2009 Book – Photographer’s Forum Magazine
  • 2009 July – Featured on Front Page – National Geographic Adventure’s Readers Photo Challenge – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 Winner – Moments of Togetherness – Pikeo – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 May- Fresh M.I.L.K Competition – Selected from 35,000 entries – Publication in Friendship, Family, Love & Laughter in November 2009
  • 2009 April – Smithsonian Magazine Online – Photo of the Day – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 Photography Masters Cup – Nominee in People Category – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 February- Week 4 Daily Dozen – National GeographicMagazine – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 Peterman’s Eye Travel Contest – Honorable Mention – View Entry | View Site
  • 2009 December – Been There Finalist – The Guardian UK – View Site
  • 2009 February – Been There Finalist – The Guardian UK – View Site
  • 2009 January – Been There Finalist – The Guardian UK – View Site
  • 2008 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) – Shortlisted Finalist – Life Category – View Announcement | View Site
  • 2008 November – Week 2 Selection – National Geographic Books – View Entry | View Site
  • 2008 August – Week 2 Selection – National Geographic Online – View Entry | View Site
  • 2008 November – Been There Finalist – The Guardian UK – View Entry | View Site
  • 2008 August – Been There Finalist – The Guardian UK – View Entry | View Site
  • 2008 Remarkable Photo Contest Winner – Perceptive Travel – View Details
  • 2008 International Photography Awards – 5 Honorable Mentions – Special, Lifestyle, Nature, People, Children
  • 2008 One City, Many Destinations – Honorable Mention
  • 2008 CITY Magazine – Travel Photography Competition – View Issue 59
  • 28th Annual Spring Photography Contest – Finalist – Publication in Best of Photography 2008 Book – Photographer’s Forum Magazine
  • 2008 Photo of the Day – Woman in Ccaccaccollo, Peru – Gadling – View Photograph
  • 2008 Photo of the Day – Hawkers – Gadling – View Photograph
  • 2008 July Friday Photo – WEND Magazine
  • 2008 Photo of the Day – Busker on a Windy Day – Gadling – View Photograph
  • 2008 Photo of the Day – Smiling Alpaca – Gadling – View Photograph
  • 2008 Global Eye: Seattle – Intelligent Travel (National Geographic Traveler) – View Photograph
  • 2008 Photo of the Day – Monkey Drinking Fanta – Gadling – View Photograph
  • 2008 Away Network – Your Daily Escape – Snow Daze | View Site
  • 2007 Honorable Mention – Px3’s Human Condition Competition – View Entry | View Site
  • 2007 Finalist – November Contest: Perspective – Circuit City
  • 2007 November Daily Dozen Pick – National Geographic Magazine – View Entry | View Site
  • 2007 Finalist – Socio-Economic Development Contest – Development Gateway Foundation – View Entry | Visit Site
  • 2007 Finalist – Animal Antics Contest – Gap Adventures – View Photo | Visit Site
  • 2007 Finalist – June Contest: Motion – Circuit City| View Photo
  • 2006 Honorable Mention – International Photography Awards – IPA | View Photo

Special Awards

  • 2018 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) – Media & Culture
  • 2018 everywomanUK in Travel – Finalist
  • 2018 Travel Media Awards – Social Photography – Finalist
  • 2013 Regional Award Winner: Africa – The Hot Mommas® Project