Mark Rowan, of Traveller Northern Ireland, was crowned ‘Travel Influencer of the Year’ during the VAVA Influence awards on Friday night – a category that was sponsored by Jans Lifestyle, a campervan and outdoor leisure retailer based on the Boucher Road in Belfast.
Up against tough competition from travel influencers based across Ireland, Mark Rowan impressed the Jans Lifestyle team with his breath-taking photography and videography of some of the country’s most popular and rugged landscapes.
Insta Belfast and Marty O’Neill from Dish You Were Here also scored very highly on Jans Lifestyle’s scoresheet.
Commenting on the awards, Neil Jarvis, Managing Director at Jans Lifestyle said: “On behalf of the team at Jans Lifestyle, we would like to extend our congratulations to Mark and all the influencers that were shortlisted in the ‘Travel Influencer of the Year’ category.
“We have a number of extremely talented influencers situated right across Ireland, who all play a vital part in encouraging locals to enjoy staycations and indeed, bolstering the wider tourism economy.
“As a company that specialises in the rental and sale of campervans, leisure equipment and accessories, we are huge advocates of the great outdoors and exploring the beauty that’s right on our doorstep. Without the help of travel influencers, our job would definitely be more challenging as they have helped to put the local staycation market on the map.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the content that our local influencers will produce in the near future!”
Elsewhere, Francesca Morelli, Director and Collaboration Manager at VAVA Influence added: “Congratulations to all the influencers who were shortlisted in this year’s awards and a special thanks to Jans Lifestyle for sponsoring the ‘Travel Influencer of the Year’ category.
“This is the first time that Northern Ireland has hosted an awards ceremony specifically dedicated to our local influencers and we couldn’t be happier with how it went.
“Events like these are so important in recognising the work that influencers carry out on a daily basis. Through producing engaging content, influencers are helping to promote local businesses, locations and places the length and breadth of Ireland which is invaluable.
“We’re proud of all our influencers and can’t wait to see the content that’s to come!”
To find out more about Jans Lifestyle, visit their website: www.janslifestyle.co.uk.