Exeter based student shortlisted for once in a lifetime travel advisor position

comparethemarket.com has announced Annabelle Statham of the University of Exeter in the shortlist of students for their ‘Travel Advisor’ competition - the perfect experience for a grad student who wants to travel the world and report on their experience. With almost 1,000 applications since the position opened in April, a team of experts has narrow it down to the final five.

The finalists who have made it through to the final round are:
- Annabelle Statham (Geography at University of Exeter)
- Lucy Hayton (Photography and Video at De Montfort University)
- Joseph Thompson (Digital Photography at Ravensbourne University)
- Iman Al Jabbar (Digital Culture at Kings College London)
- Hollie Dawson (International Management at University of Manchester)

The five candidates have submitted a short biography, image and video explaining why they should be given the title of ‘Travel Advisor’ here https://www.comparethemarket.com/travel-insurance/content/travel-advisor-competition/.

It is now down to the public to decide on a winner. The finalist’s video with the highest number of likes by midnight 2 June 2017 will become comparethemarket.com’s student Travel Advisor and embark on an adventure around the world.

The winner will be announced on the week commencing June 5th before going on a round the world ‘Adventure Tour’ which will include:

¥ One round the world ticket
¥ Accommodation at each stop
¥ Excursions
¥ Adventure activities
¥ Travel insurance throughout

The newly appointed advisor will be taking 10 photographs a month of their top locations and activities, capturing video content and writing monthly blog posts to be published on the comparison website. In addition, the ‘Travel Advisor’ will also secure £5,000 for their student union, so get voting!

Meet the candidates
Here are the finalist’s entries explaining why they believe they should be named the comparethemarket.com Travel Advisor:

Annabelle Statham – studied Geography at University of Exeter

“I have always longed to visit Antarctica, as this would place me amongst the small number of people who have seen this untouched landscape up-close, reflecting my highly adventurous personality. The thought of the freezing sea air as you are sailing on the ocean admiring the spectacular views and the outstanding wildlife is something I have always dreamt about since carrying out a school project at the age of 10 about my desire to visit all seven continents in my lifetime. I feel this experience would place me outside my comfort zone, which is something I enjoy, as I have never visited a place that is constantly at sub-zero temperatures and is so unblemished by man's touch. Therefore, I would say that the unique beauty of Antarctica is what draws me to name this as my ideal place to visit.”

Lucy Hayton – studied Photography and Video at De Montfort University

“My dream place to visit has always been Australia, there's something about the people, the weather and the country that amazes and interests me. With such a huge country means there's an endless amount of things to see, places to go and experiences to experience. I want to be able to wake up in a tent in a national park and be amazed by the wonders of the world, I want to dance on the white sandy beaches and swim with the sharks. Australia has so much to offer and I want to do it all. My dream is to become a National Geographic Photographer and I would love to go to different cultures and document their lifestyle and their environment. Australia (from what I’ve seen online) is so picturesque and it excites me to think about the photography I could create over there.”

Joseph Thompson - studied Digital Photography at Ravensbourne University

“Mount Sanqing. If you haven't heard of this place, then you should have. Imagine a setting from the film Avatar. Mounds of luscious green peaks float amongst the mist; a landscape literally out of the world. The sacred mountain is located in the north of China, in a picturesque province called Jiangxi. Cable cars carry you through and up the mountain, as if you are flying with the mist. The mountain is surrounded by towering boulders, hundreds of feet high, that look as if they are placed there by someone. As a passionate landscape photographer I have experience with photographing locations from all around the world. However, the world has a vast amount of landscapes to offer and I have only just touched the surface. Mount Sanging is just one location that has inspired me to capture the wonders of the world. If there is one thing that I would like to do for the rest of my life, it is to photograph locations like this, to show people how beautiful our planet is. If I can inspire just one person to do the same, then I have succeeded in my role as a photographer.”

Iman Al Jabbar – studied Digital Culture at Kinds College London

“I am an Iphoneographer, bound to London as my city of exploration. Yet, with its overshadowing skyscrapers offering futuristic vibes, beautiful botanical gardens and a tropical ambience beaming on the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore poses a wealth of photogenic attractions within a futuristic-looking island. Having been offered a chance to study in the technologically advanced city-state earlier this year, yet unable to do so, Singapore would be my ideal place to visit. In addition to its enchanting views and abundance of beautiful greenery, it also stands as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. Raised as a millennial and progressing onto higher education to understand more on the flourishing digital world, visiting Singapore would be extremely rewarding both academically and as a tech-savvy youth. With its more recent aspiration to become a smart nation it would be a desirable location, offering insight into the digitisation of a country and its everyday behaviours. In addition to its visually appealing lures and technological rich environment, Singapore is also neighbours to Malaysia. This would position me in reach of visiting another country I yearn to explore for its beautiful mosques, whilst continuing to capture the scenic south east Asia”.

Hollie Dawson – studied International Management at University of Manchester

“I am desperate to go and explore South America because I have previously spent a year travelling Australia/South-East Asia, and South America is now at the top of my bucket-list. It's not just about the culture, but the variety of natural sights like waterfalls, deserts, the amazon and salt flats, I want to see it all, and then the man-made architecture in Colombia and on Easter Island! There's just so much to see and experience and I feel like South America is a continent that still has a lot left to be discovered and it would be incredible to do so.”