The Travel & Words Conference is produced by Explorer Media & Marketing
The goals of the Travel & Words conference are to:
- Explore changes and trends in the freelance travel writing world.
- Facilitate mutually productive networking between destination marketers and journalists.
- Support travel and tourism industry professionals who promote destinations, attractions and all season recreation in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia.
Travel & Words Conference Staff
Dave Peterson, President/CEO, Explorer Media and Marketing
Dave is from a consumer marketing background and has worked for brands like Stouffers, WD-40, Toro and Sunset Magazine, a Time Inc. company. Originally hailing from the Midwest, Dave moved out to the Northwest in 1998 as the regional manager for Sunset and has been curious about the region ever since. After a 14-year career with Sunset, Dave purchased Northwest Travel Magazine from Spooner Industries and has given the brand a fresh print and digital look. Its presence has increased from 600 newsstands to 1250, doubled readers per copy to 7 with an overall audience of 300,000.
Allen Cox, Travel & Words Conference Chair
Allen serves as co-chair of Northwest Travel Writers Conference. He is Chief Content Officer of Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, author of two guidebooks on day hiking, and a freelance travel and lifestyle journalist whose work had appeared in dozens of regional and national publications. In addition, he has been awarded an honorary lifetime membership in International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.