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 mgr 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. Recently, they have launched a digital travel network including several Northwest travel and lifestyle websites.
Allen Cox, Conference Chair
Allen Cox serves as co-chair of Northwest Travel Writers Conference. He is Editor-in-Chief 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 presently serves as VP, board member and Awards Committee Chair for International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.
Tamara Muldoon, Conference Planner
Tamara is a freelance writer and photographer whose work has appeared in a number of print publications and on many websites. She primarily writes about travel and Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Her favorite photography subjects are travel destinations, landscape, food and lifestyle. Before becoming a freelance writer, Tamara worked in the hospitality and tourism industry. Over the span of her 20+ year career she worked for hotels, a tour operator, a cruise line, a botanical garden attraction and a conference management company. When she is not writing Tamara enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, music and reading. You can see samples of her work at TamaraMuldoon.com.