Travel and Words provides plenty of opportunities for professional development and networking, so attendees can make valuable new contacts, rekindle old connections, gain fresh insights about the travel media industry and come away inspired to tell new stories. The full program is posted below.
Speakers and Workshop Presenters:
- Adam Sawyer
- Kim Cooper Findling
- McKenzie Tobeck
- Allen Cox
Check back for more.
Panel Discussions:
- Editors Panel: Get the inside scoop on the travel media industry from the perspectives of four professional travel editors.
- Destination Marketing Panel: Destination marketers are a crucial resource for travel writers, bloggers and influencers. Learn about this important segment of the tourism industry and how to build productive relationships with them.
Experienced Track Workshops: Experienced writers will attend three workshops at the conference and may also opt to attend Beginning Track workshops.
Beginning Track Workshops: Beginning writers will attend six Beginning Track workshops, giving the tools to be successful as a freelance travel & lifestyle writer.
Networking Opportunities:
- Opening Reception: An informal ice-breaker evening with appetizers and beverages, hosted by Explorer Media and Marketing.
- Networking Mixer: A dazzling evening where conference attendees can mix and mingle over food, beverages and entertainment, hosted by Vancouver USA.
- Destination Marketer-Writer Sessions: Writers attending Travel & Words are looking for story ideas and possibly press trips. These “speed dating” sessions connect destination marketers with freelance writers and bloggers on the “Experienced” track.
- Visit Destination Marketer and Corporate Exhibitor Booths: Meet the exhibitors who are your story sources and learn about their destinations (for both Beginning and Experienced Tracks).
| Date | Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday March 31 | 4:30 – 8:00 pm | Registration Desk Open | Fort Vancouver Foyer |
| Exhibitor Set-Up | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | ||
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Opening Reception | Lewis & Clark Ballroom | |
| Optional Headshot Photo Sessions | TBA | ||
| Monday April 1 | 7:30 – 8:00 am | Registration Desk Open | Fort Vancouver Foyer |
| Exhibitor Set-Up | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | ||
| 8:00 – 8:30 am | Welcome/Opening Remarks | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 8:30 – 9:30 am | Presentation: “Be a 5-Tool Freelancer” Presenter: Adam Sawyer | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 9:30 – 10:00 am | Break/Visit Exhibitors | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 9:30 – 10:00 am | Optional Headshot Photo Sessions | TBA | |
| 10:00 – 11:00 am | DMO Panel Facilitator: Dawn Smith | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 11:00 – 12:00 pm | Keynote Presentation | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch | Lewis & Clark Ballroom | |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Editors Panel | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Experienced Track: Exhibitor-Writer Sessions 1 | Sacajawea | |
| Beginning Workshop 1: “Travel Writer’s Road Map” Presenter: Allen Cox | Chief Comcomly | ||
| 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Break/Visit Exhibitors | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| Optional Headshot Photo Sessions | TBA | ||
| 3:30 – 4:30 pm | Experienced Track: Exhibitor-Writer Sessions 2 | Sacajawea | |
| Beginning Workshop 2: “The Art of Pitching” Presenter: Kim Cooper Findling | Chief Comcomly | ||
| 4:30 – 5:00 pm | Wrap Up/Lunch Sponsor Presentation/Door Prizes | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Networking Mixer | TBA | |
| Tuesday April 2 | 7:30 – 8:00 am | Registration Desk Open | Fort Vancouver Foyer |
| 8:00 – 8:30 am | Welcome/Lunch Sponsor Presentation/Door Prizes | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 8:30 – 9:15 am | Combined Workshop 1: “Photography for Writers” Presenter TBD | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| 9:15 – 10:15 am | Experienced Track Workshop 1: “How to Become a Social Media Influencer” Presenter: McKenzie Tobeck | Sacajawea | |
| Beginning Workshop 3: “The Craft of Travel Writing” Presenter: Adam Sawyer | Chief Comcomly | ||
| 10:15 – 10:45 am | Break/Visit Exhibitors | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | |
| Optional Headshot Photo Sessions | TBA | ||
| 10:45 – 11:45 am | Experienced Track Workshop 2: “Navigating the World of Book Publishing” Presenter: Kim Cooper Findling | Sacajawea | |
| Beginning Track Workshop 4: “Social Media for Travel Writers” Presenter: McKenzie Tobeck | Chief Comcomly | ||
| DMO Workshop 2 Presenter TBD | Fort Vancouver Ballroom | ||
| 11:45 – 12:45 pm | Lunch | Lewis & Clark Ballroom | |
| 12:45 – 1:45 pm | Experienced Track: Exhibitor-Writer Sessions 3 | Sacajawea | |
| Beginning Track Workshop 5: “Landing Fams and Other Pro Tips” Presenter: Adam Sawyer | Chief Comcomly | ||
| 1:45 – 2:00 pm | Wrap Up/Door Prizes/Adjourn | Fort Vancouver Ballroom |