The Travel and Words Conference 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.
Conference times:
- Sunday, April 22, starting at 4:30 p.m. Check in and pick up conference materials at registration desk at Yakima Convention Center.
- Sunday, 6-8 p.m. Welcome Reception at Yakima Convention Center. This hosted, not-to-miss, ice-breaker evening will feature appetizers, wine and a chance to meet conference planners, presenters and other attendees.
- Monday, April 23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Conference session.
- Monday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Networking Mixer, hosted by Yakima Valley Tourism, a dazzling evening featuring food, drink, mingling and entertainment at one of Yakima’s best event venues.
- Tuesday, April 24, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Conference Session.
Keynote Speakers:
- Don George, author of 12 books about travel and travel writing and editorial advisor for National Geographic Traveler.
- Spud Hilton, travel editor, San Francisco Chronicle.
Other Presenters:
- Mattie John Bamman
- Adam H. Callaghan
- Kim Cooper Findling
- Allen Cox
- Karisa Saywers
- Rochelle Roberts
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 select two workshops at the conference and may opt to attend Beginning Track workshops instead.
Beginning Track Workshops: Beginning writers will attend all five Beginning Track workshops.
Networking Opportunities:
- Welcome Reception: An informal ice-breaker evening with food and wine.
- Networking Mixer: A dazzling evening at a local event venue where conference attendees can mix and mingle over food, wine and entertainment.
- Destination Marketer-Writer Matchmaking: 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).
- Writer-Editor Q&A Session (for “Beginning writer track”): Your chance to ask editors anything about travel writing and getting published.
Program (Subject to Change):
| Date | Time | What | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday April 22 | 4:30-8:00 p.m. | Registration Check-in | Lobby 3 |
| 4:30-8:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Set-up | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception Wine hosted by Yakima Valley Tourism | Lobby 3 | |
| Monday April 23 | 7:30-8:00 a.m. | Registration Check-in | Lobby 3 |
| 8:00-8:30 a.m. | Welcome to Travel & Words 2018 | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Tourism Marketing Panel Facilitator: Karisa Saywers, Visit Tri-Cities Panelists: Patricia Graf-Hoke, Visit Kitsap Peninsula Heather Hatton, Chinook Winds Casino Mary Schimmelman, Windstar Cruises Nicol Sloon, Yakima Valley Tourism Ron Williams, Visit Walla Walla | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 9:30-10:00 a.m. | Break / Visit Exhibitor Tables Sponsored by Ketchikan Visitors Bureau | Lobby 3 Deccio Ballroom C-D |
|
| 10:00-11:00 a.m. | Editors Panel Moderator: Mattie John Bamman Panelists: Adam Callaghan, Eater Seattle Spud Hilton, SF Chronicle Allen Cox, Northwest Travel & Life Editor TBA | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 11:00-12:00 p.m. | Keynote Presentation Don George, National Geographic Traveler "The Art & Heart of Travel Storytelling" | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Lunch Presenter: John Cooper, Yakima Valley Tourism "Washington Tourism Alliance Update" Sponsored by Visit Walla Walla | South Ballroom Suite 500 | |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Experienced Track Workshops 1A: "Advanced Social Media for Travel Writers and Bloggers" Presenters: Rochelle Roberts and Mattie John Bamman | Deccio Ballroom A | |
| 1B: "The Ingredients of Culinary Writing" Presenter: Adam Callaghan | Deccio Ballroom B | ||
| Beginning Track Workshop "Travel Writing 101" Presenter: Allen Cox | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| DMO Workshop "B2B Challenges and Solutions" Facilitator: Dave Peterson | Deccio Ballroom C-D | ||
| 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Experienced Track Workshops 2A: "Grow Your Visibility with Memberships, Appearances and Awards" Presenter: Allen Cox | Deccio Ballroom A | |
| 2B: "Borrowing Tenets of Fiction for Stronger Nonfiction Writing" Presenter: Kim Cooper Findling | Deccio Ballroom B | ||
| Beginning Track Workshop "Mobile Social Media" Presenter: Rochelle Roberts | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| DMO Workshop "B2B Challenges and Solutions" Facilitator: Dave Peterson | Deccio Ballroom C-D | ||
| 3:00-3:30 p.m. | Break / Visit Exhibitor Tables Sponsored by Ketchikan Visitors Bureau | Lobby 3 Deccio Ballroom C-D |
|
| 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Keynote Presentation Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle "Crafting Stories Editors Want to Pay For (and Writers Want to Steal)" | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 4:30-5:00 p.m. | Wrap Up and Door Prizes | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Networking Mixer Hosted by Visit Yakima Valley | 4th Street Theater 14 South 4th St., Yakima |
|
| Tuesday April 24 | 8:00-8:30 a.m. | Welcome to Day 2 | Deccio Ballroom C-D |
| 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Experienced Track Exhibitor-Writer Matchmaking Session 1 | Deccio Ballroom A & B | |
| Beginning Track Workshop "Everything You Need to Know About FAM Trips" Presenters: Allen Cox and Karisa Saywers | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| 9:30-10:00 a.m. | Break / Visit Exhibitor Tables | Lobby 3 Deccio Ballroom C-D |
|
| 10:00-11:00 a.m. | Experienced Track Exhibitor-Writer Matchmaking Session 2 | Deccio Ballroom A & B | |
| Beginning Track Workshop "Magazine Pitching 101" Presenter: Kim Cooper Findling | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| 11:00-12:00 p.m. | Experienced Track Exhibitor-Writer Matchmaking Session 3 | Deccio Ballroom A & B | |
| Beginning Track Workshop "Interviewing, Note Taking and Other Travel Phobias" Presenter: Allen Cox | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Lunch Presenters: Christine Loomis, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Allen Cox, International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) Sponsored by MyEllensburg.com | South Ballroom Suite 500 | |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Experienced Track Exhibitor-Writer Matchmaking Session 4 | Deccio Ballroom A & B | |
| Beginning Track Workshop "Ask an Editor" Presenters: Allen Cox, Adam Callaghan, Editor TBD | South Ballroom Suite 400 | ||
| 2:00-2:30 p.m. | Wrap Up, Door Prizes, Evaluations | Deccio Ballroom C-D | |
| 2:30-4:00 p.m. | Adjourn, Exhibitor Move-out | Deccio Ballroom C-D |
Go here for more information on workshops. To learn more about our presenters, click here. For information on hosted media trips, go here.