In this newsletter:
- Chris’ intro
- Awards
- Events
- Membership News – update from Sarah
- Sponsorship and Partnerships
- Partner update and Member reward
- Commission for photographer
- Press trip opportunities
- Isle of Man coverage – reminder to send your coverage to Charlotte
Chris’ intro
I hope you’ve had a great summer and managed to squeeze a holiday in too, or like me are grabbing one this month. But life’s a holiday anyway, right?
September through to the November Gala Dinner is busy. We’ve laid on lots of events for you – sustainability and skills development – so please support them. They take a lot of time and money to organise but they’re free for you. We’re trying to book events further in advance to give you more notice but please reserve a space early when we announce them so that we can plan with the venue.
There is limited space at the Better World Sustainability Symposium on 2nd October. Dan has done a fabulous job in pulling together a really interesting event and we expect it to be full, so if you want to come, don’t wait to book.
Please make some noise about the Gala Dinner. We have lots of tickets still to sell and the more we sell, the more sponsored places there will be for the members. Mary Anne and John Bell are putting together a fabulous evening so make sure you don’t miss it.
Membership renewals are fast approaching so you’ll be hearing from Sarah and Charlotte very soon. You’ll be asked to complete a mini audit and agree to the updated code of conduct.
We’re hoping to have updates on the AGM and the China trip as soon as we have all the confirmations and documentation in place. Watch this space.
Chris Coe, BGTW Chair
Awards
International Tourism Awards
The ITAs are almost ready for you to judge. All the details will be coming to you later this week. Happy voting!
Members’ Excellence Awards
The MEAs are now with the judges and we will keep you updated on when the shortlists will be announced. It is likely to be at the end of September.
The Board has commissioned a PR to promote our awards this year to make sure that we generate as much coverage as possible for the shortlisted entrants, before the Gala Dinner, and the winners afterwards. This is all part of a strategy to raise the profile of the Guild and our members.
Events
The new dawn of travel PR – this event, originally scheduled for 11th September, has had to be postponed due to clashes with other events and difficulty securing a venue. The likely rearranged date is 30th Sept but this will be confirmed in due course.
This event will have a panel of 3 PRs – provisionally the head of Global PR at Abercrombie & Kent representing the industry; Amy Skelding from Finn representing PR Agencies; and Jo White representing freelance PRs. The discussion will focus around pitching to, and working with, PRs to maximise your chances of gaining commissions and press trips. Other PRs will be invited and there will be opportunities to network after the workshop.
11 Sept
‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’ at the Duchess Theatre, London at 7.30pm
Guild members are invited to attend this performance and each member who is successful with get two tickets (member + guest). Please RSVP to Adam@made.travel by noon on Friday 6 September. Places are limited and we’ll allocate via a ballot. You will be notified if you are successful by 5pm the same day.
‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’
THE LONGEST RUNNING COMEDY IN THE WEST END
You all know the classic whodunnit story, there has been a murder at a country manor and an inspector is set on the case to find who the culprit is.
However, when this plot is given to the accident-prone thespians at The Cornley Drama Society, everything that can go wrong…does!
The actors and crew battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!
Do you ever find out who murdered Charles Haversham? You’ll have to see for yourself!
17th Sept
Jingdezhen Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference on Tuesday, 15:00 to 17:00, Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, London
This exciting cultural event shall offer a glimpse into the rich heritage of Jingdezhen, located in Jiangxi Province, renowned as the ‘Porcelain Capital’ of China.
Final chance to register! Registration for this event has been extended to 6th September. If you would like to attend, please register here.
2nd Oct
Better World Sustainability Symposium
There is limited space at the Better World Sustainability Symposium on 2nd October. A formal invite and details will follow soon, but if you’re interested in attending, please register your expression of interest by clicking here
10th Oct
Photography for Travel Writers/Bloggers @ Fujifilm House of Photography, 8-9 Long Acre, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9LH. 11am to 5pm (places limited, registration required).
10th Oct
Working with commissioning editors (working title) – at the Uzbekistan Embassy in Holland Park. 5.30 to 9pm
This event will have a panel of 3 commissioning editors (names to be announced shortly) representing national press, independent publications and online publications. There will be opportunities to network after the workshop
Membership News – update from Sarah
Renewals
I hope you’ve all had a lovely summer (not that we’re acknowledging that it’s over yet!!) We’ve been delighted to welcome some new members to the Guild over the past few months and, given how busy everyone is, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Guild members who take the time to look at applications and provide constructive feedback, as well as to Board members who make time in their schedules to help conduct interviews.
Where membership is concerned, renewal time is fast approaching, so everyone will be hearing from me and from Charlotte in the coming weeks.
This process will include a mini-audit, as well as agreeing to the Guild’s updated and more comprehensive Code of Conduct. We’re sure that you’ll agree that these measures are as essential to the continued prestige and good reputation of the Guild as the membership criteria and requirements for applicants.
It’s unlikely that we’ll refuse renewal to anyone whose audit figures don’t meet requirements this time around. Instead, those who don’t meet membership criteria will be invited to explain their circumstances, talk about how they can be supported to increase their paid output or, if appropriate, move to Associate Membership.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any queries or concerns.
Now that we, once again, have a Board Secretary, you will find that all the Board Meeting minutes have been added to the members area of the website. Sorry for the delay.
The next Board meeting is on 11th September.
Sponsorship and Partnerships
64th BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner Partner update and Member reward
In the run up to our event of the year we are happy to share some news on the BGTW’s valued partners supporting our 40th special awards event at our 64th BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner so far, celebrating with us this year at the Bloomsbury Ballroom. A big shout out goes to our friends at: Explore Charleston and Discover South Carolina, Visit Scotland, Tourism Gran Canaria, Nova Scotia Tourism and Travel Switzerland already on board.
Plenty of partnership and sponsorship opportunities are still on offer and we would love your help in sharing the word with your industry friends.
As a reminder our 17 BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards recognise outstanding writing, photography, blogging and broadcasting published in mainstream national and international media, as well as online. There are 12 writing awards, two photography awards, two broadcasting awards and two blogging awards and categories include BGTW Travel Writer of the Year, BGTW Photographer of the Year, BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year, BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year and BGTW Sustainability Feature of the Year and more.
This year we also have NEW categories: BGTW Rising Talent Award, BGTW Inclusivity in Travel Award and BGTW Journey Feature of the Year.
Industry tickets for the awards are now on sale for £245 plus VAT (member price is £95), which includes a sparkling Champagne reception and networking, a three-course sit-down dinner with wine, fabulous Great Gatsby entertainment, awards ceremonies for our ITAs and MEAs and an after-party bar with dancing and all that jazz. There will also be grand raffle prizes including international trips to be won in our charity raffle…
An early bird offer on ticket sales of tables of 10 for the price of 9 is available until 10th September 2024, contact Charlotte Copeman on charlotte@bgtw.org or please get in touch with Renate Ruge, BGTW Board Director Partnerships by email: renate.ruge@bgtw.org about possible partners. Sell a table or promote an award that results in sponsorship with a new opportunity and there’s a reward in it for you!
Press trip opportunities
An update from Valery CollinsMadeira – Individual Press Trips in October, November and December 2024
Are you interested in an individual press trip to Madeira this winter? If you are available and have a confirmed commission that satisfies the target for the trip that interests you please contact me, valery.collins@yahoo.co.ukfor more details.
October 2024: Island Hopping in Madeira, an Individual Press Trip
. Theme: Island Hopping in Madeira
. Key Themes Promoted: Lifestyle | Sea | Porto Santo
. Target Demographic: Gen X | DINKS | Travellers with Mid-High Income
. Recommended Dates: 28/10/24 until 01/11/24
November 2024: Madeira Street Arts Festival, an Individual Press Trip
. Theme: Madeira Street Arts Festival
. Key Themes Promoted: Events
. Target Demographic: Gen X | Millennials | DINKS
. Recommended Dates: 06/11/24 until 10/11/24
December 2024: Christmas in Madeira, an Individual Press Trip
. Theme: Christmas in Madeira
. Key Themes Promoted: Events
. Target Demographic: DINKS | Silver Generation | Empty Nesters
. Recommended Dates: 12/12/24 until 16/12/24
