- Membership fees
- More details on the forthcoming Antor event: 24 November
- Sri Lanka Press Conference at WTM next week
- WTM Events with FINN PR
- Intrepid Times: Travel Writing Podcast
- New members
- Applicants to be gazetted
Hi everyone,
Dare I mention the ‘H’ word? Is anyone else sick to the back teeth of seeing the word ‘spooktacular’ in email headers? Perhaps you’ve been treated to such gems as ‘as a frightfully good deal’ or a ‘wickedly good time’?
In the spirit of the practice of bibliomancy, I shall leave you with some excellent excerpts from randomly opened pages in my Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories:
over his body, the skin moved as if crawling ants covered it
with his heart threshing like a flail, he breathed appalling air
a smile of triumph on the resolute, cruel mouth
a woman of severe aspect, dogmatic piety, and a bitter tongue
the moon-silvered water reflecting dark arabesques of leaf and branch
Have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Gala on Monday night!
Sarah
Membership fees
Today is the absolute last day for the payment of membership fees. If you have not yet paid, your membership will be terminated when the clock strikes midnight tonight.
If, for some reason, you can’t find your invoice, please contact Charlotte immediately.
More details on the forthcoming Antor event: 24 November
Antor / BGTW “Round Table Discussion”
Topic: Is over-tourism over rated?
Moderator: Eva Stewart, GSIQ, Global Managing Partner
2 panellists from Antor and 2 panellists from BGTW (one to be the Chair of each organisation)
Venue: Zimbabwe House, 429 The Strand, London WC2 (nearest station Charring Cross/Temple Underground)
Proposed Format:
3.30 pm: Antor and BGTW guests arrive visit Shona Art exhibit, teas & coffees and biscuits in the library
4 pm: Round Table begins: moderator sets the scene and asks 2 panellists from each organisation to give their view (5 mins each)
4.25 pm: General discussion with audience participation and questions
5.30 pm: Networking drinks and informal discussion
6.30 pm: Ends
Free to members of Antor, and BGTW. Member only event.
Sri Lanka Press Conference at WTM next week
We look forward to seeing you at the Sri Lanka Tourism Press Conference at ExCeL London. Join us for a networking buffet lunch, hear from key Sri Lankan tourism leaders, and take part in a raffle draw with exciting prizes.
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
1:30 – 2:00 PM Networking Buffet Lunch
2:00 – 2:30 PM Press Conference
2:30 PM Q&As and Raffle
Room 16/17, North Gallery, Level 2, ExCeL London
WTM Events with FINN PR
BGTW members are invited to join the WTM events hosted by FINN PR’s clients, just RSVP to the relevant email addresses as detailed in the agenda here.
Intrepid Times: Travel Writing Podcast
Daniel James Clarke (to whom we all wish a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for yesterday!) joined the Travel Writing Podcast to speak about the history of the Guild and how the 65th year anthology came to be. Listen at Intrepid Times or find the ‘Travel Writing Podcast’ on Spotify or iTunes.
New members
A very warm welcome to new members Melanie O’Shea and Leon Beckenham! We hope you’ll enjoy being a part of the Guild, and look forward to welcoming you in person at an event in the not-too-distant future.
Applicants to be gazetted
The following people have made applications to join the Guild and are in the member ‘gazetting’ stage. Please see their details below.
‘Gazetting’ means you, as current members, have 28 days to review new applicants and advise Membership Director, Sarah Rodrigues, or BGTW Administrator, Charlotte, if there are reasons why the Guild should not approve them for membership.
Daniela Toporek
I’m a London-based food and travel journalist with the goal of inspiring readers to step out of their comfort zones, try new cuisines and explore the world. I graduated from the City, University of London in 2023 with an MA with Merit and since, have worked and interned with publications like National Geographic Traveller UK, Time Out, SUPPER Mag, The Caterer, Ori Mag, SUITCASE and Where London/London Planner. I’m also building my own website, danielawithlime.com, and have consistently documented my food and travel journey on my Instagram, @danielawithlime. This summer, I finished a 3-month internship with APL Media/National Geographic Traveller under digital editor, Karlina Valeiko, and digital strategist, Berkok Yuksel, and it’s been the most rewarding experience of my career so far. I had six bylines published – the most of any intern according to Karlina, and I continue to work for them as a freelancer. I also interned with Time Out London in January, and have become their go-to freelancer when it comes to writing about travel, and Mexican food and culture in London. I hope to keep flourishing in the food and travel journalism industry, and create a name for myself in the UK and beyond.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-gin-distillery-experiences-in-the-uk
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-new-museums-to-visit-this-year
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/story-behind-caesar-salad
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/chiswick-area-guide
https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-mexican-restaurants
https://www.timeout.com/london/hotels/generator-hostel
https://ori-mag.com/blogs/ori-notes/from-seed-to-table-montenegros-thoughtful-eco-lodging
https://www.timeout.com/news/the-most-beautiful-hidden-trails-in-europe-revealed-072825
Louis Hall
Brought up in Scotland, I am a writer interested in myth, nature and culture. Along with my horse Sasha, I travelled 111 days across Europe, creating the first conclusive horse-trail across the Ligurian Alps in recorded history. My debut book, In Green, follows this journey. It has so far been Longlisted for the 2025 Saltire Book Awards.
Aged 18 I went in search of the Tsaatan tribe in northern Mongolia. On my return I rode the length of the UK on a Highland pony called Irelanda. The solo trip raised £38,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and laid the foundation for The Big Hoof: a Scottish registered outdoor mental health charity that creates long distance journeys with horses. To date, the charity has travelled over 4,500 miles and raised over £100,000 for causes focussed on mental health, wellbeing and child welfare in the UK and Europe.
Having recently completed a master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford, I write for Unseen Histories, Hidden Scotland, The Guardian, National Geographic, The Scotsman, and more.
https://www.unseenhistories.com/the-kingdom-of-fife
https://www.thenational.scot/culture/24377091.footsteps-poet-sorley-maclean
https://www.unseenhistories.com/the-dream-of-heavenly-horses-louis-hall#section-6704246
https://www.the-orb.org/post/a-garden-in-cuba
https://penopp.org/articles/power-pen
https://hiddenscotland.com/articles/hidden-kingdom-of-fife-part-1
Suzanne Jones
I started The Travelbunny, my travel blog, in 2011 whilst working in the travel industry as an event manager and became a full-time travel blogger and content creator in 2019.
The site explores destinations in the UK, Europe and worldwide highlighting the sights, food and culture that make each destination unique. Readers enjoy engaging travel and outdoor articles, strong photographic visuals and travel advice to help them book and get the most out of their own trips.
The Travelbunny is geared towards fuelling the wanderlust of travellers in search of memorable travel experiences. The main focus is on mid-range to luxury, independent travel for the 50+ age group who love authentic travel and adventure.
My site receives around 65,000 page views per month and has a combined social media following of over 60k.
I have also written articles for Viking Explore, Dream Escape magazines and Travelzoo website but primarily work on my own site.
https://thetravelbunny.com/ten… (previous BGTW press trip)
https://thetravelbunny.com/narrow-boat-holidays-review
https://thetravelbunny.com/authentic-food-experiences-crete
https://thetravelbunny.com/chiavenna-italy
https://thetravelbunny.com/towns-in-nova-scotia
