In this newsletter you will find:
- BGTW AGM and Convention 2024
- Press Trips to Denmark: Spring/Early Summer 2024
- In the Boardroom
- BGTW Webinar Programme
- Icons of Inclusion 18 March – RSVP ASAP!
- Regional Champions
- Request for Volunteers for Roles on Board
- Members’ Thoughts on AGAD
- Stay in a Pub Report
- BGTW on Social Media
BGTW AGM and Convention 2024
BGTW Behind the Scenes – Director Reports from 2023 for your eyes only
If you’d like to catch up on the year that was from behind the scenes on the BGTW Board in 2023, ahead of members coming together for the AGM in the Isle of Man on 6 February 2024, you can read all about it in all final reports from the outgoing Board team.
Updates highlight the work done, challenges faced and achievements made during the last year by the dedicated Board team. A recap is found on the members side of the website for each area, including membership, events, social media, awards, partnerships, benefits, finance and comms.
Zoom Link Change
Please be aware that the Zoom link for the AGM has changed. The AGM agenda, located in the Documentation Library in the Members’ section has been amended with the new link. Additionally, each Full or Honorary Life Member who has not registered to attend the AGM and the Associates’ Representative, will be sent an email with the new agenda and the Zoom link.
Itineraries
Visit Isle of Man has sent an itinerary to each member attending the AGM and Convention. If you have not received this please contact Charlotte.
Press Trips to Denmark: Spring/Early Summer 2024
Visit Denmark will be offering several press trips to members of the Guild. There will be two group trips (maximum 9/10 participants).The first group trip will further explore the Kyslandet Region (coastal Denmark) this time concentrating on the islands along that coastline.
The second will be visiting several towns in the Triangle Region featuring culture, history and architecture.
There will also be two individual trips. One concentrating on Billund and the surrounding area including Legoland and Visit Denmark is keen to host a young family for this experience.
There may be a second individual trip to the city of Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, or/and the surrounding areas known as ‘The outdoor capital of Denmark’.
Dates and itineraries are still to be confirmed but I am giving members advance notice to allow time to get commissions in place. The emphasis will be on value for hosting and Visit Denmark will be making the final decision regarding participants for each trip.
Feel free to contact valery.collins@yahoo.co.uk if you have any questions.
In the Boardroom
What members may not be aware of is the BGTW works with industry partners to host BGTW Board meetings throughout the year and last year saw the team in varied settings, from stately rooms at embassies, to board rooms at PR partner offices, a Mad Hatter’s Tea party, a Map Room at Daly’s Wine Bar and an Inspector’s Office at the Bow Street Tavern…
The outgoing team would like to extend sincere thanks to the following partners and their generous support: Nim Singh and the team at Destination Canada, Debbie Flynn and the team at Finn Partners, Tracey Poggio at Visit Gibraltar, the team at Citypubcompany.
If members have contacts for possible Board room venues for this year, please get in touch and jot Renate or Valery a line. Thank you!
BGTW Webinar Programme
We are looking to revitalise the Webinar programme for next year. If you would like to be part of the BGTW Webinar team, whether it is coming up with ideas for the webinars, suggesting people who would be good to feature on a webinar panel, or helping to organise and run the webinars please email Mark at mark.jackson@bgtw.org.
Icons of Inclusion 18 March – RSVP ASAP!
Hosted at The Dorchester, London on 18 March, 2024, Icons of Inclusion is an inspirational thought leadership, education and networking event, with a focus on diversity and inclusion in tourism. It will showcase best practices in the industry, celebrate role models through lively, informative discussions that will provide the industry with actionable steps they can take to create real change with regard to workplace culture, sales and marketing and operations.
The organisers have kindly gifted 40 complementary tickets to BGTW members. (They cost £199). To request a ticket, please email Charlotte Copeman.
Regional Champions
Beyond the Capital
Are you a regional champion? Due to popular demand, the BGTW is looking to do a calendar of events outside of London in 2024. As we are all volunteers, the Board is seeking local experts from different countries and regions to help realise our plan.
Please contact renate.ruge@bgtw.org with suggestions. If you live in a great place for Guildies to visit and would kindly like to offer your support with a local lowdown and contacts, we would love to hear from you.
Request for Volunteers for Roles on Board
We (still) want you!
While we now have some fantastic members lined up to join the new Board, there are a few positions left to fill. A fresh, positive start to 2024 is on the top of the agenda for the new team.
Interested? Please contact Chris Coe on chris@tpoty.com or Renate Ruge renate.ruge@bgtw.org for more info.
Members’ Thoughts on AGAD
Did you come to the 2023 Annual Gala Awards Dinner (AGAD)? If you did, we’d love your thoughts on the event so we can incorporate these ideas into the event for 2024.
Please click here to complete the form to let us have your thoughts.
Stay in a Pub Report
In 2023, Stay in the Pub commissioned consumer and trade research around pub accommodation in the UK.
The research showed that 60% of people who have stayed in a pub in the last 24 months say that they would prefer pub stay versus other types of accommodation for the same spend and location.
If you think this might be a useful resource for your work, please email mark.jackson@bgtw.org for a copy.
BGTW on Social Media
We’re always up for sharing your work, events, news, projects etc.
Social media is managed by a small team. If you’re not being followed by the BGTW, email us.
Twitter: Tag @travwriters in your tweet/photo if you want us to see/share. You can also follow fellow members on this BGTW members list.
Instagram posts: Select ‘Tag people’ then tag @travwriters.
You can use the #bgtw hashtag or tag@ us in post copy/comments, but they’re harder to track. Tagging IN the pic guarantees we see it.
Stories/Reels: Use the ‘@mention’ function to tag us.
Facebook: We can promote your work/news on our public Facebook page. Send links via FB Messenger to that account.
LinkedIn: You can ‘@’ British Guild of Travel Writers in posts and we’ll like/share/comment when possible/appropriate
