Welcome to the latest edition of the BGTW members’ newsletter, In:House. In this newsletter you will find:
- Introduction from the Board
- Dates for the diary
- Sustainability and the Guild
- Awards
- Podcast and other related activities
- Website
- Social media
- Associate members
- Guild workshops
- Isle of Man memories and coverage
- Gillian Thornton’s memories of Jennie Carr
- Calls for entries to the next issue of Guilded News
- Members and media awards
- BGTW member offers
- Board contact details
- BGTW on social media
Introduction from the Board
Continuing to focus on the positive
Since the last newsletter things are progressing well and starting to fall into place and/or gain momentum. I’d like to start by welcoming two new Directors to the Board – Richard Villar has joined us as Board Secretary and Dan James Clarke, who was previously announced as the new Sustainability Lead, has now also joined as Vice Chair.
Both are relatively new members of the Guild so, along with Membership Secretary, Sarah Rodrigues, they will help us to inject fresh and forward thinking ideas, as we seek to revitalise and modernise the Guild and its image.
As you will read below, you will also notice that the events calendar is starting to get fuller, with Mary Anne and Valery working on lots of opportunities to meet and network. There are more on the way!
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has come forward to help, both as a Director and off-Board. The Guild relies on you to give something back and wouldn’t survive without that.
Jennie Carr Tributes
We regret to inform BGTW members of the sad news that former Membership Secretary, Jennie Carr passed away earlier this month after a short illness. Gillian Thornton has shared a personal tribute below, alongside details of the funeral arrangements.
We still need YOU!
The Board directorships are almost complete but we still need someone to step up and work alongside Mark Bibby Jackson to develop and enhance our relations with PR and the travel industry.
We still need two members to step up and join the Modernisation & Branding panel so that we can begin working on this.
Off-Board, we also still need someone to back-up Mary Anne with events, and Renate with sponsorship and partnerships. Plus we need someone to take on Member Benefits and at least one other person to join the team to deliver this year’s Awards.
We’re delighted that Kathryn Liston has agreed to carry on as Treasurer. Thank you, Kathryn.
Best wishes,
The BGTW Board
Dates for the diary
UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBERS’ SOCIAL EVENTS
Monday March 25th: Social evening and chance to meet the new Board.
Venue: The Map Room, Daly’s Wine Bar, 210 Strand. London. 6-9pm.
Please rsvp to Charlotte. It would be great to see as many people as possible there. First drink is free, then it’s an open bar (but not expensive!) We are greatly looking forward to seeing you, talking about the new Board’s ideas, hopes and dreams (!) and just having a good evening.
GUILD EVENTS
Monday June 24th – Wednesday June 26th: Media Getaway in Glasgow
This year the Travel Connection Group will be organising its annual Media Getaway event in Glasgow. The event starts 24th June with a civic reception. 25th June will be the Connection Zone, a media marketplace featuring travel companies offering 1-1 meetings with media. 26th June trips around Glasgow will be available.
Guild members attending this event will be invited to attend a social gathering during the event. Click here to book your place on the Media Getaway and the chance to meet up with other members of the Guild.
SUMMER PARTY
Monday July 1st: Fredericks Restaurant at Angel, London
Save the Date!
GALA DINNER
Monday 4th November – venue TBC
Please note that the Gala Dinner will be on the Monday of WTM week not the Sunday as in previous years.
EVENTS UNDER DISCUSSION
Discussions are ongoing regarding events in the South West, Yorkshire and Durham County.
Sustainability and the Guild
Although this subject has provoked some discussions, there is no doubting its rapidly growing importance, both within the travel industry and the wider world. Dan James Clarke is our new Sustainability Lead and in his role as Vice Chair we will be examining the Guild’s sustainability approach in all we do. Here’s a message from Dan:
“Firstly, I want to thank Diana and the sub-group for all their hard work in integrating sustainability into the Guild. I’m excited and grateful to step into the Sustainability Lead role and continue the excellent work done so far, and I am thankful to Kassondra Cloos, Caroline Mills and Alex Green for offering their support to the Guild’s sustainability initiatives going forward.
It’s clear from various recent discussions that there are differing views on how our sustainability actions / pledges should be implemented at the Guild level. To ensure we’re taking all members’ feedback onboard, I will soon share a sustainability questionnaire to collate all ideas and opinions so that our actions are representative. In the short term, my focus will be on:
- Updating the website to share our actions rather than pledges and spotlighting members’ work across all sustainability pillars (conservation, social-, flight-free, etc.)
- Connecting with the sustainability sub-group
- Re-submitting our annual update in regards to the Glasgow Declaration
- Finishing and publishing the ‘Sustainability Crib Sheet’ that Diana has already worked hard on to offer a helpful resource of contacts, experts and insights across all sustainability verticals
- Planning some upcoming sustainability webinars
- Working with the Board on further sustainability-focused discounts, benefits and event planning
Beyond that, your feedback from the questionnaire and discussions with the Board will shape anything we do going forward, and I look forward to receiving your feedback. If you’d like to contact me in the meantime, please email daniel.clarke@bgtw.org“
Awards
The new Awards Review panel – Rudolf Abraham, Lynn Houghton, Shebs Alom and Tim Bird – have held their first meeting and will be coming up with draft proposals within the next month or so. This review obviously has to be done fairly quickly so that we can still launch this year’s awards in the summer.
Thank you to those members who have already sent their ideas and suggestions. If anyone else would like their opinions considered, please email Charlotte who will pass it on to the panel members
Podcast and other related activities
Plans for the new podcast series will start to take shape when the panel, led by Jon Holmes, meets for the first time on 20th March. A budget has been approved to record a pilot. We are also looking for a venue to do a live recording of a ‘talking heads’ style interview, with an audience, as an alternative to a webinar and as an entertaining event for members.
Website
There is clearly a need to modernise the Guild website but also to streamline all the administration, especially relating to memberships, and in doing so make Charlotte’s headaches with this go away. The issues have been discussed with Simon Willmore, and he is currently updating some web content and assessing how best to bring all these admin requirements under one system.
Social media
Alex Green has stepped up to put together a new social media strategy with a view to streamline and grow it. She is garnering the views and feedback of our current social team, Kirsten Henton, Shebs Alom and Sarah Lee.
Associate members
Discussions have been held to involve our Associate Members more. If you’re an associate, please send your ideas to Gillian as soon as possible.
Guild workshops
Chris has secured a Central London venue to run some Guild photography workshops starting in June/July. He’d like to know what people would like them to be on. His initial thoughts are:
- Photography for travel writers
- Making a living from travel photography for the pro photographers
Please contact Chris with your thoughts.
Shooting video workshop – 23rd March in London
2 FREE places for Guild members. This is ideal for anyone who wants to shoot Instagram reels, promo videos and short films using their camera. Registrations are on a first come first served basis. Details below.
Register for the Shooting video workshop here
Isle of Man memories and coverage
Memories
Those Guild members who made it to the Isle of Man for the AGM will all agree what a fabulous time it was, and how wonderful was the support provided by our hosts Visit Isle of Man. Would you please make sure that when you post anything on social media channels about your trip you include @bgtw #travwriters as well as #bgtwiom #iomstory #loveiom and #isleofman.
Coverage
Sending your coverage is really important as this not only shows what members are doing but also helps us to secure future AGM venues.
Thank you if you have already sent your coverage in, but do keep it coming. We’re compiling a document to send to our hosts so please send the coverage details as soon as you have it to Charlotte.
Isle of Man Highlights
Our hosts, Visit Isle of Man, have created a highlights video about our wonderful trip to the Isle of Man – click on the button below to watch it.
Watch the IOM highlights video here.
Gillian Thornton’s memories of Jennie Carr
People as warm, caring, and friendly as Jennie are like gold dust. Always one to think about others, she was devoted to her four daughters and her long-term partner David who she married only last summer.
Jennie split her working week between Silver Travel Advisor, where she commissioned articles and edited the magazine; The House of St Barnabas for the homeless; and, most recently, promotional work for Estonia Tourism.
Anyone who ever worked with her will remember Jennie for her common sense and efficiency but also for her ready smile and sense of fun.
We spent three years on the Guild board together during her post as Membership Secretary and she would have presented a very positive image of the Guild with her characteristic warm welcome.
Jennie was always positive and never one to make a fuss, even during her last short illness. We met regularly for country walks, coffee and cake, and I fully expected to see her back on the trail by spring as, I think, did she. She will leave a hole in so many people’s lives, but so many happy memories too.
Jennie’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 2nd April at 1pm at GreenAcres Chiltern, Potkiln Lane, Jordans Beaconsfield, HP9 2XB. It will be followed by a ‘Celebration of Life’ from 3 – 6 pm at The Royal Oak, Frieth Rd, Marlow, SL7 2JF.
All are welcome; please confirm to Gillian Thornton if you can attend.
Calls for entries to the next issue of Guilded News
This is a first call for the next issue of Guilded News, which is due to be published on the 15th April.
Please send your entries and updates to Charlotte by 5th April.
Members and media awards
Inspire Global Media Awards
Congratulations to the many BGTW members who are finalists of the Inspire Global Media Awards 2024.
TravMedia Awards 2024
And also, our congratulations to those BGTW members who have been announced as finalists of the TravMedia Awards 2024.
BGTW member offers
DELL TECHFEST: Huge deals. Huge thanks.
Upgrade and save with limited-time anniversary savings up to 20% off.
We’re saying thanks to our customers with sitewide deals on the latest PCs and top electronics.
Celebrate Dell’s 40th Anniversary and upgrade during our customer appreciation celebration. Members automatically get access to stackable discounts for our top-rated products. Now you can make additional savings with your member coupon codes on top of Dell TechFest offers.
Explore Dell Tech Fest Offers to uncover the extraordinary deals that await you during this sale!
Offer dates: 1st March to 1st April 2024.
To see other available Member Benefits:
1. Visit the Exclusive Member Offer page
2. Enter your email and [BGTW] as your Unique Password
3. Apply coupon code at Dell checkout! Or by referencing offline via one of our trusted advisors.
CONTACTS
Connect with the team at SBAUK@Dell.com
(Subject to availability/some restrictions may apply/available to use online or offline)
Board contact details
Chris COE, Chair: chris.coe@bgtw.org
Daniel James CLARKE, Vice Chair & Sustainability Lead: daniel.clarke@bgtw.org
Valery COLLINS, Regional & National Liaison Director: valery.collins@bgtw.org
Mary Anne EVANS, Events Director: maryanne.evans@bgtw.org
Sarah RODRIGUES, Membership Director: sarah.rodrigues@bgtw.org
Renate RUGE, Sponsorship & Partnerships Director: renate.ruge@bgtw.org
Richard VILLAR, Board Secretary: richard.villar@bgtw.org
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.
