In this issue:
- Intro from Chris
- BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2024
- Membership: renewals and self-audits (from Sarah Rodrigues)
- Awards: MEAs and ITAs 2024
- Members’ Achievements
- Second of pilot podcast formats – content needed
- BGTW Events
- BGTW Better World Sustainability Symposium
- Isle of Man AGM – last call for coverage
- WTM Press Conferences
- Member News
Intro from Chris
“All I kept thinking about, over and over, was ‘You can’t live forever; you can’t live forever.” (Quote from The Great Gatsby)…
But you can live for NOW! And now is about to get very exciting with only a few three and a half weeks to go to our glitzy, glamorous, fun-filled Gala Dinner and Awards evening.
Gala Dinner Tickets
Have you got your ticket? They’re selling fast! We’ll try to arrange hosted places where possible for MEA shortlists and those who have asked Charlotte. But there is no guarantee, so book a place. If you find a hosted place, you’ll get a refund. Please ask all your PR contacts if they’ll host you. Please also ask your editors if they’re coming too.
There’s a phenomenal amount of work going on to deliver a great event. Thank you Mary Anne, Renate, John Bell and Charlotte (never forget Charlotte!)
MEAs & ITAs
This is also our awards evening and the MEA shortlists have just been announced. See awards details below
Better World & other events
Talking of events, Dan has just delivered a wonderful first Better World sustainability symposium, sponsored by Destination Canada and Hyatt Place. (see below). Five podcasts will follow from this.
Whilst the event was a huge success, we were disappointed that people dropped out in the 48 hour window before the event and others were no-shows. Pulling together full-day events like these requires lots of additional volunteer work but we believe it’s important to have more in-person events.
We also have sponsors to keep happy if we want their support for AGMs, the awards, gala dinner and press trips. No shows and drop-outs don’t do this! They undermine our industry relationships, so please support us with this and if you register to attend any event and then are unable to (we get it, especially in our industry), it’s important to cancel in good time. We’ve cancelled too many events recently because members aren’t supporting them.
Next Year, AGM etc
2025 is looking exciting too. The AGM is most likely to be in March (details soon) and we have two other possible conventions for later in the year. We’re in discussion with sponsors for all of them… be patient, they’re coming soon.
First, we focus on November 4. I can’t wait to see so many smiling faces together again!
Best wishes, Chris Coe
On behalf of the BGTW Board
BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2024
The 2024 BGTW Gala Dinner is shaping up to be one of the best events for a long time. So get your ticket and make sure we see you there! Contact Charlotte for tickets.
Glitz, Glamour and fun are all on the menu for this year’s Roaring 20s Great Gatsby themed Gala Dinner and Awards evening. It’ll be at the Art Deco Bloomsbury Ballroom, built in 1926. The evening will be presented by Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Nick Carraway. Intrigued? Then join us for a champagne reception, followed by a three course dinner, music and entertainment, dancing and a late bar. There are a few other surprises in store too!
If any members who live in London can offer a bed for the night for out-of-town members on Nov 4, please let Charlotte know so we can tell anyone looking for somewhere to stay.
Membership: renewals and self-audits (from Sarah Rodrigues)
Thank you to everyone who has completed their self-audit. Thanks especially to Dan for pulling the process together and to Charlotte for keeping on top of the incoming forms.
If you haven’t yet completed yours…membership renewal is now due, so please could you do so immediately? Equally, for those who have completed their self-audits, please pay your membership fees ASAP. In terms of the Gala Dinner, members’ tickets are only available to those who have paid their membership fees.
We realise that this self-auditing process has thrown up issues for some members, but please don’t hesitate to contact me if this is the case. This audit is a requirement of membership, yes – but it is not intended to be punitive. For those who no longer meet the requirements, or whose audits have raised issues around output and, critically, paid output, I will be in touch to discuss next steps, whether that’s how we can better support you over the coming year, or whether you might find Associate Membership a better fit at this stage.
Awards: MEAs and ITAs 2024
Members’ Excellence Awards
The shortlists have been announced and a press release sent to PRs and the travel industry. Please promote these and the sponsors on social media. A big thank you to all our judges around the world – nearly 40 of them!
International Tourism Awards
Shortlists were announced today. Similarly please promote these and the sponsors. Well done to all members whose projects were shortlisted and thank you to everyone who entered one.
Members’ Achievements
AITO Awards: Good luck to all members nominated for awards at the AITO ceremony: Alastair McKenzie, Abigail King, Bella Falk, Rashmi Narayan, Jessica Vincent, Claire Boobbyer, James Stewart, Adrian Phillips and Richard Collett.
Travel Media Awards: Congratulations to all members nominated for awards at October 28th’s ceremony, including Antonia Windsor, Simon Parker, Mary Novakovich, Aaron Millar, Mike Unwin, Anna Richards, Adrian Phillips, Ben Lerwill, Nigel Tisdale, Richard Collett, Jeremy Flint, Domhnall O’Donoghue, Philip Hopkins, Sue Watt, Jessica Vincent, Kerry Walker, Karen Edwards and Cathy Toogood.
Second of pilot podcast formats – content needed
The Guild is developing podcast formats, one of which is along the lines of ‘From Our Own Correspondent’ in which we share Members’ dispatches from around the world. We are looking for you to record audio (on your phone on a voice notes app or similar) from your travels as a short report to give other Members insight into both you, the place you’re in, and your trip-stories. It’s an entertaining way for Members to let everyone know what they’re up to and, of course, will be a great listen!
If you would like to have you or your work included please contact Jon or Chris. Deadline to be considered for the first one in this format is 24th October.
Dan is producing 5 podcasts from the Better World sustainability symposium.
BGTW Events
Photography workshop for PRs – This event took place on September 30 and was very successful, with PRs loving this initiative by the Guild and open to other educational interactions. Fujifilm provided tea/coffees, snacks, a camera for everyone and support from the head of their School of Photography.
PR workshop – sadly this event was cancelled due to lack of member interest. It is being rescheduled for Jan/Feb 25 and will include networking with PRs
Photography workshop for members – this event was also cancelled. There were fewer sign ups by members than PRs. Fujifilm have offered us the venue for January 23, 2025. If you want to come then please let Charlotte know your availability for these. This event will only run if we get enough members. Cancelling this lost us sponsorship and discounted camera equipment benefits so please support it.
ANTOR/BGTW debate – this event has been postponed by ANTOR but instead of cancelling Sarah, Mary Anne and Chris have invited those who signed up to a mini-social networking, for drinks and a bite to eat, with several ANTOR members. The rearranged debate evening will be Wednesday 12th February 12, 2025
Pre-Christmas Get Togethers (London & Out of Town)
London: Planning a visit to Winter Wonderland in London at the end of November
Blenheim Palace: working on a day out there to enjoy the fabulous Christmas attractions and meet up with other members – towards the end of November
Bournemouth: stroll around the Christmas market and meet up afterwards in a nearby pub to enjoy a Christmas drink – around the end of November
Yorkshire event 28 November (see details below)
As this is a new initiative it would be great to get an idea of numbers likely to attend any of these events – please send expressions of interest to me, valery.collins@bgtw.org
Walk, Talk and Eat on Ingleborough in Yorks with Inntravel: Guild members are invited by Inntravel to take part in their celebrations marking 40 years as one of the UK’s leading tour operators of walking holidays. Join them for a unique net-walking day-out on eitherNovember 27 or 28 withEmma Gray, Inntravel’s MD and Ruth Woodall, the Sustainability Lead for Inntravel,
Respond to: valery.collins@bgtw.org specifying your preference for November 27 or 28 by 14 November 2024.
BGTW Better World Sustainability Symposium
Thank you to all members who attended in person. I hope you had a great day, enjoyed the delicious lunch, found the conversations thoughtful and helpful, and made some new contacts with some of the DMOs and brands present. As our first event of this type, we’d really appreciate attendees completing the feedback form we sent to ensure the next edition is even better. A huge thank you to Destination Canada for partnering with us on the event (you can read all about their new Wealth & Wellbeing index tourist strategy here).
Audio recordings will be released in due course as podcasts (following editing, which, due to the slight delays on the day with the fire alarm, will also require some additional questions recording) but I hope to release the first batch before the end of the month.
Isle of Man AGM – last call for coverage
We are finalising our media report to submit to the IOM. If you haven’t yet submitted your links/clippings, or if you are still awaiting publication (or confirmation of your commission), please send an update to Charlotte so we have the most up-to-date information to share. Your coverage helps us secure future AGM venues.
WTM Press Conferences
Our PR friends have arranged a number of press conferences at the WTM to which all BGTW members are invited.
At 11am on November 5, a Balearics Press Conference with the President of the Balearic Islands to update on the government’s initiatives for promoting responsible tourism. Please RSVP at Balearicislands@wearelotus.co.uk
At 12.30pm on November 6, the emirate of Sharjah will be hosting a Press Conference with the Chairman of Sharjah’s Commerce and Tourism Department . Please RSVP at sharjah@wearelotus.co.uk
At 4.30pm on November 6, Villa Resorts will be hosting a drinks reception to celebrate the opening of their new Maldivian resort, Villa Haven. Please RSVP at villaresorts@wearelotus.co.uk
Valencia
You are invited to a press conference on November 5 on the Region of Valencia stand N5-520 from 1.30 to 2.30 pm, with presentations from the President and Minister of Tourism, plus the seven regional brand partners: Costa Blanca, Benidorm, Alicante, Visit Elche, Valencia Turisme, Visit Valencia and Castellón talking about sustainability initiatives across the region’s tourism sector. Sign-up here
There will also be a Media Breakfast on November 6 (9 for 9.30 to 10.30 am) at TAPA TAPA, E16 1DR (Custom House DLR) The Minister and President will present the new “Pro-Tourism” strategy, the destination today and look at the plans to influence the betterment of the region’s tourism. Sign-up here
Member news
Au Revoir from Gillian Thornton Some of my Guild friends are already aware that I was taken ill two weeks ago on a press trip to Venice. Thanks to the intervention of an Italian pharmacist via cruise PR Kate Selley, I was made comfortable enough to travel home with the group but two days later ended up in my local A&E for unexpected emergency surgery on a life-threatening twisted bowel. Just one of those freak things but very scary.
I’m home now, slowly regaining strength and mobility, and should make a full recovery in a few months. But after great consideration, I have decided to resign my BGTW membership after some 25 happy years and two 3-year stints on the Board. I shall continue to work part-time in my specialist areas but have all the contacts I need and no longer require the networking opportunities and educational events that the Guild provides. But it has been a privilege to have been a member. I have made some wonderful friends, enjoyed many AGMs in lovely locations, and learnt lots of new tricks. I wish you all well and hope to catch up with old friends at events occasionally. If you would like to stay in contact, you can email me on gillian@thorntons.uk.net or by What’s App on 07831 275889. Happy travels!
