In this newsletter you will find:
- Confirmation of AGM and Convention Venue
- Information on the BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner
- BGTW International Tourism Awards Update
- Request for details of Malta coverage
- September’s BGTW events:
- Guild Trip to Gibraltar Literary Festival 16-19 November
- Members’ benefits
- October BGTW events
- and much, much more …
BGTW AGM and Convention 2024
We are delighted to have been invited by Visit Isle of Man to hold our 2024 AGM and Convention on the island. The details are being sorted out as we speak but it is likely the visit will be in February.
There will likely be two options: a shorter visit focused around the AGM and a couple of fam trips, and a longer itinerary to cover more of what the island has to offer. Further information will be announced as soon as we have it.
BGTW ANNUAL GALA AWARDS DINNER (AGAD) 2023
We are glad to announce that this year’s BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner (AGAD) promises to be a spectacular event at Middle Temple Hall in London on 5 November (6pm to 11pm).
There may be no fireworks, but thanks to the wonderful support of Explore Charleston and Discover South Carolina, who have generously sponsored the event, we have managed to heavily subsidise members’ tickets for what promises to be the travel event of the year.
Members tickets are £95 and member-plus-one tickets are £140 (both including VAT). The actual pre-subsidised cost is more than £300 per head. Tickets (£199 plus VAT) to our industry friends will be going on sale in two weeks. So, to secure your ticket make sure to beat the rush. The event will include a Champagne reception, three-course sit down dinner, announcement of the BGTW award winners, music and surprise entertainment.
To purchase a ticket, email charlotte.copeman@bgtw.org.
BGTW International Tourism Awards Update
The votes are in for the BGTW International Tourism Awards, brought to you in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism. The list of this year’s finalists, and updated website pages are being prepared.
Awards and the list of this year’s finalists, and updated website pages are being prepared. We will be making an announcement on Tuesday 5 September.
For the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards, all the entries have now been verified and sent out to the 36 or so judges in the UK and those who are members of our sister organisations: SATW in the US and the Australian Society of Travel Writers. They have quite a task so we give them almost all of September to complete the process. The list of finalists will be announced at the start of October.
The winners will all be announced at our Annual Gala Awards Dinner being held on Sunday evening, 5 November, at Middle Temple Hall in the City of London, an event partnered by Explore Charleston and Discover South Carolina.
Please Inform Us of Your Coverage of Malta
In return for their generous hosting of members in March, our friends at Visit Malta and Finn Partners are keen to understand what coverage members who travelled to the island have been able to secure. We need to know about content you’ve already had published or broadcast, as well as content that you’ve submitted but hasn’t appeared yet. If you’ve already let us have details then you don’t need to tell us again, unless there’s new content of course. Send your updates through to Joint Chair Stuart Render at stuart.render@bgtw.org. Finn will be comparing the delegate list with the feedback we receive and either they or us may also be making direct contact with members if needed to follow this up. Thank you.
Unconscious Bias Keynote TALK & BOOK LAUNCH
Business consultant Buki Mosaku , an internationally-recognised expert on effective communication and workplace bias, is inviting BGTW members to a special event in central London on Wednesday 13 September.
He will be giving a talk about unconscious bias that links to his new book, ‘I Don’t Understand – Navigating Unconscious Bias in the Workplace’.
In his talk, Buki will explain how he has cracked the code for calling out unconscious workplace bias to stop it in its tracks. He notes that the basic premise is simple:
“Traditional corporate training solutions tend to follow the counterproductive model of ‘Guilty Perpetrator’ versus ‘Hapless Victim’,” he says. “On 13 September I will explain more about why this approach is unproductive and counter intuitive. I will present a more effective model to navigating all workplace bias and show you how to think, what to say, when to say it and the way to say it. This will give you the tools to put career-stifling and conflict-generating workplace bias behind you, once and for all.”
Buki has worked with a number of global industry giants including Shell, BNP Paribas, M&S, Goldman Sachs, American Express, Aon and HSBC.
The event, which is free for BGTW members to attend, and includes food and beverages, takes place at The City of London Club, Old Broad Street, between Bank and Liverpool Street station. Arrival is from 5.30pm for a 6pm start. The club has a dress code of jacket, collared shirt, smart trousers, dress or skirt.
Numbers are limited, so to reserve your place, or to find out more, please email hello@bukimosaku.com
Discover Local London with Mercure Hotels on 13 September
Our friends Finn Partners are inviting Guild Members for an exclusive treasure hunt that lets you ‘Discover Local’ with Mercure Hotels on Wednesday, September 13. We know this is the same day as the Book Launch above, but it is possible to combine the two events (albeit missing parts).
The adventure begins with a welcome briefing and tipple at Mercure Hyde Park at 3pm sharp and ends at Mercure London Bridge for cocktails and canapes (7-8pm). There will be small sections of walking, around 10 minutes each, as well as drinks onboard Tootbus’ sightseeing Bar Bus!
Finn do not wish to spoil the surprise, but ywe can expect to see some of London’s treasures from secret gardens to hidden historic spots.
To join an afternoon and evening of seeking out London’s hidden gems please RSVP by 1 September to accor@finnpartners.com. There are 12 available spots.
BGTW West End VIP Theatre Evening – Tuesday 26 September 2023
Enjoy a VIP hosted evening in London’s West End with pre-show drinks and an opportunity to see ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ the new comedy musical.
This ‘genuinely funny comedy musical’ (Time Out) based on the beloved film is ‘a surefire hit!’ (The Telegraph, Daily Express). The Telegraph calls it ‘a complete joy’, The Times says it ‘soars from screen to stage’, and City AM hails it as ‘funny, heart-warming and wildly entertaining!’
So what’s the story? Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.
Thanks to Jonathan Mountford and his team at made we have 30 pairs of tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can bring a friend, a partner, well anybody.
The evening will begin with a pre-show reception at a Covent Garden hotel. We will then walk over to the Shaftesbury Theatre for the performance. You’ll be given tokens to use for interval drinks.
There is no charge for this event, but we do ask that if you reserve a seat, and have your tickets confirmed, but then can’t attend, you do notify Jonathan’s team as soon as possible, as there will almost certainly be a waiting list.
If you’d like to join your Joint Chairs for what promises to be an enjoyable and entertaining evening, simply email aashka@made.travel quoting ‘BGTW Mrs Doubtfire’ in the subject line. She will then confirm that you have secured tickets. The deadline for requests is Monday 11 September. Remember, it’s first come, first served.
Guild Trip to Gibraltar Literary Festival Nov 16 – 19
The Gibraltar Tourist Board have offered the Guild three places on a press trip to this Festival, leaving Gatwick on the evening of Nov 16 and returning on the evening of Nov 19. Apart from the chance to attend the talks and to meet the authors, a range of tours will be offered to the main tourist sites and also to hotels, together with the chance to meet staff from the Tourist Board. Accommodation facilities in Gibraltar will double in the next few years, so participants will be able to see new hotels and those being renovated. More information on the Festival is available on the website www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com The list of participants this year is embargoed until September 1, but will then appear on the website. A wide selection of famous writers are coming from the political, literary and cooking fields. Please send expressions of interest to Neil Taylor by Sept 9. neiltaylor90@hotmail.com
MEMBERS’ BENEFITS
Dell Discount
As many members know, the BGTW has secured discounts with DELL for BGTW members. Some of the latest discounts include:
Renowned and sustainable business laptop –
Latitude, was 8% now 12%.
Creative powerhouse – Precision, was 8% now 12%
Optiplex desktops – was 8% now 12%
Award winning XPS – was 8% now 10%
As always, the new member discounts can be used on top of sale prices. Discounts avail till 3 November. Details of how you apply for these can be found at Benefits – BGTW.
ANTOR v BGTW Debate 12 October 2023
Topic of Debate: “The influence of CHAT GBT and Artificial Intelligence on Travel Writing, Travel Photography and PR – Should we be Concerned?”
We are looking for members who would be happy to join our panel for this debate. Anyone interested please contact Valery – valery.collins@bgtw.org.
INDUSTRY / MEMBER NEWS / AWARDS
2023 AITO Travel Writer of the Year (TWOTY) awards
AITO, The Specialist Travel Association, (www.aito.com), is excited to announce that entry is now open for the 2023 AITO Travel Writer of the Year (TWOTY) awards (closing date 31 August 2023).This year, AITO will be accepting articles written over a 12-month period from 1 July 2022 through to 30 June 2023. Deadline for entries is 31 August 2023. Please submit entries here: Travel Writer of The Year Awards 2023 Entry Form.
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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.
Instagramposts: 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.
British Guild of Travel Writers
