What's better than a box of chocolates? To a public relations person, it is a convention hall packed full of travel writers and journalists all eager to hear about your destination and willing to write favorably about your city.
Those not directly involved in the business of tourism, may not fully understand the role the Convention & Visitors Bureau, or CVB, plays in bringing travel writers and journalists to Carlsbad. It has been said before, but bears repeating: Tourism is the nation's third largest retail sales sector and one of America's largest employers.
Since travel is normally associated with the pleasure of taking a vacation, those not directly connected with the tourism marketplace may not think of it as a serious business. However, travel and tourism is the largest industry and generator of jobs worldwide.
With this said, a “box of chocolates” was presented to me recently at Travel Media Showcase in Palm Springs. More than 100 qualified and invited journalists gathered together with 77 exhibitors for three intense days of scheduled journalist/exhibitor appointment sessions.
We also had regional press tours, plus numerous other networking opportunities with the media and our peers. This was truly a unique opportunity for top travel journalists and travel industry professionals to meet one-on-one at a single location to exchange information and develop personal contacts.
The travel industry representation included public relations and communications directors of CVBs, domestic and international destination tourism offices, major hotel chains, airlines, cruise lines, entertainment attractions and gaming venues. The Travel Media Showcase is basically a one-stop, cost-effective opportunity for travel industry exhibitors to participate in one-on-one appointments, as well as meet and greet opportunities, with editors, staff, freelance, magazine, newspaper, broadcast and Internet travel journalists in a professional business setting.
AAA Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, California Golf Lifestyle, Copley News, Dallas Morning News, Family Circle, Fodor's, Frommer's, the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC.com, National Geographic Traveler, the New York Post and the San Francisco Chronicle are just a few of the 247 media outlets that were represented.
I personally met with 33 journalists by appointment and participated in another 25 casual meetings by handing out our new media kit that includes an overview of Carlsbad and a disc with press releases and photos. Needless to say, my next few weeks will be devoted to following up with specially requested information, contacting those who requested media visits and making sure that each journalist receives new Carlsbad information as it becomes available.
Hoteliers, attractions or businesses interested in participating in or learning more about the bureau's Travel Writer Program can call Frankie Laney at (760) 434-6093 or e-mail her at [email protected].
Those not directly involved in the business of tourism, may not fully understand the role the Convention & Visitors Bureau, or CVB, plays in bringing travel writers and journalists to Carlsbad. It has been said before, but bears repeating: Tourism is the nation's third largest retail sales sector and one of America's largest employers.
Since travel is normally associated with the pleasure of taking a vacation, those not directly connected with the tourism marketplace may not think of it as a serious business. However, travel and tourism is the largest industry and generator of jobs worldwide.
With this said, a “box of chocolates” was presented to me recently at Travel Media Showcase in Palm Springs. More than 100 qualified and invited journalists gathered together with 77 exhibitors for three intense days of scheduled journalist/exhibitor appointment sessions.
We also had regional press tours, plus numerous other networking opportunities with the media and our peers. This was truly a unique opportunity for top travel journalists and travel industry professionals to meet one-on-one at a single location to exchange information and develop personal contacts.
The travel industry representation included public relations and communications directors of CVBs, domestic and international destination tourism offices, major hotel chains, airlines, cruise lines, entertainment attractions and gaming venues. The Travel Media Showcase is basically a one-stop, cost-effective opportunity for travel industry exhibitors to participate in one-on-one appointments, as well as meet and greet opportunities, with editors, staff, freelance, magazine, newspaper, broadcast and Internet travel journalists in a professional business setting.
AAA Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, California Golf Lifestyle, Copley News, Dallas Morning News, Family Circle, Fodor's, Frommer's, the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC.com, National Geographic Traveler, the New York Post and the San Francisco Chronicle are just a few of the 247 media outlets that were represented.
I personally met with 33 journalists by appointment and participated in another 25 casual meetings by handing out our new media kit that includes an overview of Carlsbad and a disc with press releases and photos. Needless to say, my next few weeks will be devoted to following up with specially requested information, contacting those who requested media visits and making sure that each journalist receives new Carlsbad information as it becomes available.
Hoteliers, attractions or businesses interested in participating in or learning more about the bureau's Travel Writer Program can call Frankie Laney at (760) 434-6093 or e-mail her at [email protected].