IFWTWA is Accepting Proposals for Press Trips for 2011 and 2012

[Maralyn D Hill]

IFWTWA is open to accepting proposals for press trips for 2011 and 2012. 

You set numbers that work for you, season, and make the final decision on who attends from applications. 

Michelle Winner and I work closely with you to make sure all your questions are answered. If you are interested, please contact me at [e-mail].

Check out the IFWTWA site and you can see an example of this year's trips.

Thanks for your consideration. 

[Margaret Andrzejewska-Bancewicz]

Dear Maralyn,

Do you plan to include POland and the Baltic States in one of the press trips for 2011 and 2012?

If so, please let me know what assistance would be needed.

You can  also find Anna Gorska, CEO of Gdansk Convention and Visitors Bureau on www.tripatibi.com

 

Anna and me  I would be more than happy to assist you .

Best regards,

Margaret

[Maralyn D Hill]

Dear Margaret,

 

We would love to include Poland and the Baltic States in one of our press trips. I am sending you a basic outline, but would be delighted to speak with you and go over details as our goal is to work with hosts to provide the best value proposition and return on investment.  You can reach me directly at [e-mail].

We have not had two press trips the same since Michelle Winner and I started doing them in 2007, when we were new to the Board of Directors. We adjust them according to the needs of the host. But, we do have some basic aspects that remain the same. Host provides The hosts provide accommodations, food, tours, transfers and story angles.   Usually air is included. However, sometimes there is a stipulation that it be from gateway cities the host selects. When complete air is not in the budget as is frequently the case with smaller destinations, an air allowance is generally provided. We are always willing to brainstorm ways to make things come together. If we are dealing with a country where gratuities are necessary, they are most frequently included, however, if the budget is not there for them, we will figure out the expected amount, collect it with approval of registration, and provide a check to the host. When possible, we like our international members be included. You can still specify a US gateway, but many in Asia and Australia are closer. Tentative itinerary with a couple of jpgs, subject to change, for us to put with our application. Preferred dates for us to consider and size of trips. Our trips have ranged in size from 8 to 30. Michelle and I prefer 8 to 15, but we will accommodate our hosts request. However, we have no control as to how many writers submit applications. What IFWTWA provides: We put together an application that includes all contact information, link to each members online profile (includes bio, books, websites, blogs, clips) and where they plan to publish. If you require a letter of assignment, we will request it. However, most of our hosts have been happy with recent clips that show results, and where writer intends to publish. That is the hosts call. Application is submitted to hosts for their decision. For Switzerland, we had 34 applications and 11 spaces. Who was included was the hosts decision. They called and spoke with some of the applicants before they made decisions. In the end, the picked writers to wrote through many different types of outlets. The host advises our Executive Director with cc to Michelle and me who has been picked for the trip. We like this to go out 4 to 6 weeks before the trip. Longer if we have more lead time and an early cut-off for applications. We promote the trip with emails to our members, posts on our website blogs, ad on our home page (you can see some at www.ifwtwa.org), and social networking. During the trip, we provides the various hosts with "Certificates of Appreciation." These have been very well received, especially by smaller establishments. After the trip, we have the journalists send links to the host directly as well as IFWTWÅ. We are in the process of putting together a list of past trips that will include writers, publications, and a quote from host. If a participant has not sent a clip to a host and you advise us, we will contact them and push. In 4 years, we only had 3 writers that have not come through. They are not able to participate in future trips. In general, most of us have to produce more than one article to make it worth our investment of time. Since we are a non-profit organization, we do charge our members a registration fee with a $75 non-refundable deposit. Unless someone has a serious medical emergency, we do not want to encourage last minute cancellations. If you click on Michelle's or my name, you will see examples of our online profiles. We look forward to the opportunity of working with you in the future. Please feel free to contact us for anything that may have been overlooked. As soon as you email me, I'll send our "Expectations Form" for our journalists which goes with every application and "Host Quotes."  Our personal goal is to only have satisfied hosts, as we realize that is the way we will build our reputation as an organization others want to host.  Best Regards, Maralyn and Michelle Maralyn D. Hill, President and Michelle M. Winner, Vice President International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA)  Co-Chairs Conference & Press Trip Committee