TW: What’s up next?
With the world starting to ease open and events starting to return with some trepidation, work is heating up at Trip Whisperer with public relations clients, launches, trip planning and events. Upcoming work will take me back to NYC, Memphis, and hopefully by June, Lebanon to plan another Wander Women Retreat. Thankful to have a new team member Stephanie Aviles to juggle all of the things and take on new business as we grow!
New York City Travel Week
With the New York Times Travel Show announcing the retirement of the event, we thought we lost our ‘travel week’ in NYC. Then in comes, the Travel & Adventure Show to take up those dates in their stead. Omicron had different plans though. The event had to shift to March 18-20. Even still, I had faith that by March things would settle and so it has - knock on wood. I can’t wait to host my annual party on Friday to see everyone. The last one was a really good send off January 2020 when I revealed my new branding and TW swag. We didn’t even it know it was our last hoorah for several years!
This year, I have some blossoming plans! You’ll see soon. Follow along on Instagram.
TravelCon Goes to Memphis!
After two years of postponement woes, we are now within two months from TravelCon in Memphis April 29-May 1st. We’re expecting 700 travel media professionals and 150+ industry attendees to make for an exciting travel event comeback.
The three-day event will pack in amazing keynotes like Pauline Frommer, Pico Iyer, Nicole Walters and Jeff Goins - an amazing mix of travel and business leaders, education sessions, networking events, Media Marketplace for 1:1 appointments and more. We aim to standout from other industry events to offer the best in travel business class. The only way we can grow is by hearing from diverse voices and evolving our travel media approach, which I think this industry is - in many cases- shamefully behind. We hope to adapt and grow together.
Beyond the conference halls, Memphis is going to be an incredible host city. During our site visit, we got to see all the new hotel openings, new breweries, dining, music and more. Memphis Travel team will put on an amazing show, and I’m here for it!
For those of you who want to come, you can buy a ticket here and email me (jessica@tripwhisperer.nyc) about any remaining partner opportunities - most are sold out now.
Philly with Avenue Two Travel
The first annual Avenue Two Travel Collective will gather the agency’s top luxury travel advisors for education, networking and a reunion that I cannot wait for. I joined the agency as a travel advisor back in January 2021 from another host agency. Since then, I’ve become an active member on the public relations side, while my travel planning business picks up. Lots of great news and industry partnerships. Tune into Travel Market Report’s MasterAdvisor Episode: How to Make the Most Out of Your Host Agency.
Summer Travel
After all the events, I will firm up my dates for Lebanon for a few weeks in June. This trip will be about scouting out a new itinerary that we haven’t done before - skiing. While I love Faraya and the escape from reality that the mountains provides in Lebanon (IYKYK), I haven’t incorporated the skiing aspect in my time there - more the après ski at Rikkyz, which is an experience.
Seems contradictory to plan for winter in summer, but then again, Lebanon is not your typical country and things have been tenuous and unstable since first arriving there in 2017. There will be time to check in with friends and get a on-the-ground update of the situation from fuel to inflation, businesses to foundations to support.
For anyone adventurous, loves hospitality, great food, history and wine, let me know if you want a bespoke itinerary created. Through my connections there, a visit is possible, however, needs to be organized by someone with first-hand knowledge.
More to come in this week’s newsletter. For any new PR business inquiries or travel planning needs, don’t hesitate to reach out and follow those links for the specific needs.
