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It's a travel magazine which redefines luxury and adventure through the lens of a travel journalist. In a world filled with mainstream travel destinations, it's a breath of fresh air to come across Boutique Spots, a travel magazine that has gained popularity among nomads and luxury travelers alike. This one-of-a-kind publication shines a spotlight on upcoming tourist spots and hidden escapes, showcasing destinations that typically fly under the radar. From Mexico to Spain, Costa Rica to Greece,

Should Travel Writers Ask for Free Trips or Get Paid by a Destination?

This started out with a question: Should travel writers ask for free trips.

It’s  a vexing and contentious issue for travel professionals.

The ethical issues are pretty clear: If a travel writer is given an all-expense trip to a country, hotel, resort  or whatever -  and this usually includes airfare, meals, accommodations and passes to attractions in the region - can that writer be balanced in his or her article?

In the

How Not To Run A Travel Media Lunch


It may be that I’m hypercritical, but I don’t think so.

After the umpteenth Travel Media/Press lunch,  I declined the last few simply because  they promised to be  photostatic copies of most every other press lunch held.

In spite of some web sites that offer advice most PR-driven media lunches still  mirror those held for travel content providers for years.

PR and Marketing firms who are members of  SATW, arguably the most important (or self-important)  associati

Travel & Words, the Pacific Northwest travel writer's event recommended by Writer's Digest, features a line-up of media and sustainable tourism specialists. The annual two-day event will be held May 1-2, 2011 at Willows Lodge, a sustainable boutique hotel located near Seattle in Woodinville, Washington.

The conference theme, Sustainable + Green + Responsible Travel and Tourism, will be woven into each speaker's presentation so that freelance writers and journalists can explore these key trends

If HuffPostTravel can declare that the "Old Travel Show is Dead, Long Live the New York Travel Festival," then we might be right in declaring that "Travel Destination Articles Are Dying, Long Live Social Media Travel Content."

So, when a senior editor at Technorati  told me that, going forward, all travel-related content had to have a social media spin, had to be presented via a Social/New Media filter, I knew the travel content game had changed. No more colorful destination pieces?

And then I

Yes, if all they write about are places they travel to.  It seems the traveling public is more interested these days in travel ideas, trends, travel news and technology, than in destinations.

Travel writers love to travel. That’s why most of them are in the business.

But it that the right reason?
I don’t think so.

Matador Notebook points out that the world is so thoroughly Googleized that the tradition of destination travel writers may be coming to an end.

Historically, authentic travel conte

ANALYSIS: TRAVEL ADVERTORIALS. With tourism being a multi-billion dollar industry collecting the spending from 1 billion tourists in 2012, the hunt at travel agencies, airlines and hotel bookers for new customers is at the boiling point. The media has of course seen the trend, and the number of glossy magazines, websites with amazing photos and travel phone apps is increasing by the minute. Being a part of all this, the Traveling Reporter as well as, most likely, every other travel website edito

Travel & Words Spring '11 conference offers opportunities to connect learn and write about sustainable, green and responsible travel and tourism for an early registration fee of $99.

Travel & Words Spring ‘11, recommended by Writer's Digest as a premier travel writers' conference, confirmed today a full agenda of industry speakers, destination specialists, and travel publishers and editors at the May 1-2 event. The conference focus is on sustainable, green and responsible travel and tourism.

“I

Linda Ballou author

Linda Ballou shares highlights in her new book Lost Angel Walkabout filled with chills, spills, giggles, and squeaks, along with her secrets on "How to Make Travel Writing Work for You." Join her in this fun "Conversation with author Yolanda Renee on blog talk radio. Plug for Tripatini in here! 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee/2011/02/17/a-conversation-with-travel-writer-linda-ballou-1