** TheArchivist **

Legitimate writers say this encourages 'free-loading' by guests with little, or no, interest in travel; there has even been talk of non-journalists taking up the offers.

Now professional travel writers, struggling to get their mainly freelance voices heard, are fighting back. By imposing tough conditions on Guild membership, they hope to improve their standing in the eyes of the fast-growing travel industry.

They will also press for higher rates of pay and a better guarantee of getting members' work used.

They have the backing of among others Reg Bates, editor of Travel Agency magazine, and the manager of the Danish Tourist Office who recently complained about the number of "fraudulent" travel writers seeking free trips.

Why, he asked, can't accredited travel writers form their own guild - an idea which quickly gathered force not only among frustrated freelancers, but some travel editors as well.

Some say the idea of a guild stemmed from a Press trip to Belgium when a so-called 'travel' writer from a national newspaper admitted being given the trip as "a holiday".

Others claim that travel writers were persuaded to take action by FIJET (International Federation of Travel Writers) while on a trip in Holland.

All agree they were goaded into action one way or another.

This led Bill Cormack, public relations officer at Thomas Cook, to propose an exploratory boardroom meeting based on a list "of reliable travel writers".

This was strictly on the understanding that the company would not sponsor an eventual guild of travel writers, in any way but merely provide the venue.

The vital role played by Bill "a gruff, hugely respected PR for the world's most respected name in travel" was confirmed by founder member Susan Lester.

"He asked me: 'What do you think about a guild of travel journalists. It would help you and the industry,' I replied "Yes, why not."

"He put the same question to Betty Jones who wrote prolifically for women's magazines, Philip Clarke, of the Sunday Times, and to Evelyn Garrett, the Daily Telegraph's women's page editor."

Another founder member Bill Glenton was equally delighted. "With foreign travel becoming ever easier, creating a potentially vast audience for both written and visual material, the need for creditable travel writing has become essential", he told the Archivist.

"The new Guild with its strict Code of Conduct, in which honesty and fairness are imperative, is a prime way of achieving this."

Bill, a writer on cruising and shipping, added: "As important as anything will be the ability to speak with one voice. This will help achieve better co-operation from tourist offices and tour operators.

"This is going to prove of benefit to all concerned with independent travel rapidly being overtaken by organised package holidays.

"Yet nothing will be more important than the Guild's role as an honest watchdog. This will ensure readers are told the truth, warts and all" It was all to do, he stressed, with "credibility".

Also at the initial meeting was Otto Herschan, travel editor of the Catholic Herald. He felt that since Geoffrey Portham, owner and editor of Go travel magazine, had volunteered to be chairman, it seemed appropriate that subsequent meetings should be held at his company's Fleet Street offices. The next meeting, however, was held at the Comet Room in BOACs London headquarters on November 8.

This meeting was a turning point. It laid down the new Guild's rules and regulations. A membership fee of three guineas or 10 guineas for life membership was also agreed to.

The next issue of the Archivist will report on the early days, and the views of members at the time.