THE SPANISH ISLAND of Tenerife is expecting to find itself in the news spotlight over the coming year after hosting more than 100 journalists, photographers and broadcasters for the AGM of the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW).
The BGTW members enjoyed five days on the largest of the Canary Islands from 26-31 January and experienced a range of cultural, activity and luxury tours including rainforest walking, whalewatching and Canarian cuisine.
The AGM took place at the prestigious five-star Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque in Costa Adeje and was followed by a gala dinner attended by Tenerife’s Director of Culture and Heritage, Cristóbal de la Rosa, and other leading figures from the Canarian tourism industry.
“Tenerife Tourism Corporation was delighted to host this year's AGM for the British Guild of Travel Writers,” said Richard Hume, director of Hume Whitehead Limited, the UK PR representative for the island. “Although one of the UK's favourite holiday destinations, Tenerife is largely misunderstood by the British holidaymaker and the hosting of this event helped us dispel the outdated sterotypes often associated with this beautiful and diverse island.”
He said that the opportunity of securing over 100 journalists in one trip was rare and the fact that the BGTW’s 2010 AGM received the highest ever attendance was testament to Tenerife's attraction among its media guests.
“We were able to showcase both the south and the north of the island and the feedback we have had so far from the attendees has been incredibly positive. We are confident that the number of features that will result from Tenerife's hosting of this event will demonstrate excellent return on investment for the island," he said.
Hosting BGTW "242%" return on investment
His optimism is justified in the light of a report just published by Visit York which hosted the BGTW’s AGM in 2009. It declared a 242% return on its investment in terms of the scores of articles and coverage generated across regional, national and international media.
The 2010 AGM voted Melissa Shales into her second consecutive year as Chair of the BGTW.
The BGTW wishes to thank the Tenerife Tourism Corporation and Monarch Airlines for their generosity in hosting the AGM. “The impact of our visit has been immediate and profound, both on our members, all of whom have been delighted with the island and the hospitality we received, and on the islanders," said Chairman Melissa Shales. "The local press has been full of interviews with our members, with an interesting exchange of ideas on tourism planning for the future. It would be lovely to think the expertise of our members might leave a lasting legacy after such hospitality.”
BGTW kicks off 50th anniversary year with Yearbook Launch Party
The next event on the BGTW calendar is the launch of the 2010 BGTW Yearbook is on Thursday 25 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, 200 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7UT from 6.30pm to 9pm. The party will also begin the BGTW’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations.
The yearbook is the UK travel industry ‘bible’, offering the best source of information for travel professionals, with up-to-date contacts for many of the UK’s best travel writers, photographers and broadcasters, as well as thousand of crucial industry contacts.
The cost per copy of the British Guild of Travel Writers Yearbook 2009, which includes free access to the restricted areas of the Guild website (www.bgtw.org) has been reduced this year to £95, plus postage and packing. Additional copies are available at £50 each.
The BGTW is offering a pre-publication deal to anyone who orders copies before the launch on 25 Feb. Order now and the book is available for £95 including posting and packing within the UK (plus p&p if you are abroad). You may buy copies by contacting the Secretariat, by logging onto the website, www.bgtw.org and going to the Shop and following the link.
Melissa Shales is assisted by a strong committee in the shape of Vice-Chairman Mary Anne Evans; Treasurer Frances Howorth; Secretary Antonia Cunningham; Membership Secretary Mary Moore Mason; GlobeTrotter and Web Editor Tim Locke; Webmaster Alastair McKenzie; PR and Promotions Co-ordinator Sarah Monaghan; Guild Publisher Sarah Siese; Business Development Manager Roger Bray; and Facilities Coordinator Michael Howorth. Email links to them all are available on the Guild website, www.bgtw.org under About Us.
Founded in 1960, the British Guild of Travel Writers is an association of over 270 writers, editors, photographers, producers, radio and television presenters involved in the world of travel. The BGTW includes travel editors of national and regional newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programmes. They cover an almost exhaustive range of specialities and international expertise. www.bgtw.org
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17 August 2010 - The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) has teamed up with The Travel Bookshop in London's Notting Hill to hold the first BGTW Festival of Travel Writing from 9-18 September. The festival, which it is hoped will become an annual event, has been launched to celebrate the Guild's 50th anniversary.
Evening Talks
Some of Britain's top travel writers will share their experiences with the shop's customers during a free series of evening talks (7pm-8.15pm):
Thursday 9 September - Write on Track - Adventures in train travel
Wednesday 15 September - DIY...
The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) celebrated its 50th anniversary in style on 1st July at a party attended by top figures from the travel industry at The Battery Restaurant, Canary Wharf, London.
Festivities began en route as 150 of the 250 guests travelled to the reception with glasses of Champagne in hand along the Thames aboard a riverboat courtesy of City Cruises.
Congratulatory speeches were made by guests of honour Richard E. Gooding, the Chief Executive of London City Airport, and Ken Kelling, the Director of Communications at Visit London.
Relating the origins of the...
The BGTW celebrates 50 years
The year 2010 will be a landmark one for the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) as it celebrates its 50th anniversary year with a line-up of parties and commemorative events.
The last five decades have been momentous in the history of the development of travel and tourism and the BGTW has been at its forefront.
The original idea for an organisation to represent Britain’s top travel writers was first conceived in Berkeley Square, London, by a group of journalists in – appropriately enough – the board room of Thomas Cook: the company often credited with the...
The travel industry’s most comprehensive searchable travel contacts database is now available with the 2010 edition of the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Yearbook.
Purchase of the 270-page Yearbook gives immediate online access to the Guild’s search-engine optimised travel industry database, as well as breaking travel news feeds and events listings.
The Yearbook is an invaluable tool for those working in the international travel industry looking to win media coverage in the UK – with special relevance to those involved in travel PR, travel agents, specialist tour operators, international tourist boards, airlines and transport companies.
It...
50th Anniversary issue of travel trade's 'bible' unveiled at London's newest landmark hotel
(London, Fri 26 Feb 2010) The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) kicked off its 50th anniversary year in style with the launch of a celebratory gold-themed issue of its famous Yearbook at a stylish party hosted by London’s newest and uber-modern hotel, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
The event was celebrated by more than 350 of the UK’s top travel media and industry professionals in the vast Westminster Ballroom of the 1,000-room £350-million luxury hotel in the heart of London’s buzzing South Bank.
Always considered a ‘bible’ and...
With a degree in Chinese from London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Damian has been researching and writing guidebooks to China since 1997.
A fluent speaker and reader of Chinese, Damian has worked as co-ordinating author on five editions of the Lonely Planet China guide to date, witnessing China during its period of greatest transformation. Damian has also co-written multiple editions of the Lonely Planet Beijing and Shanghai city guides, served as co-ordinating author of... Read more...
"For habitual travellers to Greece the Peloponnese also offers something of a time machine. Fifteen or twenty years you could still see old men going to their fields on donkey back, old women clad in black preparing vegetables on their doorsteps, main roads blocked by flocks of goats, olives being picked with no more aid than a triangular wooden ladder and a big stick, tractors made from converted lawnmowers, and village shops seemingly unchanged since the 1940s. In the Peloponnese you still can."
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