Breakout Sessions: Set VII, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
"Love Is in the Air: Attracting the Romance Market"
Carranza Room, Second Floor
Are your romance getaway ideas in a rut? Do you need new ideas for promoting your destination, resort or activity? Are you afraid to commit? Meet with editors and bloggers in the know about the latest trends and innovations in romantic travel. Find out what messages are resonating with leading market segments interested in planning second honeymoons, anniversary celebrations as well as destination weddings and commitment ceremonies. You will learn:
- The latest trends and innovations in romantic travel.
- What the most popular destinations communicate that others don’t.
- New ideas for promoting your destination, resort or activity.
Jenna Mahoney, travel editor, Bridal Guide Magazine
Andrew Collins is based in Portland, Ore., and writes about food and travel for a wide range of both mainstream and GLBT publications. He has served as editor and writer on more than 150 guidebooks for Fodor’s Travel Publications, including the New Mexico, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and Las Vegas titles, as well as the groundbreaking Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA in the 1990s. He’s the expert “guide” on gay and lesbian travel for New York Times-owned website GayTravel.About.com, he writes regularly for a variety of GLBT newspapers and websites throughout North America, and he's contributed to Orbitz.com, Travel + Leisure, The Advocate, New Mexico Magazine, and various AAA publications. He also teaches courses on travel writing and food writing for New York City's acclaimed Gotham Writers' Workshop.
Vivian Vassos, executive editor, ZOOMER Magazine
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(Repeat) "From East to West: AAA Publications Drive Insight Forward"
Villa Room, Second Floor
With more than 51 million subscribers, AAA publications are a valuable resource to today's travelers. These outlets’ content covers everything from industry trends and traveling tips to suggestions on where to stay, eat and shop. Gain valuable insight from editors as they share what's on their calendars for the remainder of 2011 and discover what story opportunities they’re looking forward to in 2012. You will learn:
- How best to pitch AAA publications.
- What angles make a story print-worthy, rather than just publishable online.
- How to expand awareness of your piece through niche bloggers and AAA enthusiasts.
Elizabeth Harryman is travel editor of Westways, the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California, with a circulation of 3.9 million, a readership of 8 million, and 48 percent penetration of the Southern California market. Westways is the second largest magazine in America covering travel, according to Advertising Age, and is the recipient of two major Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism awards. Harryman also coordinates the travel coverage for the other five AAA magazines the Auto Club publishes and serves as editor in chief of Northern New England Journey. The six magazines cover markets from New England to Hawaii and have a combined readership of about 10 million. Harryman also works with her husband, Paul Lasley, on broadcast projects and podcasts, and she blogs at AAATravelViews.com.
Paul Lasley is the "TravelSmart” columnist of Westways, the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California, and for the five other AAA magazines the Auto Club publishes. Lasley is also executive producer and co-host of “Traveling,” a 25-minute talk show about travel that airs daily in 180 countries on American Forces Radio, and he and his wife, Elizabeth Harryman, won the 2008 Gold Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award for Travel Broadcast – Audio. Their website, OnTravel.com is a 24/7 source of podcasting about the world of travel, and Lasley blogs at AAATravelViews.com. Lasley is also a former travel contributors for NBC’s "Today" show and for 15 years, they hosted travel talk radio shows in Los Angeles — on KABC and KPCC Radio.
Janna Graber is executive editor of Go World Publishing & Productions as well as a regular contributor to AAA EnCompass, the member magazine for AAA Colorado, and the state's largest circulation magazine, reaching one in six Colorado households. The bi-monthly, full-color magazine brings readers top quality travel stories covering the U.S. and international destinations. Graber is also a freelance writer, editor and producer for numerous clients, including Rand McNally, Tribune.com, AOL Travel, and more. An experienced writer, editor and video producer, Graber works with the company's tourism partners, creates PR and marketing campaigns for travel clients, and oversees the company's online publications.
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(Repeat) "A Recipe for Success: Having Your Story Featured in Top-Tier Food Outlets"
Zapata Room, Second Floor
With A-list culinary placements at an all-time premium, the age of the foodie has arrived! This session will provide you with necessary tips to get your food and beverage news, as well as your local or in-house personalities, onto the most influential pages, programs and websites that you have been craving. Also, you will learn:
- How to entice food editors with your story topics and angles.
- Predictions for the next big trends and cuisine.
- What public relations practices leave a bitter aftertaste.
David Farley is an award-winning New York-based food and travel writer. He's a contributing editor at Afar magazine and he writes regularly for The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, and Gadling.com. He's the author of "An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's Oddest Town" (Penguin, 2009). He teaches writing at New York University.
Amy Rosen is food editor at Canadian House & Home Magazine, as well as a freelance food and travel writer. Rosen writes the weekly "Dish" column in The National Post, and is a contributing editor for enRoute magazine, for which she ate her away across Canada twice. A James Beard nominee, and regular contributor to Food & Wine, Maclean's and Cooking Light, among other magazines, Rosen likes to cook, but loves to eat. A story she wrote is included in the American anthology “Best Food Writing”. For more on Rosen’s writing visit AmyRosen.com.
Todd Coleman, executive food editor, Saveur Magazine