THETRADESHOW is pleased to announce its newest product—THETRAVELBLOGGERSSHOW. This two-day event, held Sept. 11-12 in conjunction with THETRADESHOW (Orlando, Sept. 12-14), will bring together travel bloggers from across the world to network and learn from one another.
Alexandria, VA – What’s more, participants will have an exclusive chance to experience some of Orlando’s most popular attractions, as well as learn new skills, thanks to a dynamic series of targeted educational seminars and panels.
“Travel today isn’t just about glossy brochures and travel promotions. People are getting information from hundreds of sources and turning right around and becoming sources of travel information in their own right thanks to the advent of blogging and social networking sites,” said Chris Russo, president and chair of ASTA, one of THETRADESHOW’s managing partners. “We recognize that travel bloggers are part of the new travel landscape and want to be sure that we provide them and our suppliers with a format where they can learn from one another.”
The two-day event will start on Saturday, when THETRAVELBLOGGERSSHOW participants will have the afternoon free to enjoy special VIP perks, courtesy of some of Orlando’s top selling retailers and attractions, as well as specially planned events just for them. Sunday will include afternoon access to the trade show floor, where hundreds of travel suppliers from around the world will be exhibiting, as well as a morning seminar session, covering:
- A Top Travel Blogger Shares How He Does It. Whether you’re just starting your life as a travel blogger or already consider yourself a veteran, this seminar will offer new insight into how to take your blog from zero to 60. Attendees will learn the ins and outs of producing a blog that is on everyone’s must-read list.
- Search Engine Optimization and How to Monetize Your Blog. So you’ve got a blog and you want to make some money. Maybe you’re looking to leave the corporate world behind or simply supplement your paycheck while you pursue your passion. Either way, it’s all about the eyeballs—how many you attract and how long they stay there. This seminar will provide useful tips that travel bloggers can put into effect immediately, covering everything from increasing traffic to your blog and the factors that affect your search engine rankings to securing advertising and ultimately, the impact of search technology on your bottom line.
- One Subject, One Blog: Do’s and Don’ts for Niche Blogging. Whatever it is—cruising, the culinary traditions of Italy, backpacking—you’re passionate about it. But how do you keep the content fresh when you’re only covering one subject, and sometimes a narrowly focused subject at that? Attendees of this panel discussion will hear from niche travel bloggers about their trials and travails when it comes to providing new content with a creative spin.
“Orlando has so much to offer visitors,” said Nancy Hahn Bono, senior director of global development for the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Beyond being the perfect place for family visits, the combination of world-class spas, dining and shopping venues make it the perfect get-away destination.”
For bloggers, Orlando goes beyond just theme parks and family travel, appealing to those who blog about such subjects as:
- Spa travel: Did you know that Orlando’s 19 destination spas are conveniently located at convention hotels, making the temptation nearly impossible to resist?
- Shopping/Retail: Quantity and quality aren’t mutually exclusive in Orlando, where the avid shopper needn’t sacrifice style for price. For glamour, look no further than The Mall at Millenia, Florida Mall and the Park Avenue shopping district in Winter Park. Or experience the best of both worlds by shopping the bargain-savvy collection of designer outlet centers, including Orlando Premium Outlets, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores and Prime Outlets Orlando.
- Music/Nightlife. In a destination known for daytime thrills, evenings have made quite a name for themselves. Orlando was among just a handful of U.S. cities to develop its own underground DJ and dance music scene parallel to the U.K. during the late-’80s and early-’90s, helping shape its world-class nightlife well into this decade.
- Golf: The metro Orlando area counts 176 golf courses, allowing golfers to tee off on courses designed by legends such as Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. The area is also home to some of the country’s top-ranked golf academies, including the world headquarters of David Leadbetter’s Golf Academy and Annika Sorenstam’s ANNIKA Academy at Ginn Reunion Resort.
- Dining/Cooking: From what had been a culinary waste-land, Orlando has risen from the ashes, emerging as home to some of the country’s top restaurants. Visitors may now choose from tony resort kitchens, independent bistros or fine dining options from both familiar and exclusive brands. International fare and flavors dominate the menus across the destination–Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, Cuban, Greek, Turkish and Italian–just to name a few.
The $25 registration fee covers access to three days of the THETRADESHOW, including education sessions, trade show floor access and all-delegate functions (excluding private events), in addition to blogger track sessions and special THETRAVELBLOGGERSSHOW functions. Those who wish to revisit content from THETRADESHOW and THETRAVELBLOGGERSSHOW once they return home or view sessions they were not able to attend on-site, may purchase a Best Value package. In addition to everything offered as part of their basic registration, the Best Value package includes access to conference recordings* for just $99. To learn more about the event or to register, visit THETRADESHOW.org.
THETRADESHOW is created and supported by the travel industry’s leading organizations, including: ASTA, ACTA, CLIA, ETOA, IGLTA, NACTA, NBTA, NTA, The Travel Institute, U.S. Travel Association and USTOA. Official media partners are: Agent@Home, eTurboNews, JaxFax, TravelPulse, Recommend, Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, USA Today and Vacation Agent.
THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) is a 3-day, in-depth networking and educational event. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW unites under one roof travel suppliers and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel decision makers.
