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The Ultimate Guide To Press Trips For Bloggers & How to Land Them

P ress trips, also known as media trips or familiarization (FAM) tours, are essential opportunities for bloggers and influencers to explore destinations, experiences, and products firsthand while creating engaging content for their audience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of press trips, offering actionable tips and insider strategies for securing opportunities, making the most of your experiences, and building lasting partnerships with brands and tourism boards.

I went on my first press trip this March, to Las Vegas  when I attended the Travel Goods Show .

So here’s the skinny on press trips (sometimes call “fam trips” or “fams” from the word “familiarization”).

me at the travel goods tradeshow in 2024

How press trips for travel writers or bloggers work

Destinations, hotel chains, tour companies, and others often extend invitations to bloggers to experience what they offer. These invitations, known as press trips, aim to drum up publicity and sometimes social media buzz for the place or business. Typically, writers are invited as a group, ranging from a handful to dozens, coming from different places to one central location.

The idea is for the organization to showcase their offerings so that the writers will write about it and share photos or videos. For the writers, the goal is to create content for publications or videos. Ideally, they’ll enjoy the trip and want to talk about it.

Depending on how it’s set up, writers might have every minute planned out with a set itinerary, or they might have options for different activities or some free time to explore on their own. Transportation is usually provided, often in vans or buses, although sometimes trips to places like beach resorts or safaris involve staying in one place for most of the time.

source:  travelwriting2.com

Understanding Press Trips for Travel Bloggers

Press trips offer bloggers and influencers a unique chance to immerse themselves in a destination or brand’s offerings, allowing them to create authentic and compelling content that resonates with their audience. These trips typically include complimentary accommodations, meals, activities, and sometimes even transportation, all provided by the hosting brand or tourism board. By participating in press trips, influencers can:

• Gain firsthand experience: Press trips provide bloggers with firsthand experience of a destination, hotel, resort, or product, allowing them to create authentic and detailed content.
• Build relationships: Press trips offer opportunities to network with other influencers, industry professionals, and representatives from brands and tourism boards, paving the way for future collaborations.
• Increase exposure: By sharing their press trip experiences on their blog and social media channels, influencers can attract new followers, increase engagement, and enhance their credibility as trusted travel experts.

Tips for Finding and Securing Press Trip Opportunities

Securing press trip opportunities requires proactive outreach, strategic networking, and a strong online presence. Here are some tips for finding and securing press trips:

• Build a strong online presence : Focus on creating high-quality content that showcases your unique voice, aesthetic, and expertise. Brands and tourism boards are more likely to invite influencers who have a strong and engaged following.
• Network with industry professionals : Attend travel conferences, networking events, and industry meetups to connect with representatives from brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies. Building relationships with key decision-makers can lead to valuable press trip invitations.
• Pitch personalized proposals : Instead of sending generic pitch emails, tailor your proposals to the specific brand or destination you’re interested in collaborating with. Highlight your relevant experience, audience demographics, and ideas for collaboration.
• Utilize social media : Leverage your social media platforms to showcase your travel experiences and engage with potential collaborators. Use relevant hashtags, participate in Twitter chats, and join Facebook groups dedicated to travel blogging and influencer marketing.
• Join influencer networks : Sign up for influencer marketing platforms and networks that connect bloggers with brands and tourism boards looking for collaboration opportunities. These platforms often list available press trip opportunities and provide tools for submitting applications.

my blogger press trip to joshua tree where i worked with the onsen hotel & spa

Making the Most of Your Press Trip Experiences

Once you’ve secured a press trip opportunity, it’s essential to make the most of your experience and maximize exposure for both yourself and the hosting brand or destination. Here are some tips for ensuring a successful press trip:

• Research and prepare : Familiarize yourself with the destination, brand, or product you’ll be covering on the press trip. Research local attractions, cultural practices, and current events to ensure that your content is accurate and informative.
• Create a content plan : Develop a content plan outlining the type of content you’ll create during the press trip, including blog posts, social media updates, videos, and photography. Consider how you’ll incorporate branded messaging while maintaining authenticity and transparency.
• Engage with your audience : Keep your audience engaged throughout the press trip by sharing real-time updates, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive polls or Q&A sessions. Encourage your followers to ask questions and share their own travel tips and experiences.
• Capture high-quality visuals : Invest in high-quality photography and videography equipment to capture stunning visuals that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the destination or product. Experiment with different angles, lighting, and compositions to create captivating content.
• Follow up with gratitude : After the press trip concludes, follow up with the hosting brand or destination to express your gratitude for the opportunity.
• Share links to the content you created during the trip and inquire about potential future collaborations or partnerships. For example, when I left the Travel Goods show, I published this blog post, and posted it on MSN as well. I then sent it to the company along with a thank you email, and was immediately invited back for next year!

How to Get Invited to Press Trips and FAM Trips

Securing invitations to press trips and familiarization (FAM) tours requires a proactive approach, strategic networking, and a strong online presence. Here’s a detailed guide on how to increase your chances of getting invited to these coveted opportunities:

1. BUILD A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE

• Develop a professional-looking website or blog that showcases your travel experiences, expertise, and writing style. Optimize your site for search engines to improve visibility.
• Grow your social media following across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Share high-quality content regularly and engage with your audience to build a loyal following.
• Create a media kit that highlights your audience demographics, engagement rates, previous collaborations, and partnership opportunities. This will serve as a valuable tool when pitching to brands and PR firms.

2. NETWORK WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

• Attend travel conferences, trade shows, and networking events where you can connect with representatives from brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies. Be genuine and approachable, and focus on building authentic relationships.
• Join online communities and forums for travel bloggers and influencers. Participate in discussions, share insights, and collaborate on projects to expand your network within the industry.
• Follow brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies on social media, and interact with their content regularly. This will help you stay informed about upcoming opportunities and showcase your interest in collaborating.

3. PITCH PERSONALIZED PROPOSALS

• Research brands, destinations, and PR firms that align with your niche, interests, and audience. Tailor your pitch emails to each recipient, highlighting why you’re a good fit for their upcoming press trips or FAM tours.
• Include specific ideas for collaboration, such as content formats, themes, and potential deliverables. Demonstrate your creativity, professionalism, and enthusiasm for the opportunity.
• Follow up on your pitches politely but persistently, especially if you don’t receive a response initially. Keep track of your communications and deadlines to stay organized.

4. CREATE COMPELLING CONTENT

• Consistently produce high-quality content that showcases your storytelling skills, photography, and videography. Use your blog, social media channels, and other platforms to share engaging travel stories and inspire your audience.
• Demonstrate your ability to generate buzz and engagement around travel-related topics. Showcase your unique perspective, voice, and personality to stand out from the crowd.
• Collaborate with other bloggers, influencers, and brands on joint projects and campaigns. Cross-promote each other’s content to reach a wider audience and attract the attention of potential partners.

5. ATTEND INDUSTRY EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

• Participate in workshops, webinars, and training sessions that offer insights into influencer marketing, PR strategies, and content creation. Learn from industry experts and apply their advice to your own approach.
• Volunteer or speak at industry events to raise your profile and establish yourself as an authority in your niche. Networking with attendees and speakers can lead to valuable connections and collaboration opportunities.

How to Reach Out to PR Firms and Get on PR Lists

Building relationships with PR firms is essential for gaining access to press trips, FAM tours, and other collaboration opportunities. Here’s how to effectively reach out to PR firms and get on their radar:

1. RESEARCH AND TARGET

• Identify PR firms that specialize in travel, hospitality, and lifestyle clients. Research their clients, past campaigns, and areas of expertise to ensure they’re a good fit for your niche and audience. A great place to do this is on Instagram itself, or on LinkedIn.
• Follow PR firms on social media, subscribe to their newsletters, and monitor their press releases and announcements. Stay informed about their latest projects, events, and opportunities.

2. CRAFT A PERSUASIVE PITCH

• Tailor your pitch emails to each PR firm, addressing the recipient by name and personalizing the content based on their clients and interests. Highlight why you’re interested in collaborating and what value you can bring to their campaigns.
• Showcase your previous collaborations, success stories, and audience demographics to demonstrate your credibility and reach. Provide links to your blog, social media profiles, and media kit for easy reference.

You can get my free pitch templates, and what I include in my pitch emails here!

3. BE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSISTENT

• Follow PR firms’ submission guidelines and deadlines when reaching out. Keep your emails concise, professional, and error-free to make a good impression.
• Follow up on your pitches politely but persistently if you don’t receive a response within a reasonable timeframe. PR professionals are often busy, so a gentle reminder can help keep your pitch top of mind.

4. ATTEND PR EVENTS AND MIXERS

• Look for networking events, mixers, and meetups organized by PR firms or industry associations. Attend these events to meet PR professionals in person, exchange business cards, and build rapport.
• Offer to collaborate on events or projects with PR firms, such as hosting a press trip or attending a media event as a guest speaker or panelist. Demonstrating your expertise and professionalism in person can lead to future opportunities.

5. FOLLOW UP AND NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS

• After establishing contact with PR firms, stay in touch regularly by sharing updates, content, and feedback. Keep them informed about your travel plans, upcoming projects, and areas of interest.
• Build genuine relationships with PR professionals based on trust, respect, and mutual benefit. Show appreciation for their efforts and contributions, and be responsive to their requests and feedback.

Securing invitations to press trips, FAM tours, and collaboration opportunities with PR firms requires a combination of proactive outreach, strategic networking, and high-quality content creation. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can increase your visibility, credibility, and opportunities for collaboration within the travel industry. Remember to stay persistent, professional, and authentic in your interactions, and success will follow. Happy travels!

More Resources:

• Do Bloggers Get Paid? Debunking Myths About Blogging Income
• Working with Tourism Boards: A Travel Blogger’s Guide
• 7 Ways to Start A Travel Blog And Make Money On a Budget

Press Trip: una oportunidad para transmitir sensaciones en primera persona

Los viajes de prensa o press trip son la oportunidad ideal para que los medios conozcan una marca o un destino.

Cada vez más, los viajeros buscan mimetizarse en la cultura local y descubrir los encantos de un destino a través de sus ciudadanos, gracias a las experiencias vividas en primera persona, la autenticidad y la personalización. Entonces, ¿por qué no hacer lo mismo con un periodista para que a la hora de escribir sobre una marca o un destino turístico, las vivencias que transmita a los lectores sean más creíbles y auténticas?

Un press trip permite que los periodistas descubran de primera mano los atractivos de un hotel, de un restaurante o de un destino y lo cuenten con mayor propiedad que si leyeran una nota de prensa. Además, el hecho de facilitarles el acceso al contenido de forma exclusiva, de sorprenderlos, incluso con detalles inesperados durante el viaje, ayuda a establecer relaciones y vínculos del comunicador con la marca.

De esta forma, el redactor se convierte en prescriptor y transmite sus vivencias y sensaciones en primera persona de forma que resulta más creíble para el lector.

Los beneficios de los press trip

Por nuestra experiencia, este tipo de acciones de comunicación genera grandes beneficios que van más allá de la publicidad del destino, marca o producto. Es una excelente oportunidad que permite estrechar relaciones con periodistas con los que no trabajamos en el día a día o con los que solamente nos relacionamos por teléfono o email, en un ambiente más lúdico y relajado, que nos ayudará en nuestras tareas diarias.

Para que las buenas relaciones fluyan, el ambiente de ‘buenrollismo’ creado en el viaje debe ser primordial. Por ello, al planificar esta acción sería conveniente tener en cuenta todos aquellos factores o características que favorezcan un ambiente positivo y dinámico. 

Además, el representante de la agencia de comunicación y de la empresa que les acompañe durante esos días deben ejercer una función de nexo entre todos, ayudando a fomentar las relaciones interpersonales y la atmósfera positiva. En definitiva, procurar que ningún periodista se sienta aislado. 

Además de todo esto, es esencial que en los días previos al press trip , haya una comunicación directa con cada uno de los periodistas por parte de la persona que les acompañará a modo de presentación, junto al envío de la agenda del viaje.

En definitiva, un viaje de periodistas o press trip es una acertada acción de comunicación y, además, una oportunidad única para conocer o ahondar en la relación con compañeros de profesión. Hay grupos de whatsapp que siguen activos en el tiempo que son testigos de la buena sintonía creada a raíz de pasar unos pocos días juntos. 

Jonathan Brito

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Press Trip Tips

Finding press trips for travel writers, press trips for travel writers .

By Roy Stevenson

Novices always wonder how to snag press trips for travel writers.  Once you have a few print and online travel bylines under your belt, and you’ve landed some local FAM tours, it’s time to move up to national or international press trips.

These trips are the prestigious glamour gigs that we all covet like the Holy Grail.  They are much sought after. With press trips you are the guest of the tourist bureau of the region, state, or country you are touring.  Public relations firms representing tourism boards and hotels and resorts also host trips.

Some tourism bureaus offer comprehensive, all-encompassing tours that take in most of a country’s main tourist attractions. Other tours are themed or specialty niches such as culinary or cultural tours. Typically, your hosts pick up all travel expenses—including your airfare. Although there are several types of press tours, they essentially follow the same format as local and regional FAM tours. The only difference, really, is that we tend to refer to national and international travel tours as Press Trips for travel writers.

Press trips for travel writers: To qualify, you need travel assignments...

Every tourist agency has it’s own policies, so you always need to find out the policies for the place where you want to travel.  Here are some guidelines: Generally, to qualify for a trip, freelance travel writers are required to have at least one assignment with a high visibility print or online publication.  The tourist agency wants you to deliver one (or more) widely read stories about the trip in order to get invited.  These can be print or online assignments, but the outlets must be respectable.  It’s up to the tourist agency to decide what is “respectable” and what’s not. In my experience, getting an international trip without a letter of assignment is almost impossible.  Very few travel writers are invited on trips “on spec” unless they’re at the very top of the travel writing pyramid and have a reputation that precedes them. Invitations to Press Trips for travel writers are more difficult to obtain than an invitation to a regional FAM tours.  National and International Press Trips hold a higher status and value.  There’s more competition for them.  Tourist bureaus can afford to be selective about who they choose to invite on the trip.  Seasoned travel writers with access to editors of high profile, larger circulation magazines often get first priority on these trips.  You might also find magazine editors and guidebook writers on these trips. Because freelance travel writers have more difficulty qualifying for and getting accepted for national and international press tours, I’m a big believer in producing multiple stories about the destinations. This way the tourism agency gets a better return on their investment, and it’s easier to sell yourself and what you have to offer. My strategy is to pitch all magazines that might be interested in stories about the destination, and secure a spot on the tour by having multiple magazine assignments.  That way, even if you don’t have an assignment with a high profile travel magazine, you can still get invited because you multiple assignments in lesser publications.  You're still getting the word out to a large audience. To qualify for a press trip to Belgium I was able to offer their National Tourist Board rep three print articles and one online article — more than enough to secure a VIP seat on a wonderful gig! A good goal is to line up one or multiple publications with a total circulation of 100,000, or more. How do you find out a magazine’s total circulation?  Check with the magazine’s editor to verify the circulation of their publications so you can present your case. What if you're lucky enough to be invited on a trip without an assignment? My advice is:  don't take the trip unless you're absolutely sure you can produce at least one article after the trip in a respectable publication. Press trips for travel writers come with a qualification to write an article.  Writers who take press tours and then fail to deliver anything cause harm for themselves and for other travel writers.  They ruin their chances to be invited on another press trip by that PR company.  And, they make tourist and PR companies cautious about working with other travel writers.  Please, always deliver on your promises.

Locating press tours is half the battle.  Once you figure out how to get invited, going on them is a breeze. Here are two sources that I use for tracking down national and international leads:

Contact Tourism Agencies

Many international tourism agencies organize trips for press every year.  It could be a trip around their country, or to their major cities.  The trips can be themed (culinary, cultural, architecture, etc.) or general roundups. Many tourism agencies work through their embassies and some work independently but practically every country in the world has a PR/media rep in the U.S. Here’s how to get on the press list in the countries you want to visit: Select the countries where you have viable and matching outlets.  Visit their websites and find the media and press contacts in the U.S.  Contact them and request your name be placed on their press list for consideration for future organized trips.

Join Targeted Social Media Sites to Find Press Trips for Travel Writers

The world’s largest online news portal for travel media and industry professionals is TravMedia.  It’s a free medium for linking up tourism PR’s/ media reps with travel journalists — and it’s a darn good resource. TravMedia site has been a gold mine to me.  I scored some great assistance with Balinese luxury resorts and boutique hotels, plus assignments with several prestigious cruise line on-board magazines, from listings found on TravMedia.

Once you place your profile on TravMedia, you’ll receive a weekly newsletter with the latest announcements from CVBs, tourism agencies, national tourist reps, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, tourist attractions, etc.

Editors often post requests for special articles here.  You’ll also receive press trip notifications.

Tourist destination PR’s can “follow” you, similar to other social media like LinkedIn.  You can contact any of TravMedia’s listed tourist agencies at any time with requests for assistance with your trips. To get on their press list, visit the TravMedia website and set up your profile on the media list, along with your photograph.  You will receive a weekly newsletter packed with great information.
 These are the ways to learn about national and international press trips.  You can learn more in my eBook How to Land Press Trips and Fam Tours:

Special Report:

How to Land Press Trips and Fam Tours

I've written a guide about how to land press trips.  It will tell you everything you want to know about how to get into the inner circle and get invited on regional, national and international press trips. 

Learn more here...

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Roy Stevenson is a professional travel writer and the author of www.PitchTravelWrite.com.  Over the past ten years, he’s had more than 1000 articles published in 200 magazines, trade and specialty journals, in-flights, on-boards, blogs and websites and has traveled on assignment around the U.S. and to dozens of international destinations.

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A Travel Blogger’s Guide To Your First Press Trip

I’ve massively avoided writing anything about blogging until now. Sure I’m a travel blogger but I don’t feel like I’m in the expert leagues to be able to advise other bloggers. I’m pretty much just making it up as I go along, which you know sums up my life really. But when I was invited on my first ever press trip I had absolutely no idea what to expect. And after searching through other articles online about press trips, there were only blog posts from the experts who go on a different press trip every month. They were talking about press trips like they were a dime a dozen and didn’t really help me out to be honest, I felt like I was going in blind. So this post is for the bloggers like me out there, about to embark on their very first press trip and want to know what to expect. I hope this helps, guys.

What is a press trip?

Press trips are normally run by tourist boards or general travel companies, to show journalists or bloggers why the country or city they represent is awesome. This is all in the hope that they will write about their experiences to give the destination more exposure and coverage so that other people want to visit.

How do I get invited onto press trips?

It’s pretty much the main question travel bloggers have after they’ve picked up the pace a bit on their blogs. How do you get to the next level? How do you get the fabulous free holidays? I’ve found three things that really work. Like I say, I’m no expert, but here’s my advice.

Firstly, go to travel blogger events and meetings. They’re pretty terrifying during your first few, I won’t lie, but there are normally brands there looking to work with bloggers and find some to go on their press trips. Just get chatting. Secondly, get in touch wth the tourist boards directly, express your interest and send them your media kit. Don’t expect to be invited onto trips right away but at least they know who you are. Lastly, find out which PR companies represent which tourist boards and get in touch with them too. They normally have a pool of bloggers in their repertoire that get invited onto trips, so again it just puts you in their sights.

I got in touch with all of the right people but I’m still not being invited on trips? What am I doing wrong?

This is a question I’ve asked myself a lot. You see these big-time bloggers travelling the world and getting paid to do it at that, but you’re working your arse off and can’t get a weekend away for free? A question I think you need to ask yourself is what am I offering them? Press trips are a two way street. They offer you a great trip full of travel experiences and lots of content for your blog but you’ve got to think about what you’re offering them. Things they will be looking at is the amount of hits you get on your blog, the social following you have, the levels of engagement you get both on your blog and your social platforms and who your followers actually are. Different companies will look at these in a different order of priority. Some hold stock in your social media following, not really caring how many hits you get, and some vice versa. If you’re not having much luck, try to work on improving these numbers if you can. For example I’ve worked hard to get a great Instagram following and now more brands want to work with me. Even though my blog hits are exactly the same. Go figure.

But what I think is really important is your blog demographic. My blog, for example,is all about backpacking and female travel. I’m not going to be invited on press trips to the Maldives or on any kind of luxury travel trip. You need to make sure that the companies and tourist boards you are targeting are aligned with your audience. Otherwise the company gets nothing out of it and you’re writing content that your followers don’t want to read.

What am I expected to deliver in exchange for press trips?

This will differ depending on the company, but make sure you ask this before you actually go on the press trip. Nail down exactly what they want you to do and don’t promise more than you can deliver. If anything promise less so that you over achieve and they’ll want to work with you again. Also, don’t offer them the world. More experienced bloggers with bigger followings actually charge to go on press trips. If you do everything for free, no-one’s ever going to pay you. This is something I only recently realised, the struggle is real. In my opinion, an average amount to offer them is a blog post and casual social media coverage.

What will I be expected to pay for on the trip?

Nothing. No seriously, nothing. The point is to wine and dine you so that you want to write about the destination and your experiences, so from the second you step on the plane you’re fully paid for. I know, it’s pretty cool. I felt like a total newbie on my first press trip wondering if I was expected to pay for anything out there whereas more experienced bloggers were asking the host for extra things! It’s strange at first but definitely an experience I could get used to! On my press trip to Spain I spent exactly ten pounds. And that was on a souvenir t-shirt for my boyfriend. Ahhhh I need to go on more press trips…

Who else will be on the press trip?

This differs on every press trip. Some are a mixture of bloggers and journalists and some are just blog trips. And the guest list is normally tailored to the trip. So in Spain I was cycling through Catalonia which meant half the bloggers were travel and half were all about cycling. I like that though, I like learning about other areas of blogging and how different it is.

Will there be time to blog whilst I’m on the trip?

Press trips are jam-packed. Fact. They want to show you as much as they possibly can so that there’s more for you to write about, so expect early starts, late nights and lots of time in a mini-bus travelling between locations. This means there’s not a whole lot of time to actually write anything whilst you’re on the trip. And the journeys are usually silent whilst everyone has they’re heads down trying to get content out. The host will normally hook you up with WiFi as much as possible and some bloggers bring their laptops with them, but if it’s less than a week-long trip I don’t really bother to be honest. I do all social media from my phone and schedule a blog post to go live whilst I’m away. Then write up the posts when I’m back. I’d rather just enjoy the trip.

Will I have an itinerary before I go?

Yes, the tourist board or company normally provides you with a list of what you’ll be doing on each day and where you’ll be staying. But it’s normally just a brief document. You kind of feel a bit like a sheep on the trip, being herded to the next location so prepare to just go with it.

Will the other people on my trip be bitchy or my new BFFs?

Luck of the draw, dude. It’s just like anything in life, it depends on the people you’re with. I think most travel bloggers are chill though, we all just want to explore the world and are open to meeting new people, which makes it a lot nicer. I can’t say the same for other areas of blogging, I’ve met some fashion and beauty bloggers that think they’re the tits and it’s not such an enjoyable experience. Like I said, luck of the draw.

What happens once I get back?

Make sure you email the host thanking them for inviting you on the trip and email them links to the blogs you’ve written once they go live. You want to make sure that they can see the value you’ve provided so you get invited on any trips they do in the future! I also like to tweet any of the hotels or restaurants I’ve featured so that they can also see the value. After all, they would’ve offered the meal or the accommodation to the tourist board so they need to know what they get out of it too! That’s just me though, it’s not compulsory, but you know it normally means more hits on your post. I’m just saying.

Okay, they’re my thoughts on going on your first press trip. I hope it helped a little! Like I said I’m no expert in this field, I just felt that there needed to be an opinion out there from someone just starting out on press trips. But if you have any questions I haven’t answered, please just ask and I will update the post! Happy travels, all.

What are your experiences of going on press trips? I’m keen to know so let me know in the comments below or tweet me  @HeelsInBackpack !

Thanks for this Kara! Super helpful 🙂

I was trying to think of something I could add but really, I think you successfully covered it all!

Oh thank you, I’m glad! :-*

Thank you for this post, it’s really useful to see the detail of rather than just a ‘press trip’. I do hope to be joining the ranks soon, and will follow your advice about getting in touch with the right people!

Thanks! Yeah for sure – don’t ask, don’t get… x

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Press Trips For Travel Bloggers: How To Get Paid To Travel [Video]

Curious about how to land press trips for travel bloggers — and get paid?

Then you’re in the right place.

As a full-time travel blogger and a blog coach, I get asked this (digital) age-old question all the time:

How do you make money travel blogging?

The short answer is I diversify my revenue streams:

• I make money selling my own products, including travel blogging courses and NYC photo tours
• I showcase brands I love through affiliate marketing
• I run display ads through Mediavine
• I work with brands on influencer campaigns

And, of course, the topic of this article, I work with tourism boards, hotels, and tour operators on paid press trips for bloggers.

Psst, don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Table of Contents

Press Trips For Travel Bloggers: My First Invitation 

I took my first press trip in 2011.

It was to an island nation in the Caribbean and was an unforgettable four days spent snorkeling, hiking and savoring delicious locally-cooked meals.

While I was grateful for the opportunity, I also knew I couldn’t live off of free travel.

At the time, though, it was unheard of to be compensated for press trips.

Honestly, if you would’ve told me then that one day I could earn money for sponsored travel, I never would’ve believed it.

But today, you truly can get paid to travel the world.

In this post — with video — I’ll share a simple four-step framework to help you land paid press trips as a blogger, even if you don’t have 100,000 Instagram followers.

Even better:

I’m going to show you how to get paid to travel ethically and authentically.

What Not To Do If You Want To Make Money Traveling

One thing that many travel bloggers get wrong is thinking that a press trip is a free vacation.

When you go on a press trip, you truly owe it to yourself, to your community and to the trip host to not only create content that is high-quality, but that is genuine.

The main problem — and the reason I’m infusing ethics into this article — is that nowadays sponsored travel content often comes off as inauthentic, especially on Instagram.

As bloggers, we’ve totally forgotten about using our storytelling skills ; about going places to find the stories that matter to our audience.

I see so many travel bloggers and Instagrammers sharing photos that simply sell themselves and their brand partners while completely forgetting the people and the place that they’re in.

In my opinion, there is a better way to go about sponsored trips and campaigns.

Whether you’re trying to learn how to travel the world and get paid or you have no interest in press trips and brand partnerships, you always want to be your authentic self.

In the long-run, this is what will help you grow a profitable blogging business no matter what revenue stream you pursue.

Best Influencer Networks For Travel Bloggers

Now, before we go any further, I want to share a special freebie that will help you land brand partnerships and press trips for travel bloggers even easier:

Click here to snag my FREE list of 31 Must-Join Influencer Networks For Travel Bloggers . 

My suggestion:

Grab that now, because I’ll be discussing how to utilize these at the end of this post.

Spoiler: Three of my favorite influencer networks on the list include:

• The Impact Travel Alliance Media Network

How To Get Paid For Blogging Through Press Trips [Video]

Prefer to learn through video?

I’ve got you covered!

Check out the short but actionable video above.

Just make sure you click here to pin it for later , too, so you can come back if you forget a step.

Landing Brand Trips & Connecting With Tourism Boards That Work With Bloggers [Podcast]

And for those of you who prefer to learn through podcasts:

Listen to the audio above!

Not yet subscribed to The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast on Apple/iTunes?

Click here to get notified when new episodes publish .

You’ll snag bite-sized strategies that can seriously help you grow your blog’s traffic, community, and income.

Having Confidence In Pitching Press Trips For Travel Bloggers

When working with brands and tourism boards , you really want to make sure you’re always in a place where you’re comfortable saying “no” to partnerships that aren’t a fit.

Remember, you can also re-pitch them.

Here is an example:

Recently, I was pitched by a tourism board to go on a press trip that involved me traveling to attend a classical music concert.

The event sounded great, but I knew it wouldn’t be the best fit for my active adventure audience.

So, I did some homework.

I looked at their blog, checked their social media channels, and got a sense of what types of stories they were trying to push.

Then, I replied back:

“The timeframe of the trip works, but the story angle isn’t a great fit for my audience; but, I see that you’re also pushing hiking, which would be perfect. Feature stories on challenging hikes do really well on my blog.”

Feel free to use and tweak that for yourself.

Likely, the public relations representative or tourism board you’re emailing will appreciate your honesty, as well as your dedication to sharing stories that truly resonate with your audience.

Step #1: Grow A Community

Now before you click away thinking this is a fluff tip, hear me out.

A community is different than traffic.

There is a great Nelson Mandela quote that I absolutely love:

“Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely day dreaming, but vision with action can change the world.”

When you get crystal clear on your blog’s greater purpose, incredible things can happen.

The easiest way to start doing this is to pinpoint a mission.

There is a really simple template I always love sharing and it goes, “I help ___(your audience) do ___ (how you help).

Some examples might be:

• “I help female travelers take their first solo trips with confidence”
• “I help conscious luxury travelers find the world’s best sustainable 5-star hotels”
• “I help newlywed Millennials plan experiential honeymoons”

Once you have this mission, there becomes a real reason for people to jump on board and be a part of what you’re doing.

Because you’ve created a place on the web that speaks to them and helps them solve their unique problems and pain points.

If the idea of growing a community around your blog feels daunting, I’ve got you covered with a FREE 5-day profitable travel blogging course (via email)  that takes you from crafting your mission statement to monetization — and beyond! 

Step #2: Pinpoint Your Culture Add

The next step in this blogging strategy meant to help you travel the world and get paid through press trips — ethically and authentically — is to pinpoint your culture add.

What’s a culture add?

It’s that thing that makes you uniquely you.

With this, you’re continuing to add value to your unique blog brand identity . Then those hard statistics like monthly page views and Instagram followers, while important, don’t matter as much.

• Your unique skills and expertise
• If you have an alternative viewpoint to share
• Any hobbies or passions that can set you apart

By the way, I have a free workshop on growing your travel blogger income by creating a profitable blog brand if you’d like to dive deeper into this.

I have a friend who is a wellness travel blogger.

There are myriad wellness travel bloggers out there; but, she sets herself apart by being a raw vegan chef and a trained shaman.

Can you imagine how tourism boards feel when they look at her versus another wellness travel blogger?

She really stands out.

Whenever you’re trying to land a brand partnership or paid press trip, think about what you can bring to the table that the brand — and hopefully most other bloggers — can’t themselves.

Step #3: Find Alignment

This is possibly the most important aspect to highlight when pitching brands and tourism boards for any partnership.

Once you do Step #1 and Step #2 of this framework, it’s going to be so much easier to find the right tourism boards to pitch for paid press trips.

Moreover, it will be much clearer to them why you are worth paying.

For instance:

Let’s say I’m a destination trying to promote a new yoga retreat, and I want to work with a blogger to help.

There is “Hannah”, a certified yoga instructor who also has a blog showcasing incredible yoga retreats around the world. Note that Hannah has 2,000 pageviews per month.

Then there is “Michelle”. While her blog receives 50,000 page views per month, she doesn’t have a clear mission or narrow niche.

I would be much smarter to work with Hannah because even though my yoga retreat will get in front of fewer people, those people will all be my target audience; as in, travelers interested in yoga retreats.

This is why alignment matters so much more than just straight numbers.

And, by the way, travel blogger conferences can be powerful for landing brand partnerships , especially in terms of growing relationships and finding alignment.

This step really boils down to understanding your audience, their problems, their pain points, their demographics, and their interests, as well as the needs of the potential partner you’re pitching.

Now, let me tell you a little story.

I have a friend, Amy*, in public relations who represents a tourism board targeting baby boomers.

This tourism board is not very active on social media, and posts to Facebook about once or twice per month.

Amy always chuckles when travel bloggers pitch her social media campaigns and Instagram takeovers — which happens often — because it shows they didn’t do their research before pitching.

Make sure to do your homework and make it clear you’ve invested time into getting to know the tourism board or brand you’re pitching.

Actually, I recommend taking things a step further and interacting with the potential trip host before sending your pitch; for instance, by re-Tweeting them or commenting on an Instagram share.

This shows genuine interest on your part, and that you’re a long-term investment and won’t disappear once a press trip campaign is over.

Step #4: Join Influencer Networks To Receive Pitches

I’ve got good news:

You don’t always have to do all the pitching.

In fact, this is where that free list of 31 must-join influencer networks comes in . 

They typically work like this:

• Sign up for free and create a profile
• Connect your blog and social media accounts so the influencer network can pull stats in real-time

Then, the network does the work for you, matching you with press trip and brand partnership opportunities that make sense.

They’ll find that alignment for you, saving you time and effort.

Personally, I’ve been able to work with a number of big-name airlines and hotel brands through some of the influencer networks on the list.

Make sure to grab the list and join as many networks as possible .

The more you join, the more opportunities you’ll have.

Press Trip Etiquette

Now that I’ve shared my four-step framework for landing paid press trips for bloggers, I want to make sure you’re prepared for when you actually land one of these campaigns.

Press trip etiquette is important, so keep the following tips in mind.

Remain Professional

A press trip isn’t a “free vacation”.

It’s work — which is why I believe bloggers should be paid for press trips, and why I wrote this post.

Don’t get drunk at dinner.

Don’t wear sweatpants to breakfast.

Don’t go home with anyone.

Instead, focus on learning about the destination, finding story angles that your audience will love and impressing your trip host.

Keep Your Word

If you agree to write a blog post and share daily on Instagram, then do it.

Actually, over-deliver.

Throw in a Facebook Live tour of the hotel or try to get the post syndicated by a large publication for additional exposure.

Word gets around quickly which bloggers put in the work, so over-delivering is an easy way to get invited on other press trips.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Not every piece of food you put in your mouth will wow you and not every attraction will be your favorite.

Luckily, you don’t have to write about every single experience on the trip.

Instead, find the parts of the press trip that speak to you and that will resonate with your audience.

Basically, be true to yourself and your readers.

Don’t Be A Diva

Going off the above, if you eat something you don’t like or go to an attraction you don’t love, don’t throw a fit.

I’ve heard horror stories of bloggers throwing fits and even angrily throwing menus down at restaurants because they were unhappy with the food.

Just eat the meal — which you’re not paying for anyway — and be gracious.

It’s not just the press trip host you should be chatting up, but your fellow bloggers.

Be social, make friends and open the doors for future collaborations.

I’ve been recommended by other bloggers I’ve met on press trips for other trips, campaigns, and paid assignments, not to mention many have become my close friends.

Press Trip Opportunities

Wondering where to find press trips for travel bloggers?

Sometimes you can pitch yourself for a press trip, and other times public relations representatives and tourism boards will email you directly with an invitation.

Additionally, I send out an opportunities email to my  Travel Blogger VIP List   every Monday at 8am EST.

Along with press trips, other opportunities you might be sent include brand campaigns, collaborative posts, paid remote gigs, monetization opportunities for bloggers, calls for sponsored posts and more.

Click here to join the VIP list .

You’ll snag your first two weeks free and will get instant access to bonuses, including:

• 10 bonus opportunities for travel bloggers
• My PDF guide to landing & rocking press trips

On that note, I hope you found this strategy valuable. Now, I’d love to know…

What is your biggest struggle when it comes to landing press trips for travel bloggers?

Bonus profitable blogging tutorials [video playlist].

Want to learn more powerful strategies for taking your blog full time ?

Check out this curated playlist of blogging tips and tactics that work:

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The Real Story on Press Trips for Travel Writers

“I had one question about press trips, which I thought you might be able to address on the blog or in the newsletter, if you think it makes sense. I’m wondering which markets accept press trips. As a follow-up, does a writer typically secure the assignment first, or the trip first (there seems to be a chicken-or-egg thing happening there)? Hope you’ll be able to address these questions on the site —thanks!”

This was an e-mail from a beginning writer who read Travel Writing 2.0 and then it has come up many times since in my online travel writing course . After all, with the sucky pay and lack of security that often come with being a travel freelancer or blogger in the early stages, the travel perks are one of the main incentives to keep doing it.

I pay for my own travel a good bit because my income can justify it and I do lots of travel hacking for points and miles, but at least half the time I don’t. Someone else is footing the bill to get me to come write about Kyrgystan, Panama, Riviera Nayarit, the Czech Republic, Flagstaff, Baja, Nepal, or some other spot on the globe I’ve gotten invited to the past few years.

So here’s the skinny on press trips (sometimes call “fam trips” or “fams” from the word “familiarization”).

How press trips for travel writers or bloggers work

A destination, hotel chain, tour company or other interested party will invite writers to come experience what they offer in order to get more publicity and (sometimes) social media attention for that place or business. With traditional press trips, writers are invited as a group, anywhere from 4 to 40 people showing up from various dots on a map to one central place.

The general objective for the organization is to show off the place, tour, or service so the invited writers will publicize it and post photos or video. The objective for the writers is to create content for one or more publications or in the case of videographers, shoot footage to use in videos and gather info for the narration. The writers, it is hoped, will enjoy the trip and want to talk about it.

Depending on how it’s organized, those writers will either have every waking minute monopolized with a set itinerary for all, or there will be several interest tracks and/or some individual wandering time. Often this involves being carted from place to place on a van or bus, though at a beach/ski resort or on something like a safari you may stay in one place most of the time.

Most or all of your expenses will be covered, including meals—sometimes too many meals that take up a lot of time. Often booze will be covered if it’s allowed by the hosting organization. (Some are government entities and can’t pay for that, though a participating sponsor like a winery can). They want you to enjoy yourself and feel positive about the experience.

The schedules for these trips can be either relatively laid-back, especially for something like a cruise, or they can be “Up at 6:00, in bed at midnight” affairs that can leave no time to even answer your piling-up e-mails, much less write anything down.

In some cases, especially for a tour company, you may be responsible for your own airfare or driving, then the rest is taken care of when you join up with the group. There may be a mix of writers and general public customers. Ask about tipping if you’re joining regular paying customers on a scheduled tour because that can add up to hundreds of dollars in expectations.

There’s also something called individual hosting where you come in by yourself and experience what you need to for a specific article slant. Obviously this is much more desirable in the pursuit of a good narrative story and you don’t waste as much time on irrelevant stops, but for both budget and logistics reasons, this is often not possible.

I often employ a hybrid approach where I’ve already planned to go somewhere on my own, but I’ll reach out to the tourism bureau to see if they want to get involved with lodging, attractions, or local tours. If they do, I create more content. If they tell me nicely to go F myself, as Switzerland Tourism recently did, then I write next to nothing about the destination. I meet any obligations related to what any private sector business supplied, like a hotel stay or tour, and then I just have a good time as a traveler otherwise, with no expected deliverables.

Who gets invited on press trips?

Somebody is paying for all this: usually a whole combination of organizations. That’s often why the schedule is so packed—everyone who chipped in is on the itinerary in some form. This is, at heart, a business transaction. They spend marketing money with the hope you’ll provide a good return on investment. Add up airfare, hotel, meals, and transportation and they could be spending thousands of dollars per press person.

So they invite the people who will get them the most impact: high-circulation magazines, high-traffic websites, TV shows, or influential blogs with a niche that aligns well with their desired demographics. In some cases, they believe social media is going to make a big difference so they bring in Instagram “influencers” who will get lots of likes on flattering photos and stories/reels. Or people who have a lot of followers on Tik-tok. Next year it will likely be another flavor of the day.

Are YOU worth it?

Assuming each person invited is costing the organization three or four thousand dollars in coverage, the organization needs to show a return on investment on that amount. So what you can deliver needs to be worth it for them to invite you on that press trip.

For editors of magazines, major website editors, and bloggers that get millions of readers, it’s a no-brainer. Of course you’re worth inviting if you’re one of those. If the subject matter of the publication is a good match for what they’re promoting, easy decision. The next tier is freelancers with a good track record or a set assignment. This is more risky now in the age of declining and disappearing print outlets, so you may need to provide an assignment letter from a publication. (More on that in a minute.)

If you’re a writer without a good portfolio of placed articles, or your blog doesn’t have a strong or highly engaged readership you can substantiate, you’re a riskier bet. This doesn’t mean you can’t get invited, but you have to make a very strong case that what you deliver will be worthwhile. It’s a good idea to have a media kit page or hard stats on the About Me page of your blog or website. Or get that info and have it ready if you’re writing for someone else’s site. Ideally this shows traffic, social media followers, e-mail newsletter subscribers, or anything else (like awards won or media mentions) that gives you credibility.

Can you contact a destination or company and ask to be hosted?

Yes, by all means be proactive and reach out to PR people that are a good match, assuming you’ve got a good pitch backed up with stats and you can clearly explain why you want to visit this place. It’s common practice to contact the PR representative and ask if it’s possible to get on a press trip or arrange individual hosting.

If you can get yourself there without a flight—another reason to report on your local region—they’ll be much more receptive. Or can you use frequent flier mileage? (One credit card sign-up bonus can get you free flight tickets to almost anywhere in the world round-trip.)

Can you tack this onto a vacation? Can you get there overland from somewhere else you’re going? If so, mention that and your odds go up substantially. The hosts get many things for free or discounted because of local relationships, but these days flights almost always require a hit to the budget. Sometimes that hit can be more than $1,000.

If you get a no, don’t push it. Ask when it would be okay to try again, as in the next budget cycle. Some PR people keep a folder of forms filled out by writers who have expressed an interest. They pull it out when a the next press trip gets planned. If it’s a “please don’t ever call us again,” move on to somewhere else. They don’t think your angle/publication can be justified. Try again when you have a bigger audience or better outlets. Or just write about a neighbor that’s more receptive or more media-savvy.

Understand that some of these people get bugged to death by bloggers/writers who should not even have the nerve to ask in the first place. Some PR people have told me they get a hundred requests a month from mommy bloggers that don’t seem to have any readers besides their immediate family. One famous Mexican resort area gets a hundred every week .

Make the point person’s job easy by showing real influence and specifically saying what you’ll do for them. Don’t make it too long in the initial pitch. The clearer the message, the better chance of success. You can negotiate specifics later if there’s a positive response.

Who will accept stories from hosted trips?

If you’re a blogger, you’re likely mixing hosted and independent trips in content and it doesn’t really matter. But for a few old-school outlets, there’s at least a pretense of separation between editorial and advertising, even though the line is much thinner everywhere than it used to be.

Whether contributors could accept hosted travel used to be a big issue, with many magazines saying they wouldn’t publish an article that came out of a press trip. These days, however, a better question is, who won’t ? This is becoming a shorter list every year as some formerly nose-in-the-air newspapers and magazines have had to lower or cut expenses for freelancers. Without paying expenses, they don’t have the right to tell writers they can’t accept hosting.

Even the National Geographic organization has relented, saying they just need to make sure you’re not promising anything and that you’re transparent about who paid for everything. Right up until National Geographic Traveler print magazine went under, however, the former editor was staunchly saying they would never ever allow articles from hosted trips. After they went out of business, the remaining online division changed course because they had to. And guess what? Nobody noticed because the content didn’t change a bit.

Some still have the balls to do it anyway, the New York Times being a prime example. Any assignment from there is guaranteed to lose money for the writer, but people do it anyway because of the prestige factor. (As a result, most travel articles in the NYT sound like they were written by the rich and privileged, the people who can afford to still write for them.)

Most publications have gotten more sensible as they’ve noticed it doesn’t make one bit of difference anyway in the articles: a good writer is going to tell the truth whether the expenses are paid by the publisher or by the industry; either way it’s not coming out of the writer’s pocket. The influence of advertisers is much stronger anyway, including what even gets published to start with. There’s a good reason that magazines do an entire issue about Hawaii or the Caribbean: it’s a chance to round up more advertisers who then magically get featured in articles.

Some of the few newspapers that still have a travel section prohibit stories that came from hosted trips. Maybe a half dozen travel magazines still have this policy in some form. I don’t know of any popular independent website or blog that would prohibit it since almost none of them pay expenses, but you may occasionally run into this. Most just want you to let them know up front as you are discussing the assignment.

Do I need a firm assignment as a freelancer?

Here’s where the question of whether the chicken or the egg came first is the issue. If you’re a freelancer only, usually you need a set assignment or a regular column to be approved. Unlike all the bloggers out there, you don’t have editorial control, so you are a risk. Nearly every PR person has gotten burned at some point by someone who went on a trip and then never published a story.

Even if the freelancer had an assignment, things can go wrong. Maybe the the assigning editor getting laid off or the magazine went out of business. But the best, most reliable writers always have a plan B. Going all the way back to the 1990s when I was just a freelancer, I’ve never gone on a press trip that hasn’t resulted in at least one article being published. Usually I produce several no matter what. Now the fact that I run several popular blogs and a couple of online magazine means I get twice as many invites as I can accept. I’m a sure thing.

If you are not as experienced and don’t have editorial control anywhere, you will need to get an assignment first. That’s even harder than getting on the trip, especially since if it’s a trip with a big group, multiple other writers will be sending out queries on the same place/subject. Plus most editors, including me at Perceptive Travel, are very reluctant to assign something to someone who is visiting a place for the first time. The angle is usually too nebulous. There are too many things that can send a planned story in a totally different direction.

When I attended an editors panel discussion at a NATJA convention, one of the editors from a major, well-known publication said, “If the destination is asking you for an assignment letter up front, that shows they don’t really know how this business works. You might not want to work with someone like that.”

It’s a Catch-22 and the only way around it is to have a go-to publication where you’re a regular or run your own site. Hey at least that second option is viable. Before the web came along, we writers had to query print editors for every trip. In actual envelopes with a stamp! Now the top 100 travel bloggers are getting more readers than most remaining travel magazines, so they can reach more people and it’s a sure thing.

How to improve your odds of getting invited on press trips

There are natural things you can do to make the cut on more press trip invites. Going to conferences helps a lot once you have something to talk about. There are ones geared to matching writers with destinations and brands, such as International Media Marketplace in New York, TBEX on several continents, or the media offshoot sections of IPW or WTA. If you belong to NATJA or SATW, you’ll meet a lot of PR representatives at their conferences. You can also monitor sites devoted to travel writing for trip announcements. See the travel writing resources section and also network on Facebook or LinkedIn for leads.

If you’re active on social media and have a lot of engagement, that can help too with some brands and destinations, sometimes being reason enough on its own. If you’re the clear top writer in a specific niche or place, you have a higher chance of getting invited on trips that involve that niche or place.

The best thing to do is raise your traffic and influence if you’re a blogger, raise your profile and your number of good clippings if you’re a freelancer. Stats matter a lot because they go onto a report for the boss, so have readership and follower numbers available or on your media kit.

Then when you get invited, deliver in a big way so you can do it again.

Last, this should be obvious, but it doesn’t seem to be: make yourself easy to reach. Put a real e-mail address and working phone number on your site, not just one of the contact forms we all look at as “do not contact” forms. Then respond quickly to any invite you get, even if it’s to decline. Many PR agencies represent a whole long list of clients, so even if that trip’s not right for you, another may be later.

Hey, they should be paying ME to go on this trip!

Some people don’t just get invited on press trips. They actually get paid to be there—either a daily rate or a set fee for a higher level of deliverables than someone who’s not getting paid. If you go on a press trip, there’s usually no set expectation besides an article or two and some social postings. If you’re getting paid, there’s a contract and you’re now a paid client , not just an “earned media” writer.

First though, a step back. Just 15 years ago, print writers got far more invites and attention than bloggers. It took a long time for travel destinations to wake up from their slumber, take a look around, and realize that most people were getting their travel planning info online, not from dead trees. They started to realize that while those 400-word magazine mentions may look nice hanging on a wall or on a “as seen in” web page, they don’t move the needle much in terms of visitors. Most travel research happens on the web and print publications are still shedding subscribers and advertisers at an alarming rate—if they’re surviving at all.

Now in the post-pandemic 2020s, many marketing and PR people are still catching up when it comes to the travel space. They are still usually organized in old silos of “earned media” having one budget and “marketing and advertising” having another. Remember that most convention and visitors’ bureaus (CVBs) are government agencies. They’re not too quick to adapt.

In Latin America and in many developing countries, cronyism rules and the whole agency can be a clueless bunch of political appointees and friends of the governor or president. When there’s an election, the whole lot may be replaced with a new set of clueless cronies. You can call, e-mail, send a letter, or shout through a megaphone in Spanish and probably still not get anyone’s attention. There’s a reason you don’t read much about travel in these places. And a reason why their messaging seems so out of touch .

The more tech-savvy a country’s population is, the more likely they respect online media and understand the power of it. For some it will take years more to get there. Maybe not until the old guard has completely died off or retired.

The good news for bloggers is that they are finally getting recognized for the serious clout they wield. They have true influence because they can impact buying decisions, not just throw up an article with pretty pictures for dreamers on a treadmill. In some cases there has been an overreaction in the other direction, with a destination shunning traditional media and spending all of their budget on paid influencers and social media. Sometimes the invite lists are prepared hastily, without much research, and then the destination complains that they got burned by fakers. (News alert: if you’re not going to vet them, Instagrammers are going to buy followers to inflate their numbers. It’s cheap and fast.)

Yes, some people get paid to go on trips. Their justification is that they need to be paid for their time as a professional. They would make more money sitting in their home office than traveling to a destination they’re not thrilled about going to, so they want to be compensated for coming there and highlighting the place or company for their audience.

I would argue if your site is doing well you’re getting paid even while you sleep, so you don’t need the subject of your articles to pay you on top of that. Plus then they’re your real boss who is paying you and they can dictate terms. Every once in a while I’ll take that deal though if editorial integrity is ensured in the contract.

Understand though that this implies much more work. You are now a contracted employee of the organization paying the invoices and you will likely have a long list of things you must produce, in a set amount of time. With spreadsheets and reports. You might want to sign up for InfluenceKit to make those reports fast and pretty.

A bit of parting advice…

No matter how this all works out for you, remember that too much of a good thing can be detrimental. I know a blogger who went on 27 press trips in one year, all around the world. Much of what she produced on the page was worse than what she used to write and by the end she was really burned out.

I know a few really famous bloggers that do almost all of their travel independently and rarely do any press trips, paid or otherwise, because they got tired of the obligations that didn’t always fit their angle well. They’d rather go where they want and write about what they want, plus they have control over their schedule to get the real work done in one place.

It’s physically tough on your body to do this and it’s likely the work itself will suffer too if you’re on the road too much. Take time to reflect, to do deep work, and to get reasonably caught up in between those trips where you’re on the move constantly. Sometimes the best thing a travel blogger can do for their career is to stop traveling for a while and produce more content, produce better articles, and get fully caught up on the to-do list.

Also, it’s tempting to say yes to any invite, but first ask, “Is this right for me?” If it won’t resonate with your audience and it doesn’t fit your niche/slant as a blogger, you should probably pass. If you’re going to have to struggle to get it placed in an outlet as a freelancer, you probably shouldn’t go.

And remember, if you do get invited, you are a guest. Don’t be that writer who is a diva or a jerk.

How about you? What did you learn on your path to press trips acceptance?

This post on press trips for travel writers was updated in June of 2023. 

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Tim is the author of Travel Writing 2.0 as well as several other successful books. His work has been recognized by SATW, NATJA, and the Solas Awards. He has contributed to more than 50 publications as a freelancer and is the editor of five websites and blogs, including the "Best online travel magazine" and the popular Cheapest Destinations Blog , established in 2003.

Fascinating insights! Press trips offer unparalleled opportunities for travel writers to capture authentic experiences. As they embark on immersive journeys, their narratives come alive, inspiring readers to wander the world. A perfect blend of adventure and storytelling! 🌍✈️📝

Thank you Tim. This is such a valuable article with careful consideration given to all stakeholders who become involved in planning and participating in press trips. It can be a complex set of arrangements and objectives. The entire process works sublimely well when collaboration is at the forefront and everyone keeps the common goal of fine storytelling top of mind. Most appreciated.

Insightful article, having lived through what you described over the last 20 years in building my career and portfolio. I am interested in your perspective of these sub-issues: -Do you find PR reps and some firms have become ageist in who they invite (i.e. firms choosing influencers over experienced writers over 45)? -What are your thoughts on situations where you have to break the rules and complain if something just isn’t right? (My Case: Last year, I had a tour guide hired by the tourist office who was a micromanager to the point where we drove 8 hours through the desert with no lunch break (except a gas station with no restaurant) and no water or snacks in the van, and promised free time in the original itinerary was stripped, and as things kept getting added, we were rushed through a lot of the activities. This guide, also threatened me in front of the other writers when I spoke up about the lack of water and food. I suspect I will not be invited by this tourism office again, despite past successes and delivering a ton of articles. Still, I don’t regret complaining about the conditions we were subjected to, even though the travel board did not send me a post trip survey and lied about it.) -How do you handle situations with PR firms (getting back in their good graces) if you are a victim of being bullied by other writers and PR people in the group? I have a disability, but 95% of the time, it’s not been an issue and the press trips and their results were great. In the handful of other times, I spoke to a supervisor about what happened–getting bullied about my disability by the other writers, or my age in one case– and in most of those cases, all was well in the end.

When it’s legit, speak up and let them know. And of course don’t write about it if the experience will be as bad for readers as it was for you. If you get pushback from the PR agency (which should only happen if they’re unprofessional), then don’t work with them again or wait for a full staff change at the agency, which usually doesn’t take more than a year or two.

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How to Plan a Press Trip

by Mallory Smith | Sep 6, 2022 | Media Relations

It’s not every day you get to organize an international press trip on behalf of your client. So when Dittoe PR was given the opportunity to travel across the world to Greece for client WhistlePig Whiskey, we jumped on the chance and got to planning.

But press trips don’t always have to be lavish days packed with Mediterranean food, a dip in the Aegean Sea and visits to historical structures dated B.C. to warrant planning one. (Though we recommend it!) Follow the below steps to determine if you should recommend a press trip to your client and how to plan and execute one if you’re tasked with the opportunity.

Understand what your client has planned for the year and make PR recommendations

Every PR professional should have knowledge of their clients’ upcoming announcements for the year and whether they’re a product or service launch, a press conference or a grand opening or event. Identify the announcements that should make the biggest splash in media coverage, taking into consideration client marketing pillars and tentpole activations.

Based on your client’s goals, determine if your PR strategy should entail announcing news in a way beyond the traditional press release and personalized pitch approach. Offer potential PR story angles to make a story more press worthy, which can include potential partners, PR stunts and activations.

At this stage, a press trip recommendation for a high-caliber announcement can be helpful for a client to give media a peek behind the curtain and amplify media coverage potential. Make sure to share your recommendation well in advance of your client’s marketing budget meetings, as press expect all accommodations, travel, and food and beverage to be taken care of for them on press trips.

On the other hand, your client might bring the press trip opportunity to you. Your responsibility will then be to evaluate the return on investment and recommend if you should move forward. To measure the value of a potential press trip, determine if the time of year makes sense; if the quality of the press trip will result in a more thorough, visual story that your team won’t be able to secure otherwise; and if you are confident in your team’s ability to recruit desirable journalists to commit to attendance.

Collaborate with your client to build the itinerary

Like any eventful trip, a detailed itinerary is imperative to have on hand.

Plan your trip around your client’s excursions and activations – whether that revolves around a new hotel or restaurant opening, product or service launch, or event. This should be the crux of your trip and the reason you’re planning it! Supplement the client promotion and education with fun, innovative and new activities to do at that destination.

Work with your client, client partners who might reside in the destination you’re traveling to, and the destination’s local visitor’s bureau for the essential places to visit for entertainment, lodging and dining. Or, if you’re planning a trip in the city you’re in, get insight from your community to build must-visits into the itinerary.

Curate an itinerary that includes breaks for media so they have the chance for personal time, plus buffer time between activities, as it’s inevitable things will get off track. And if they do, go with it! Journalists have experienced this before and might even request a change in the itinerary. If the group is up for it, be flexible, as long as the purpose of the trip is still intact.

Elaborate on itinerary activities so journalists have a brief synopsis of what they will be experiencing. You can even go the extra mile to personalize each itinerary depending on the journalist, when they arrive, depart, check-in, etc.

Once the itinerary is final, deliver to each journalist a few business days before the press trip commences, and you can include a printed version in their lodging room so they have it upon their arrival – along with a welcome gift relevant to the purpose of the trip from your client.

Invite press

Ever been curious about the life of a travel agent? Coordinating press logistics for a press trip is your chance to experience it.

Invite fitting media to the press trip months in advance. For our trip to Greece, we began inviting media nearly two months before the trip and could have even used more time!

Be cognizant of your press attendee cap and how many journalists you’re inviting simultaneously so you don’t have more interest than you can accommodate. Many publications do not permit press trips, so avoid inviting staff writers unless they write for travel publications. Seek out freelance writers and travel writers who have clearly participated in press trips before, which you can find via their social media channels or coverage.

Find out from your client who should book travel and logistics for journalists, and if you can offer writers the flexibility to book their own travel and reimburse them. If you book the flights, make sure to capture the writer’s frequent flier number so they can earn points and take advantage of upgrades. Get approval on the flight times from the journalist before purchasing to make sure they are comfortable with the trip. If budget allows, upgrade journalists to premium economy or business class. If you cannot create something similar to an Uber code for complimentary rides to and from the airport for flights (be mindful Uber codes are not transferable in countries with different currency), remind journalists to send receipts after the trip so your client can reimburse them.

Attention to detail for flights, rides and lodging is paramount when planning press trips!

Prepare your client

Just as you would prior to a media interview, compile a media briefing document that gives an overview of each journalist, what you expect them to be most interested in, whether or not they are familiar with your client’s brand, what to avoid discussing with them and more. The media briefing document can be more in-depth for trips with less attendees, and more high-level for trips with many attendees.

Delineate roles between yourself as the PR lead and your client as the brand ambassador. You will want to collaborate to offer press the best possible experience, but make sure each party knows what they are responsible for while traveling.

A press trip is much more laid back than something like a client segment, press conference or formal interview. Encourage your client to have fun and portray their brand personality.

Read the room, be professional but personal, and enjoy the experience! This is your chance to make connections with journalists you might have never met before and secure stories with them in the future. Planning and executing a press trip takes patience, organization and diligence, but the trip – and the resulting coverage – is so rewarding!

Dittoe PR is a nationally recognized public relations and social media management agency.

Our Latest Posts

Press Trips for Freelancers: How They Work and How to Get Started

Press trips are a great opportunity for freelancers to get a behind-the-scenes look at a destination. They can then use that to create compelling content that generates publicity for both the hosting organization and the freelancer. But how do you get invited on a press trip, and what should you expect once you're there?

Here, your questions will be answered and you'll find tips on leveraging the experience to grow your freelance business.

What Are Press Trips?

Press trips are when tourism, travel , and other agencies send journalists to a location or event to gather information and photographs to share with their audience through stories, articles , videos, or social media posts.

What Is the Purpose of a Press Trip?

Press trips have two primary purposes: to give the journalist an authentic experience of the destination or event and to promote the destination or event to a broader audience.

For the freelancer, a press trip can provide an opportunity to get an insider's view of a destination or event and gather information and material that would be difficult to get as a regular tourist.

And since most press trips cover your expenses, they can be a great way to travel on a budget.

For the hosting organization, a press trip can effectively generate publicity and create content that will help promote their business or cause.

How To Get Invited on a Press Trip

So do you get to go on one?

While there’s not a one-size-fits-all path to follow that’ll guarantee you’re selected for a press trip, here are five tips on things you can do to increase your chances.

1. Have a strong portfolio

When editors or PR reps are looking through potential candidates, they want to see that you have a track record of producing high-quality content that produces results. So take the time to create a strong portfolio and website that’ll make a good impression.

2. Get a letter of assignment

If you’re able to get a letter of assignment from an editor, that will go a long way in proving your worth to the PR team. This letter is simply a document from an editor stating that they’ve assigned you to write a story on a specific topic and that they plan to publish it.

Having a solid pitching game can help you score these letters. So think creatively and pitch several different publications with your ideas. This way, you’re more likely to get a yes in return.

3. Reach out to local tourism boards or travel agencies

If you’re interested in visiting a particular destination, reach out to the local tourism board or travel agency and introduce yourself. You can tell them about your interest in writing about the destination and see if they have any upcoming press trips you can apply for.

4. Connect with other freelancers

Another great way to learn about press trips is by connecting with other freelancers in your field. You can reach out to writers and photographers who have gone on press trips and see if they have any advice or recommendations. Additionally, many freelancers are happy to share leads and opportunities, so you may be able to get a few tips from them as well.

5. Keep your eyes peeled for open opportunities

Finally, keep an eye out for open applications. Some organizations will put out a call for journalists to apply to go on a press trip. You can check travel-focused websites, like TravMedia , for these opportunities. If you see one that interests you, be sure to apply!

What To Expect from Your First Press Trip

Congratulations, you landed a spot on a press trip! Now, it's time to start preparing for the trip itself.

First, you'll want to ensure you have all the necessary paperwork. This includes your passport (if you're traveling internationally), any visas you might need, travel insurance, and vaccinations (if required).

You'll also want to start packing your bags. Most press trips provide a schedule of events ahead of time so that you can pack accordingly. In general, you'll want to bring comfortable clothes that you can move around in easily, as well as any electronics or camera equipment you might need.

Once you arrive at your destination, be prepared to be on the go from early in the morning until late at night. Press trips can be pretty grueling, but they're also fun. You'll explore the destination, try new things, and meet new people.

However, you’ll likely only have a little free time. It’s a work trip, not a vacation. That's why taking advantage of any downtime you have is important. Use it to rest, recharge, and prepare for the next event.

And speaking of events, there will be plenty of those too. You may be going on tours and attending workshops, dinners, or parties. Remember, the goal of a press trip is to generate good press, so be prepared to do your part.

Press Trip Etiquette Tips

Speaking of doing your part, let's talk about press trip etiquette. First and foremost, remember that you're there to represent yourself and your publication in the best possible light.

That means being on time for all events, well-groomed and presentable, and respectful of the destination. It also means being mindful of your surroundings and not disrupting other journalists or photographers while they're working.

Additionally, be sure to follow any guidelines or rules that the trip organizers have put in place. They likely have a good reason for doing so, and by following them, you'll make their job easier and help ensure everyone has a good time.

Finally, don't forget to say thank you! Be sure to send a thank you note to the organizers after the trip and any PR contacts or destinations you worked with. A little appreciation goes a long way.

How To Build Your Network with Press Trips

As a freelancer, your network is everything. And one of the best ways to build your network is by attending press trips.

These trips are a great way to meet other freelance writers and photographers, as well as editors and PR representatives from all over the world. By getting to know people in your industry, you'll be better positioned to land future assignments and get your work published.

What Are the Expectations of a Freelancer After the Press Trip Is Over?

Once the trip is over, your work is just beginning. When you get back home, it’s time to start putting together your press trip pieces. If you're a writer, that means brainstorming some story ideas and pitches. It means sorting through your photos and picking the best ones for editing if you’re a photographer.

Either way, you'll want to ensure your pieces are high-quality and well-researched. After all, you want to make the most of this incredible opportunity!

To that end, here are a few tips for creating excellent press trip pieces:

• Start with a strong angle . What's unique about your experience? What sets it apart from other press trip pieces out there?
• Include plenty of details . Your readers want to feel like they're right there with you, so paint a vivid picture.
• Do your homework . In addition to your own experience, include information from other sources. This could mean interviewing locals, reading up on the destination's history, or even talking to other journalists familiar with the area.
• Edit, edit, edit . Once you've finished your first draft, be sure to go back and edit it. This is especially important if you're a writer, but it's also a good idea for photographers to take a second look at their photos before sending them off to be published. Also, ensure that you follow all of the guidelines for the publication you’re submitting to.

Remember, the hosting agency took a chance on you when they invited you along, so you want to give them your best-quality pieces in return.

How To Use Press Trips To Grow Your Freelance Business

In addition to helping you create great content, press trips can also help you grow your business. Here's how:

1. Use press trips to meet potential clients . Chances are you're always on the lookout for new clients. Press trips are great for meeting potential clients and getting your name out there. You never know who you'll meet on a trip, so bring plenty of business cards and be prepared to talk about your work.

2. Use press trips to pitch new story ideas . You’re much more likely to score the assignment when you have first-hand knowledge of a destination or experience. So use your trip to brainstorm other blog posts or articles you can create.

3. Use press trips to create portfolio pieces . The content you create following your press trip can be a big boost for your portfolio. And as mentioned above, a strong portfolio can help you get invited on more press trips.

Say Yes To Press Trips

Now that you know more about press trips, it's time to start saying yes to them. With a little hard work and networking, you can use press trips to land assignments, build your business , and create amazing content. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next trip today!

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How to Get Invited on Press Trips in 17 Steps

Oh press trips – the holy grail for many a travel blogger. I’ve been on over 40 press trips in my time, so I’m going to share the knowledge of how YOU can get invited on travel blogger press trips too.

There’s no way I would’ve been able to see and explore as many countries as I have , if it wasn’t for the media trips I’ve been invited on.

I’ll tell you the secret.

My first travel blogger press trips

I remember my first one. Well it was kind of a press trip – I’d managed to persuade my employer to send me to the TBU conference in Porto. It was all very last minute and really exciting. An all expenses trip to Porto, yes please!

That weekend ended up being a brilliant insight into the world of travel bloggers –  I met so many people who I’d admired online, learnt loads and totally fell in love with Porto.

I got a new job a few weeks later and ended up going to Toronto and New York in my first week so the excitement was trumped very quickly, but I’ll never forget how happy I was that I was getting paid to travel for the first time, for free.

The first press trip for my blog came in the form of Cape Town, South Africa. Pretty sweet hey?

When will you get a press trip?

That first travel blogger press trip was a good 18 months after I first registered my domain name though.

As I’ve said before, when you’re building up your blog you can’t rush things . It takes a while to gain traction and interest among PRs and recommendations from other travel blogger influencers. Remember how I said making friends with other travel bloggers is fun and productive? Well the press trips for travel bloggers I’ve been on have all come from word of mouth recommendations from other travel bloggers.

But no matter how many friends you manage to make in this world, there are a few more credentials to cover before you’re even considered for that elusive spot on a press trip for travel bloggers.

1. You need a substantial blog

By that, I mean to have some substance.

However great your five posts are, that’s not going to get you on the PRs hit list. You need to keep going.

As Woody Allen said “80% of success is showing up” and when you’re a travel blogger that means to keep writing, podcasting , blogging, whatever medium it is you use to get your message across. The PRs recruiting for the trip need some meat to sink their teeth into.

If you’re stuck on what to write about on your travel blog to build up the amount of posts you have, click through to that post.

2. You need some stats

Not all companies want mega high stats across social media and your blog but you need at least some impact. There’ll be companies out there who prefer to see engagement in the comments section, others want a good Instagram following and others will just enjoy your writing style.

You can’t second guess it which is why it goes back to the most important thing in travel blogging – to just be yourself.

3. You need to be what they’re looking for

Someone looking to promote their golf tours to oldies is not going to want me. You can’t try and be what they want – you’re either it, or you’re not. 

If you’re in a meeting with a PR don’t try and bend what you do to support what you’re guessing their goals are, they’ll see right through it. A strong sense of identity will be much more interesting to a PR than a flake who tries to cover all bases.

Even if you do somehow slip through the cracks and get invited somewhere you shouldn’t be, it’s just embarrassing. I was once invited on a river cruise in Russia with OAPS , and another time to explore an art gallery after hours in South Africa – neither were particularly my vibe and it all got totally awkward.

Don’t try and fit in a hole that’s not for you!

4. You need to be available

When I had a full time job there was a limit to what I could say yes to.

Then I booked myself up with personal travel for pretty much a year so again I had to say no to the travel blogger press trips for most of 2015 too, same for 2016. It wasn’t until 2017 when I really let myself loose on the media trips.

I reckon I’ve been invited on about 200 press trips over the years, but said no to at least three quarters. Either the offers didn’t suit me, or I didn’t have time for them.

Saying no to Israel, Alaska and Oman were definitely the toughest but if you will book yourself up like I do, then that’s what happens. The travel bloggers that go on the most press trips are flexible and free.

Press trips I’ve been on

Isle of Skye | Edinburgh | Catalunya | Skiing Germany, Switzerland and Austria | Costa Rica | South Africa | Luxembourg | New Orleans | Lake Charles | Houston | Minnesota | New York | Adirondacks | Florida | Florida Keys | Ferry hopping in Greece | Thailand | India | Russia | Israel | Tromso | Denmark | Swedish Lapland | Sailing Croatia | Skiing France | Skiing Italy | Bardolino Wine Festival | Tomatina Festival | Oktoberfest | Barbados | Cuba | St Lucia | St Kitts | Bulgaria | Japan | Malawi | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Vietnam | Yukon | Alberta | California | Chicago | Minnesota | Aruba | Turks & Caicos | Samoa | Haarlem

5. You need to be on the PRs radar

Do companies that offer press trips even know about you?

You need to meet people and get on their radar and that’s where travel conferences and events come in. If you can’t make it to them just drop your destinations of interest PRs a note and introduce yourself to see if they work with bloggers.

When I went to Costa Rica on a press trip , some of the others who’d been invited were there because they’d introduced themselves to the PR company on Instagram. They ha strong accounts and so were first in line when it came to picking who went on the next travel blogger press trip.

6. You need to have reach

I’ve had two articles in Wanderlust magazine and mentioned it to one PR and was immediately offered a trip to the Cayman Islands. After I explained I was featured and not a regular contributor the emails went quiet.

But, my point is that the more coverage you can offer a PR or travel company the better asset you are.

During press trip negotiations

7. Have the right attitude

Depending on where you are in your travel blogging career you might need to take a rain check on your attitude.

As a newb you can’t go demanding money for this and money for that, saying you can’t possibly take that many photos in your week long trip or that it’ll take you a month to write it up. When you’re starting out you need to suck it up and be grateful you’re being considered – but you knew that right?

Even if you have been a travel blogger for ages, having a bad attitude can totally ruin everything you’ve built up.

8. Know your worth

At the same time, you need to understand your value and worth to them.

Go on a travel blogger press trip and you’ll be working, taking time out of your schedule and  making sacrifices to go on the trip. Make sure it’s worth it to you, however it is you want to calculate that worth.

Press trips aren’t just a holiday

Travel blogger press trips can be hard work.

Once, I went to Thailand for 6 days and was expected to write 12 posts on an external blog created just for the trip in return. Every second of the trip was scheduled so there was no time to do anything while I was there.

It was tough with all my other work commitments at the time and I’d definitely got caught up with the excitement of going to Thailand rather than thinking about whether I’d be the best fit and if it suited my travel blog goals. Of course it was an incredible week and I got to go in a private plane and even meet the Mayor of Phuket, but I should’ve asked more questions beforehand so I was prepared.

9. Know what you’re signing up for

Press trips aren’t just a chance for a free holiday – you need to provide some real value back to the company that sponsored you to be there. Before you agree find out what they expect from you, and if you want to get a good name in the industry, always exceed those expectations.

In these preliminary questions make sure you know the timeframes for when exactly they’re expecting the content online. Also find out if they’re expecting you to live blog, or update your social media feeds while you’re there. All these things need to be ironed out before you leave so the travel blogger press trip goes as smoothly as possible.

10. Say now if you don’t like the itinerary

If it’s a solo press trip make sure you’re really involved in preparing the itinerary. Send them suggestions of things you’d really like to do and if you can, arrange a meeting to discuss what would suit your blog best.

If the itinerary is sorted for you, whether you’re on a group trip, or a solo trip, and there’s something you’re not comfortable with, make sure you tell them. Give a reason and a suggestion for something different.

You don’t have to do what’s set out in itinerary draft one, they obviously want you to be happy too and will want to give you want you want to increase the possibility of you enjoying their destination!

Once you have the press trip sorted

11. Underpromise and over deliver

Whatever your agreed press trip coverage with your sponsor, it’s a good idea to give them that little bit extra. Even if it’s just one more Instagram photo, another Facebook update or some great photos they can use in their promotional material. You’re more likely to be asked back, and you could be recommended to other PRs too.

Just like the way travel bloggers talk about PRs and companies so they talk about you, and us. I’d love to see their Facebook groups!

12. Be up, ready, alert and all charged up

No doubt you’ll be given a schedule at the beginning on the week and you need to be polite and courteous at all times to everyone involved.

You’re not some big shot because you’re on a press trip .

I’ve seen and heard of some people press trip diva fits about air conditioning and other such ‘essentials’ at their PR – that’s not going to get you anywhere.

Make sure you take some sort of back up kit for your camera and phone. There’s nothing worse that being sent in to interview someone and seeing that little red light flash up warning you to get a move on (gulp).

13. Don’t take the piss

Whether it’s the mini bar, the staff, your driver or the dinner bill, just approach them all within reason. On the press trips I’ve been on I get totally paranoid they’ll think I’ve gone too far but so long as you don’t go all Henry VIIIth at dinner time on them you’ll be fine.

Angie from angieaway.com has some really good tips for staying off the PR Social Media BlackList here  10 Tips to End Up on the Infamous Press Trip Blacklist

14. Just be awesome

If blog trips had an end of project report you’re aiming for an A+.

If an agency is sending you to review a country they’ll want to send someone they can trust. Everyone has someone to answer to and as long as you’re cool and can manage to turn up on time, reply to emails when they come through and conduct yourself in a polite but familial way, or however you do on your blog, you’ll be invited back and recommended within the industry. And if a country invites you of course they’ll want you to be respectful of their traditions and life.

How to get a press trip

If you’ve got all the bases covered at the start of this post then it’s time to track down some interesting PR people who are about to become your new BFFs.

Keep writing, grow your social media feeds, encourage interaction on your blog and get yourself known among tourist boards and PR companies.

15. Go to events

Go to conferences and events and chat to other bloggers and the companies who’ve paid to be there. They’re the ones who are really interested in working with bloggers and so the people who you’ll have the best chances with.

Events and conferences are the best way to meet the people who arrange and organise the travel blogger press trips in a company.

What can you do for them?

This isn’t all about you you know.

A PR will want to know exactly what you can do for them when it comes to press trips, so know your reach, your readership and your skills. Don’t be afraid to show them off either.

You need to demonstrate why they should choose you over every other blogger in the world. If you’re meeting a potential press trip organiser at an event you need to be sure of what you can provide them.

What can you offer and why should they work with you?

Have that right in your head and rolling off the tongue and you’re sure to be in with a better chance.

16. Helps to be multitalented

If you can take great photos, film and edit, and write, you’re quite the asset to a press trip. If you’re this multitalented make sure the PRs know it. If you’re not, no worries, having an expertise can make you stand out too. You just need to play to and market your strengths.

17. Produce a media kit

PR companies love media kits. These are basically just a way for you to show off what you can do, in a quick and easy to read way. Media kits are visual ways to see the top level stats – how many readers you have, blog posts, your social media stats, and maybe a testimonial or two, too. I’d definitely recommend putting one of these together.

You can have a nose at mine on my work with me page on the blog.

Some travel bloggers don’t like press trips; they say they’re an unnatural way to see a destination, that you’re rushed around and that they can actually be quite stressful. I can see what these bloggers mean, but going on the press trips I have has allowed me to see destinations I didn’t even know existed in ways I couldn’t imagine.

I love them!

Just to warn you, the press trip experiences I’m about to list will probably read like an epic directory of gloat and glory, but I just want to tip that balance back from the negativity about being a travel blogger I’ve written about before.

Because, really, it’s the best job in the world .

My Top 12 Unbelievable Press Trip Experiences

(in no particular order)

1. Driving a Mustang up the Pacific Coast Highway

When I accepted this trip I hadn’t actually driven for 10 years . And then only in England. And in a Nissan Micra which was the car I had when I passed my test.

So, me driving solo down the Pacific Coast Highway in a Ford Mustang one day and a Chevrolet Camaro the next was quite the challenge to my skills and confidence. There I was traversing a £30k+ car round the bends and twists of the Californian mountains.

I can’t say I loved every second of the drive, but when I look back on it I definitely had a good time and learnt a lot about my capabilities and self belief.

The whole trip with Visit California was incredible.

Absolutely incredible.

We stayed in Fairmont Hotels, ate at the best restaurants, had jacuzzis on our balconies and drank fancy cocktails every night. The fact that the other people on the trip were newspaper journalists at huge publications made me feel proud that my blog was considered as important as them by the tourist board (that was two years ago – of course blogs are now!)

15 Tips for Driving the Pacific Coast Highway

2. Flying first class with Virgin Atlantic

Oh my god after the Pacific Coast Highway trip I was SO tired. The driving, the eating, the late nights and early mornings – I was exhausted. And as soon as I landed I had to get back to the Midlands from Heathrow to go to my friend’s 30 th .

So when my ticket bleeped at LA Airport as it went through the machine and I was upgraded to *FIRST CLASS*. I nearly cried.

Gawd it was amazing.

The bed went flat out. They fed me a feast. They even gave me pyjamas. It is quite sad that I was so tired I couldn’t make the most of the alcohol possibilities, but I did eat a tonne of breakfast to make up for it when I woke up. With Champagne of course.

Thanks to the silence and proper duvet I slept for 10 of the 12-hour journey.

Best flight, everrrr!

3. Walking in the parade at Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Hogmanay is a huge New Year’s Eve Festival up in Edinburgh , Scotland. It sells out to thousands of ticket holders every year. People come in the afternoon and queue up to watch the parade going past, in the Scottish December. As in, it’s freezing. The Hogamanay Parade a big thing and people are excited to be near the front of the crowds.

Well, in 2015/16 I was invited to go, along with around eight of what coincidentally turned out to be my favourite bloggers, and we joined the parade. Not just at the back with everyone else. No, we were invited to join the start – up with the Vikings that had come over from the Shetland Islands. I walked with them, carrying my torch, while the crowds looked on probably wondering who on earth I was and we were photographed from every angle.

Our all access passes, and best view of the main stage made me feel like some sort of celeb. It was brilliant.

4. Using helicopters to get from A to B

New York , Grand Canyon , Munich, South Africa, Sweden, Panama City Beach….

Gawd, I’ve now been in a helicopter so many times now, but every time its a different view and the butterflies of excitement are still there. I’m going to pick two to tell you about.

Number one most unbelievable helicopter press trip experience was on a press trip with Lufthansa – the airline.

I arrived at Munich Airport with a few other bloggers for a skiing trip . We were picked up, and taken to the airport’s helicopter pad. From there we were flown to the slopes of Kitzbuhel – one of the fanciest ski slopes in Europe, never mind Austria.

We stayed in a stunning chalet for the night, skied all day and then parachuted down the mountain, landing within a few minutes of freshly poured mulled wine.

Incredible .

Another time, on a press trip in Swedish Lapland, we hiked up a mountain for a few hours to get the best view of the land below. When we got to the top a helicopter came to pick us up to take us to our next hotel. We flew high over the mountains and got to see wild reindeers on the snowy caps. Unreal.

All the helicopter experiences have been incredible, but using a helicopter for transport, rather than sightseeing just seems that little bit more indulgent, don’t you think?

5. Driving the Emerald Coast in Florida

I loved my week cruising along the Emerald Coast – one of the dreamiest press trips I’ve ever been on. Sometimes press trips can be a bit intense and you need to stick to a programme 24/7, all the while trying to get the photos and videos you need for the coverage you want to show.

This trip was different though. Visit Florida sorted my meals, accommodation and car and then I was free to do what I wanted all day. Loved it. It meant I got to experience the Emerald Coast like a normal person would, and gave me the chance to take the time over photos and video which I think shows in the coverage. I stayed at one of my most favourite places I’ve ever stayed – the Henderson Park Inn – and found somewhere I’ll definitely be coming back to too. And the drive was stunning .

12 Reasons to Visit the Emerald Coast

6. Relaxing at the Kurhotel Spa in Denmark

I went on a solo press trip with Visit Denmark. They arranged for me to go to the Kurhotel Spa and Hotel . Jeez, this place was beautiful. A huge white building that took up a good stretch of the coast just above Copenhagen. I was there for two beautiful nights and would love to return.

I did my first Crossfit class here, enjoyed the incredible (healthy) food in the restaurant overlooking the water and went to a Danish sauna session too. This basically involved me alternating between increasingly hot saunas and cold showers before finally jumping in the (FREEZING) lake.

I felt so good afterwards I promised myself I’d start to do this in London. Obviously that’s fallen way, way by the wayside and I’ve never done it again.

One day though.

7. Cruising on a Catamaran in Barbados

Have you ever had a moment in life where you’ve just felt totally free? The catamaran trip in Barbados was like that. I was there for Skyscanner and I’d spent the first few days worrying about what I was going to write about and photograph. Then I went on the catamaran and had so much fun with some new friends I’d met who’d just got engaged. I was there dancing at the front of the ship with everyone else, just loving life.

It was this moment, on my third day that really made love Barbados and I could see why people return again and again to Barbados for a holiday. All you need to do when you’re there is relax, enjoy yourself and eat at the many great Barbados restaurants.

The world can wait till you’re back in it.

Except when you’re on a press trip and meant to be getting photos and videos, of course, but I had that feeling for a few minutes!

8. Seeing the sloths in Costa Rica

I’d always wanted to go to Costa Rica , but for whatever reason, never quite made it. So when I was invited to go on a trip with Visit Costa Rica and British Airways (business class, YES!) obviously I said a  ‘hell yeahhhh’.

I wanted to see a sloth, a toucan, colourful birds, iguanas and monkeys, but I never really thought we would, especially in just a few minutes. But then landing in to Tortugeuro via a tiny plane (another dream!) we boarded a boat and our journey down the canal was flanked by all the animals.

We saw three sloths in just a few minutes, it was AWESOME!

9. Driving an ATV in Israel

My VIBE Israel press trip was definitely one of my favourites from start to finish. It was also one of the most hectic, as in no sleep and totally action packed, but it was just a fascinating place to see.

Apart from all the incredible food, seeing all the key religious spots in Jerusalem I studied for my A Level in Religious Studies (serious), staying at a luxury spa, a super cool place in Tel Aviv and going to a wine festival, it was the ATV driving in Galilee I loved most.

I’ve been lucky enough to try a few ATV activities around the world but in Galilee they really let you push the vehicles to the extreme.

We were encouraged to go as fast as possible, to go through water and to just have fun in the wide open space. I had a great time – not sure about my passenger Jodie though…

10. The incredible places I’ve stayed

I’ve stayed at hotels that have made me stop in my tracks on the way through the door. Incredible accommodations that I would never be able to afford with the amount I travel.

I’m just going to list a few of the most memorable ones here, but honestly, there’ve been so, so many more.

Jungle Lodge in Gambia

– All that was for me!

Henderson Park Inn, Emerald Coast

– I had the best room overlooking the beach

Hahnenkamm Lodge, Kitzbuhel

–  View from my room, this place costs tens of thousands a night

Yab Yum Huts, Goa

– All that hut belonged to me at the Yab Yums !

Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur, CA

– This was my balcony, we had a party that night

11. Going on a private jet in Thailand

One of the most memorable experiences I had while traveling in Thailand was  chartering a private jet  to take us from Bangkok to Pattaya and back. We were visiting some of the finest hotels in Phuket and on the final day, the group of us were treated to a luxurious ride on a private jet.

The cost of chartering this particular jet would have been a few thousand dollars, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was too good to pass up. We enjoyed Champagne, comfortable leather and wooden seats, and even had a guide pointing out landmarks and sights below us as we flew. This experience marked the beginning of my invitation to press trips, and it was truly unbelievable to think that this was now a part of my life. The charter flight was just one of the many amazing memories I made on that trip.

12. Experiencing Oktoberfes t

Oktoberfest with Busabout was so much fun. I’d always kind of wanted to go to Oktoberfest, but felt put off by what I imagined it to be – loads of drunk Antipodeans getting drunker. Which is kind of what it was.

But y’know – if you can’t beat them, join them.

A strong factor in why this trip was so good was because of the girls in my hostel dorm. They were so friendly and fun from the get go and we had a good team to enjoy Oktoberfest to its full potential. You definitely need to book your Oktoberfest accommodation in advance if you want to go.

I loved those few days!

And more…

Oh gawd there was also that time we went jet skiing for two hours in Australia, and that time I got to fly from the private terminal in St Kitts , I need to stop though… I lurrrve me a press trip!

Final note on getting invited on press trips

If you’re planning on starting a travel blog to get free press trips, trust me, you’d be better off getting yourself a minimum wage paid job and paying for the whole thing yourself. It can take a long time to build your blog up to the level to be invited on press trips.

Not saying you can’t, in fact, I’ve written a whole free course in how to be a travel blogger, but it just takes a lot of work.

But if you just want a happy sideline in a few press trips a year to supplement your travels, then good luck to you!

Related Posts:

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• How I Afford to Travel So Much (+ 7 Tips for You Too)
• My Mental Health as a Travel Blogger
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Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

39 Comments

Really helpful and informative post..thank you.

After reading it’s made me think about what’s right for me. With a new career as a flight attendant on the cards and more time in between to think on my blog this post was great for ideas

Oh congratulations – that’s an exciting job! And great that you’ll get to travel so much. Glad that I’ve given you some ideas for your blog. There’s a whole series called Travel Blogger High on here if you want any more tips and advice.

https://vickyflipfloptravels.com/travel-blogger-high/

Thanks for your comment Abigael, I’m glad you found my advice valuable. Gawd, I was SO excited on my first press trip but yes, as you say they’re always work too. I think you just need to accept the ones that suit how much work you’re prepared to do to make sure that you don’t resent the trip in any way and still manage to enjoy yourself.

Super valuable info Vicky! It’ll be a great resource to look back on in the future because it’s easy to forget how things should be done sometimes.

I remember my first press trip, it was really exciting but soon learned how much work it could be too. I didn’t mind because I was already doing it daily anyway. The second was better because my expectations were more realistic and I found the right balance between work and play which was nice. The next one… who knows! But I finally made a media kit so hopefully that’ll boost my chances.

I would just like to ask an administrative question regarding press trips. Since no money changes hands (I assume) is there any invoice or contract exchanged between parties? Just wondering how this is tracked for income tax purposes. Do the PR companies need to be dealing with a registered company?

– great information here for prospective travel bloggers!

Hi Gary, it totally depends on each project. Some times there’ll be a sort of contract in emails, other times there’ll be something proper to sign and then others it’s just left to you to write about your experiences. I wouldn’t be able to advise on that I’m afraid. I’d suggest you talk to a registered accountant. Sorry I can’t be more help and I’m glad you enjoyed my article.

So Cant wait to see you in Vietnam 😉

Such a nice post. I have been blogging for over a year now and slowly learning whta it is really about. I learn so much about myself and enjoy writing more and more. So many people say that press trips are such great experience. Maybe one day I will be able to see it from the inside. Thank you.

Ah thank you Anna, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Press trips are awesome – you just need to make sure you go on the right one for you and your blog!

I hope it all works out for you Beatrice – I’ve seen some truly incredible things while on press trips and done things I never, ever thought I would.

And I loved Cape Town – can’t believe I haven’t been back actually!

Hi Vicky, what a lovely post filled with tips that are so awesome I don’t actually have to keep googling. (I have been on over 20 websites in my research on press trips before I came to your blog). I’m very pleased that your first press trip was to Cape Town, fancy that?! It’s where I’ve called home for the past couple of years so, great choice you made :). Thanks for sharing all these tips and for being genuine and honest, not sugar-coating the fact that it’s not all glam and get, that it takes determination and hard work to get there too. I am buys with my Media Kit and hopefully get to implement your advice by approaching PR companies, making travel blogger friends and so on. Great post!

I hope you had a great time on your press trip Tamason, I’m sure you’ll never appear on one of those lists!

I hope others stumble upon this article so that they realise that blogging is extremely hard work and not something that you can do occasionally to reap big reward.

We have been working hard on our blog for the past two years now and have finally started to be rewarded for our hard work. I would hate to be seen as some clearly are from you ’10 ways to appear on a PR Blacklist’ linked in the post above and hope that on press trip we are about to embark on we can be seen as the professionals we hope we come across as.

This is a great, informative, and thorough post. It definitely helps me understand more about press trips. As a fairly new travel blogger, I felt a bit mystified by it all. My question would be, however, how do you find these PR reps and tourism boards? Is it just through networking at blogger conferences or can you reach out to them on Twitter, etc? I’m not sure what to look for. Thanks a lot in advance! 🙂

Hi Amy, I’ve heard of people being invited on press trips because they reached out to the PR in the past on Twitter, or via email to register their interest in the destination. They’ve set the seed that they’d like to go and then when the opportunity came up they were on the list.

I wouldn’t do this for every PR though. Make sure you’re selective in who you want to reach out to otherwise the PR will see right through it.

Networking at conferences is a great way to make friends with PRs and to find out more about who you’d like to work with.

Think of yourself as a PR and think how you’d like to be treated. That’s how I deal with all these unknown situations!

Your blog is amazing and i love this post, and your blog. Im about to start my own blog and i wanted to know if you could suggest some good networking/bloging/travel events i could go to??

Hello Ashlee, thank you! I’m currently at TBEX in Spain, which is a great event but you’ll have to get here pretty quick as it starts tomorrow!

Otherwise you could try Blogstock or Traverse – run by the same people at different points in the year. Or TBEX is also in Asia and the USA in October. I’m going to Blogtacular in London in a few weeks.

Whereabouts are you based?

hello Vicky, This post is just awe-some.. there is so much information here..I agree with most points you present. I have never been on a press trip, but would love to experience it some day. Based on my profile, I am interested in travel for vegetarians and luxury travel. I am not sure if anyone does press trips for that :). Looking forward to reading through your blog, and your new posts. Thanks!

Hi Pragati, thanks for reading 🙂 There will definitely be a market for that! Just have a look at who PRs your favourite products and veggie based holidays and go from there. Vegetarianism is only getting bigger with people becoming more health conscious so I’d say that was definitely a good market to be in right now. Good luck and let me know how you get on 🙂

Hi Vicky, Thanks for your response. I have never ventured into the whole sponsored post or sponsored travel realm before, so I don’t know where to start!

‘have a look at who PRs your favourite products and veggie based holidays and go from there. ‘ I think that would be the toughest thing for me, first finding out what kind of holiday can be sponsored, and then finding out who does the PR for them.

I think I have taken a step by redoing my About page. I have made it a bit more detailed than before, and provided a lot of background, actually, much more than I have ever been open about. I don’t know if it is too much..Maybe you could have a look sometime when you get a chance? Would love to have your opinion on it..

thanks!! Happy FlipFlopping 🙂

Thank you for the tip! I was offered a chance a few weeks back but was skeptical because they expected me to do a full itinerary with less than 6 hours of sleep/night. 🙁

Thanks for the great tips and advice! This is a super informative post. (I’m loving your travel blogging newsletter series by the way.) I’m going to a women’s travel conference this month and I’m really excited to meet other bloggers and people in the travel industry. Thanks for all the insight!

Thanks Rachel – that’s good to hear! I hope the travel conference goes well. Did you read my post on making friends with travel bloggers? That might help?

vickyflipfloptravels.com/make-friends-with-travel-bloggers/

Thanks for including me in your post! Definitely great tips here and I can’t agree more with your last statement: “If you’re planning on starting a travel blog to get free press trips, trust me, you’d be better off getting yourself a minimum wage paid job and paying for the whole thing yourself.”

Press trips aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and it’s so important for those of us who’ve been around for a while to make sure newbies realize that travel blogging isn’t all free trips and free food and free activities! It’s a ton of work – fun work, and certainly better than cubicle life – but work, nonetheless. I’m bookmarking your post to share with anyone seeking advice on getting “free” trips!

No worries Angie. Thanks for the great advice! I’ve definitely noticed a trend among people, both travel bloggers and friends and family, to think that a press trip is just a holiday at a PRs expense. Not so!

Do you think having a .com benefits too? You mentioned that you got your first press trip a year after getting a domain.

Ah I may not have phrased that very well Mandy, sorry. I just meant since I registered my blog. Although, yes, I do think a .com helps. It looks more serious and in turn other people will take you more seriously too. Have you read my article on choosing a domain name? It may help.

vickyflipfloptravels.com/choose-domain-name-travel-blog/

Another article loaded with useful information. I never been to a press trip before (it’s on the bucket list) and will use this timeless piece as a reminder in the future. Thanks Vicky!

No worries. Happy to help!

Such a great post! I went on my first press trip last September and it was such a nice ‘introduction’ to them. I went to the islands where my family are originally from (Isles of Scilly) so I knew them very well. I didn’t have too much of an itinerary other than to go to the food festival, so I was free to do whatever I wanted the other days. It was really nice and I was actually really happy that I went alone as it gave me some time to really explore where my family lived on my own terms.

My recent press trip to Slovakia was the complete opposite, there was a really full itinerary, but as I’d never visited the country before it was brilliant! I just gave the PR two places I really wanted to visit (Lomnicky Peak and skiing at Strbske Pleso) and the rest they organized. It was the perfect itinerary and so much fun, but I do worry sometimes that press trips can be disappointing if you *really* want to go somewhere and then you don’t have the freedom to see things you really want to see. For example if I was ever offered a trip to Croatia, I think I’d probably decline purely because I have such a set itinerary of exactly where I want to go and what I want to do.

Like you I try not to take advantage, same when reviewing a restaurant in London, I never order all the expensive stuff and just order what I usually would if I were paying myself. I think it’s also important to understand that not everything on a press trip is free and no one should expect to have absolutely everything for free. In Slovakia we just had to pay for our lunches and any extra drinks we wanted, which we were more than happy with. It’s about reaching the right balance with the PR, and like you said, knowing your worth and not thinking you’re worth more than you actually are.

C x | Lux Life

Oo I’ve never been there, that must’ve been nice to revisit. It’s nice to have a really relaxed press trip – I was like that in Saint Lucia – it meant I could discover the island in my own time, which was really fun. Yeah you need to make sure the press trip suits both parties goals. It can be tempting to just say yes to anything, but you really need to think about whether it’s right for you. As you say, it’s all about the balance!

Great post Vicky,

I should also say that having an interactive Media Kit on your blog will really help you to get the Press Trips that you want,. The Media Kit will help educate and advise prospective press trip PRs in making sure that they are the right fit for you and vice versa.

However, it doesn’t mean that you should create one and wait for the PRs to come to you. Travel bloggers also have to do the work. It’s a great resource to include in your emails to your PRs or Tourism boards as they will like to see your previous work and stats.

The majority of my press trips came through this way as they often remark about a piece of information or previous work and then after some discussion they will get a feel of what your blog is all about and also the person behind the blog.

My text tip also is yours. Be professional and courteous at all times! Actually scratch that, use the good old British stiff upper lip charm!

Yes Ed! Huge point I missed out. In fact I will add the media kit in asap! Really good tips there. Thanks x

Ed perhaps I am naive but what is an ‘interactive’ media kit?

http://www.crjag.com/

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A Food and Travel Blog for Those Hungry for Adventure

What is a Press Trip? Your Questions Answered

A press trip, aka a media trip or familiarisation trip (FAM trip), is a trip that a tourism board, hotel, or other organisation organises to allow journalists, reporters, influencers, or content creators to experience a destination or product firsthand. From my personal experience, journalists on a press trip usually get free travel, accommodations, and activities. The expectation is that the media on the trip will write articles or produce other content about their experience. This expectation is the norm in Ireland, however, in other countries it is different.

What does it mean for journalists on press trips?

For me, as a travel writer, press trips can be an excellent opportunity to learn about new destinations and products and also get some great photos and videos for my articles. They can also be fun, as you get to travel with like-minded people and experience new things. However, as a writer, I need to remember that I am first and foremost on a press trip, and my primary goal is to produce objective and unbiased content. I also have to ensure that I avoid allowing the tourism board or other organisations hosting the trip to influence me. I also always need to ask tough questions.

What does it mean for readers of articles generated from press trips?

When readers read articles generated from press trips, it is essential to remember that the journalists who wrote the articles were guests of the tourism board or other organisations that sponsored the trip. This means the journalists may have been influenced by their hosts, and their articles may not be entirely objective. However, it is also important to remember that journalists are trained to be objective and that they will typically try to present a balanced view of the destination or product they are writing about.

Ultimately, it is up to the readers to decide how much weight to give to articles generated from press trips. Therefore, if you are a reader looking for unbiased information about a destination or product, do additional research.

Here are some tips for readers of articles generated from press trips:

• Be aware of the source of the article. Is it from a reputable publication? Is the journalist who wrote the article an expert on the destination or product?
• Read the article critically. Look for any biases or omissions.
• Do your own research. Visit the destination or product yourself, or read other articles about it.

By following these tips, you can be more confident that the information you read is accurate and unbiased.

What is a press trip? For journalists, they are a multifaceted adventure:

For journalists and content creators, press trips are a blend of adventure, exploration, and professional growth. Here’s what it means for them:

In-Depth Experience : Press trips allow journalists to immerse themselves fully in the destination. They get a chance to explore local attractions, engage with the culture, meet locals, and partake in activities that create a deep understanding of the place.

Exclusive Access : These trips often include exclusive access to behind-the-scenes experiences, expert guides, and hard-to-reach locations. This provides journalists with unique angles and insider information to enrich their stories.

Storytelling Opportunities : Press trips offer a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told. From lesser-known destinations to remarkable encounters, journalists gather material that brings their travel narratives to life.

Networking : Interacting with fellow journalists, tourism representatives, and locals on these trips can lead to valuable networking opportunities. These connections can open doors to future collaborations and assignments.

Challenges and Responsibility : While press trips are undoubtedly exciting, they come with the responsibility of representing the destination accurately and ethically. Balancing the joy of the experience with the professionalism of reporting is crucial.

What is a press trip? For readers, they are a window to the world:

Press trips are not just transformative experiences for journalists; they also have a significant impact on the stories that reach readers:

Firsthand Insights : Articles crafted from press trips provide readers with insights that go beyond the surface. Personal experiences and anecdotes make the destination feel more relatable and enticing.

Informed Choices : Readers gain valuable information about destinations, accommodations, activities, and local culture. This equips them to make informed decisions when planning their own trips.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Discoveries : Journalists often uncover hidden spots and local gems during their press trips. Readers benefit from these discoveries, gaining access to places they might not find in traditional travel guides.

Visual Delights : Stunning photographs and videos captured during press trips accompany articles, immersing readers in the destination’s beauty and atmosphere.

Inspiration : Reading about a journalist’s journey can inspire readers to embark on their own adventures. It ignites a sense of wanderlust and encourages them to explore new horizons.

Being transparent about press trips

Whilst most of my travel is self-funded, I occasionally take part in press trips. However, when I write an article, I always say whether it was part of a press trip. I aim to be as transparent as possible so you can make informed choices about the places you read about.

So, having read this ‘what is a press trip’ article, do you now know what a press trip is? Finally, and as always, if you have any questions or comments about press trips or transparency, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Finally, finally, all the photos in this post are from a press trip to Jordan. I was on assignment for the Sunday Times. You can read my article by clicking this link . If you want to read a press trip article, here is my Queens Travel Guide .

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How to Find the Best Press Trips in 2022

Posted by Michele Peterson on May 29, 2021 in Destinations , Writing Craft | Comments Off on How to Find the Best Press Trips in 2022

Want to travel the world and get paid for it? Looking for invitations for international tourism board press trips for travel writers or curious about how to get hotel, airfare and destination support for an individual media trip?

You’re not alone. These are some of the most popular questions I get asked as a Canadian travel writer, blogger and publisher.

Explore the world – from Asia to the Caribbean – on a press trip

Public relations firms and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are responsible for inviting journalists and bloggers on press trips or arranging media visits, both group and individual. They’re your best source for getting a media FAM trip invitation.

Here are some of the best sources of press trips for travel writers, bloggers and other media professionals who want to network with travel industry pros and discover the best press trip opportunities in 2021 and beyond.

Note: Dates, costs, fees and other details of conferences can change without notice so readers should double-check for accuracy.

1. International Media Marketplace ( IMM)

This single-day  networking and relationship-building Media Marketplace and Summit hosted by TravMedia , is one of the top events for travel journalists, editors and broadcasters to meet travel and tourism brands. It’s a prime place to get story ideas and opportunities to participate in press trips for travel writers and bloggers.

In order to be successful in pitching with the brands you like the most, you should prepare for your meetings. Conduct some advance research on the brands you’re meeting with and  be prepared to showcase yourself and demonstrate your unique value. At minimum you should have demographics of your audience, reach and social channels (see our Media Kit for one example).

International Media Marketplace is held in the US as well as other locations around the world and since 2013, has featured more than 1,425 exhibitors  represented by more than  1,835 PR and Travel Industry Professionals.

It takes place in New York in January 2023. 

2. TBEX Europe and TBEX North America 2022 and 2023

If you’re  a travel blogger, podcaster, videographer or writer, TBEX offers an opportunity to network with fellow new media creators and industry professionals such as PR representatives, major brands, tourism boards and destination marketing organizations.

It’s also an opportunity to bolster your skills in SEO, affiliate marketing, photography and growing your social media presence on Pinterest , Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.  The fee to attend is relatively low and there are generally attractively discounted accommodation options and a wealth of pre and post trips.

TBEX Europe 2022 was held in Marbella, Spain and will take place in Thailand in the fall.  Get details on other upcoming events at TBEX

3.  Travel Media Association of Canada

Canada’s national trade association representing qualified members of the travel media will hold their 2023 conference in Sudbury, Ontario.

Monthly Munch n’ Mingle events and directory listings offer the opportunity to meet with industry pros. Membership in TMAC is by qualification and there is a fee to attend the conference. Get details at  Travel Media Association of Canada 

Related: If you’re headed to Victoria and have to pass through Vancouver, check out these ideas for great day trips from Vancouver. 

The 3-day  U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the travel industry’s top international marketplace and brings together 6,000 attendees including more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations as well as international media.

During the event, travel journalists also have the opportunity to participate in specialized press tours and can also sign-up for official post-FAMs offered by the state.  It will be held in Orlando, Florida on June 4 to 8, June 3, 2022. Get details at IPW 

5. Society of American Travel Writers

Qualify to join this prestigious organization and you’ll be attending conferences (and pre/post trips) in exciting locations.

In 2022, the SATW convention will be held in Colombia, South America. Plus, you’ll be listed in a Directory that’s a go-to spot for PR and travel industry pros.

Get details at Society of American Travel Writers

6. North America Travel Journalists Association

The annual NATJA conference offers its members  the opportunity to meet with US, Canadian and international tourism representatives, attend personal development sessions, network with other travel writers/editors and participate in destination tours as well as pre and post press tours.

In 2019, the NATJA Conference & Marketplace was held in Syracuse, New York from May 15-May 18, 2019. In 2020, it will be held in Puerto Rico.

A wide selection of Pre and Post Press trips will be available for attendees. NATJA membership is by qualification and there is a fee to attend the conference. Get details at North America Travel Journalists Association

7. The World Travel Market (WTM)

WTM is the grand-daddy of travel industry events, drawing almost 48,000 industry professionals across four days.

Score an invitation to this conference and you’ll meet with reps from over 150 countries – Angola to Uzbekistan. Get details at World Travel Market

8. International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association

This network of journalists covering the hospitality industry offers an annual conference as well as ongoing press trip opportunities for Taste & Tour events in foodie destinations such as Missouri, Switzerland and California.

Get details at International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association 

9. Travel Classics Writers Conference

This event offers pre/ post conference trips and includes presentations & workshops with top magazine editors, one-on-one consultations with 6-8 guest editors (not for the tongue-tied). This conference is focused more on the craft of writing and building contacts with editors than press trip opportunities.

10. Visit Europe Media Exchange ( VEMEX)

Presented by the European Travel Commission, the Visit Europe Media Exchange (VEMEX) is a one day forum in late October for industry professionals and invited travel media. Formerly held in three locations in North America, it’s a whirlwind series of one-on-one appointments much like speed dating.

Register on the VEMEX website to receive an invitation. Get details at  VEMEX

Be ready to pitch your best story ideas to industry representatives at break-neck speed. If there’s a match, you may be invited on a press visit. If not, at least you’ll have a suitcase full of swag and plenty of story ideas.  There is no charge for invited media.

11. GoMedia Canada Marketplace

Sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission, this is where Canada’s provinces, territories and industry suppliers strut their stuff in a selection of first rate pre/post conference press trip opportunities. GoMedia 2020 will be held September 10 to 13 in Victoria, B.C.

Prospective attendees must register at the beginning of each year to be considered. There is no fee to attend and airfare/transportation is usually provided for qualified and invited attendees.

12. Travel South Showcase

This conference is focused mostly on tour operators and suppliers but still offers plenty of networking and city FAM tours for travel trade journalists  looking for an excuse to visit Waffle House or enjoy some southern hospitality in the winter. The 7th annual Travel South USA International Showcase will be in Baton Rouge March 8-11, 2020. Get information at the Travel South Showcase. 

13. Travel Media Showcase

This annual 2-day event, held in different U.S. cities each year, offers an opportunity for travel journalists and travel industry professionals to meet one-on-one, at a single location. A wide range of often unique Pre/Post tours can make it worth braving the intense appointment schedule. Dates for TMS 2020 have not yet been announced so check for updates at Travel Media Showcase

14. Adventure Travel World Summit

Strap on your mountaineering gear for this conference focused on outdoor adventure, extreme sports and professional development. The 2020 Adventure Travel World Summit will be held in Adelaide, Australia October 6-9, 2020.

It features top notch speakers, networking, marketplace appointments with suppliers and plenty of opportunity to explore the host destination. Membership is by qualification

15. The KITI

Sign up for a membership to this online information exchange that unites working travel journalists and PR professionals worldwide.

Get story ideas, submit requests or respond to others according to your account level. Search, save and reply to what is of interest.  The KITI 

16. Travel Massive

This worldwide network of welcoming travel professionals, bloggers, new media creators and industry pros meets regularly in a social setting ( think drinks and munchies) to share information, learn about online writing craft, technology and destinations. With chapters everywhere from Amsterdam to Washington, you might be able to find ‘one in your home city.

If not, it’s worth checking out the online event calendar and joining an event on one of your travels. You’ll need to qualify,  but new bloggers are welcome to join so Travel Massive is a good place to begin if you’re new to the industry. Get details at Travel Massive

17. Mid-Atlantic Media Marketplace

Hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance ( MATRA)  this fall event includes press trip opportunities and media meetings with PR professionals representing Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The MATPRA Media Marketplace 2020 will be held  September 21-23. Apply early if you’re interested in attending Mid-Atlantic Media Marketplace

18. Adventure Travel Mexico

Hosted by the Mexico Tourism Board, the ATMEX conference showcases what Mexico in terms of adventure, nature and cultural travel. It’s an opportunity to network with the people responsible for organizing immersive experiences and Mexico’s wealth of outdoor adventure destinations.

ATMEX will be taking place in Baja California Sur in the Fall 2020.  FAM trips and press trip opportunities are available. Hosted Media have airfare and accommodation paid. Get details at Adventure Travel Mexico

19. Tianguis Turistico – Mexico Tourism Media Marketplace

This annual event hosted by Mexico Tourism generally takes place in Acapulco, Guerrero but in 2020 it will be taking place in Merida.   Dates for Tianguis 2020 are March 22-25, 2020. Get details at Tianguis Turistico 

20. Women in Travel Summit

The WITS event is aimed at women travel influencers and publishers as well as brands that want to work with them. WITS North America will be held in Kansas in April 2020 and WITS Europe will take place in Gdank, Poland from October 16-18, 2020. Visit their website at Women in Travel Summit.

21. Tourism Boards

It’s also possible to contact tourism boards directly and submit an application for an individual press trip or group trip.  Most tourism boards and travel writing conferences require qualification by way of clips, significant publication circulation and readership stats and more. Competition for invitations can be fierce and press trip disclosure rules apply.

How to Work with Public Relations Companies

It’s also worth mentioning that there are many other reasons to attend conferences, join professional associations and maintain relationships with public relations firms and destination marketing organizations (DMOs).

Not only are the people you meet at these media marketplace events, experts about their destinations,  they often have insider access to interview sources, fact-checking resources, image banks, unique story ideas and the latest news about upcoming developments — all of which can help you write better travel stories.

What is a FAM Trip?

Although often confused with a media press trip, the term “FAM trip” originally referred to a “Familiarization trip” and was aimed at travel agents. It was intended to be (and still is) a free or low cost way for travel agents to become familiar with a destination in order to portray it more accurately to their clients and sell more product.

A FAM  trip for  travel agents or consultant is often provided by a tour operator, hotel brand or an airline as a means of promoting their service.

A beach cabana during a press trip in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Differences between a FAM Trip and a Press trip

The terms FAM trip and Press Trip are often used interchangeably, but press trips for travel writers and bloggers generally include more opportunities for experiencing a destination  through its cuisine, culture and history rather than hotel inspections. A FAM trip is generally focused more on property inspections and may include more hotel and attraction tours than a media press trip.

Another important difference is that a FAM trip may (but not always) have a cost associated with it. Travel writers are not charged a cost to participate in a media press trip.

Other Ways to Find Press Trips for Travel Writers, Bloggers, Influencers and Journalists

Become Cabin Crew: If you’re not interested in freelance travel writing, you might be interested in  a job as cabin crew with an airline. Check out Resources for Prospective Cabin Crew to help secure a job travelling the world with airlines such as Norwegian Air, Thai Airways, Air India and others.

Volunteer Abroad: If you’re interested in teaching English, working overseas or volunteering in a foreign country, a worthwhile website to browse is Transitions Abroad. Since 1977, it’s been helping readers explore the world and broaden their horizons.

Awards and Recognition: If you win an award for travel writing (as we did for our Costa Rica Intergenerational Family Travel story) or are recognized for travel writing excellence, then you’ll likely be contacted and approached directly for travel press trip opportunities. But beware of scams – in no case should you be expected to pay a deposit to secure a place on a press trip.

If you’re just starting out, you might want to learn more about how to start a travel blog. You might also be interested in my How to Break into Travel Writing Online Course and Workshop. 

Do you know of other sources for finding travel writing press trip opportunities or PR contacts for media visits? Do you have other favourite conferences for travel writers? Let me know and I’ll add them to the list

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September 5

How to Run a Press Trip for Travel Media

Media Relations , Public Relations , Tourism Marketing

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As we emerge from nearly two years of travel restrictions, many tourism businesses are anxious to promote their destinations and tours and to start getting some travel press .

One of the best ways to do that is by hosting travel journalists or influencers on a press trip (aka FAM, for familiarization), which should be an integral part of your tourism PR and travel marketing program . Great press can inspire your target audience, position you as an expert in your niche and even help with your Google rankings ( tourism SEO ). So it makes sense to spend the time to get it right.

When to Host Travel Media

There’s not really a bad time to do a press trip, but some times are better than others. I generally recommend hosting travel writers in your low or shoulder season, when you have capacity and bookings are not as full. If you have space on a trip that’s already running, the extra cost of bringing a journalist along might be minimal, so it’s a really low-cost investment with potentially high long term returns. On the other hand, hosting a journalist in your peak season might mean turning away a paying guest, so unless they’re from a super high value media outlet, and absolutely can’t come at any other time, plan FAMs for low and shoulder season.

But if you’re hosting press in the offseason, can you still give a journalist a great experience to write about? If conditions are poor they might not be able to do a positive story on your business. So always try to find the right balance between available space and a great experience.

When you commit a spot to a writer, you should always try to honor it. Here’s why: they’ve likely gone out to their editors and gotten an assignment and that in itself is a lot of work. That editor has committed and put it on the schedule and maybe even made up a contract for the writer. If at the last minute you sell the spot, you’ll be burning bridges with that travel writer and if the writer is also working with your Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO), you’re burning bridges with them too. Don’t think of the money you may be losing by giving up a booking. Instead, see it as a powerful marketing investment in your business.

Working with Tourism Partners and DMOs

Are there complimentary businesses you typically work with? Accommodation partners, shuttle bus companies, restaurants or other non-direct competitors? If you’re organizing a travel press trip, get some of those partners on board. They can share in the expense and the resulting coverage.

And here’s the thing: if you’re trying to get financial support for your FAM from your DMO, they’re typically WAY more likely to support this kind of project than a press trip for just one tourism business. Show them you’re ‘promoting the destination’ not just your own tour operation. The way DMOs think is ‘a rising tide floats all boats’ so bring a bunch of operators together, create a cool itinerary and invite some topshelf travel media and they’d be crazy not to support it.

How Long Should a Travel Press Trip be?

If you’re hosting a writer on one of your scheduled trips, along with paying guests, it should be whatever the duration of your trip is, 5 days, seven days, whatever. If you’re doing a group media FAM, a good guideline is 3-4 days. This will give you enough time to show off your tour products, fit nicely into most people’s schedules and be less work and cost than a week-long tour.

Hosting a Group Media FAM

Sometimes it can make sense to host a travel media-only FAM with no paying guests. Here you’re bringing along a group of journalists from different media outlets and giving them all the same experience in order to get a significant amount of press. A group FAM can range from three or four writers up to ten or more. These can be very useful for new product launches and are often preferred by DMOs and tourism boards.

The advantages of group FAMs include tailoring your experience to press, not inconveniencing regular guests who may be less interested in some aspects of a press tour, and having travel experts along so you can ‘try out’ a new tour product and get feedback before paying guests arrive. Group FAMs can also build a lot of ‘buzz’ quickly and get your prospects excited to book your new offering.

Disadvantages of Group FAMs

If there’s one big drawback to running group travel press tours, it’s that one size does not fit all. By trying to simultaneously serve a bunch of different travel journalists, they may not get the most out of the FAM.

For this reason, I find many top tier journalists and publications simply won’t do group FAMs. They want their own stories and photos and don’t want a bunch of other writers essentially getting the same story as them. So if you’re running a group press trip, you may be getting a lower overall quality of media coming along.

Offer Customization for Travel Media on FAMs

If you’re running a group FAM, at least try to offer some different tour options for the writers. For example, split up the group one day, where half might do a food-focussed tour and the others might do a cultural tour. If you can appeal to their niche specialties, you’ll give them a lot more to work with. Here’s where knowing your media and what they specialize in can be really valuable.

Another thing that’s really important is to build downtime into your itinerary. Overcramming a travel journalist’s schedule will get you less, not more. Writers need time to ‘write’ so make sure they have a few hours of free time each day to take notes, get photos, interview staff, and do research.

Preparing Staff for Working with Travel Media

Before hosting a FAM, have a staff meeting and let them know how they’ll be working with media. Journalists should be treated the same as your regular guests. If you don’t offer a luxury VIP experience to guests, don’t offer that to travel writers either. Never show off by setting up unreal experiences that your normal guests will not be able to do. The last thing you want is people booking and expecting something you don’t offer.

Expect journalists to have other needs than your regular guests. If you’re hosting a photographer or videographer, they might want to set up shots at certain times of the day when the light is best. They may want staff to act as models in the photos too, or to interview them for their articles. Make sure staff are aware of this, and are inline with what you’re promoting. Fill them in on some of your talking points, and what you’re wanting to promote without sounding too canned. If you have any colorful guides or others on staff that could make good interview subjects, make sure to have them available.

The most important thing is to let your passion and terrific tourism experience show through and those travel media will have all the material they need to produce great stories for your tourism business.

Hiring a Tourism PR Agency

As you can see, there are a lot of things involved in putting together a FAM trip for travel media. Aventur Marketing is a tourism marketing and PR agency that has years of experience organizing successful FAM trips for tour operators and DMOs. If you need any help, Contact Us .

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Press Trip Etiquette for Bloggers

Last fall, I chatted about how to ramp up your travel blogging partnerships , and it was one of my most buzzed-about posts of 2017. Let’s say you’re a little more experienced: you’re headed to a hotel stay or a FAM in the next few months, and you’re wondering how to handle yourself. Even though travel blogging is an excellent experience, it is still work: and you still need to be a professional from beginning to end.

A lot of companies that organize press trips also work with travel writers from regional and national media outlets as well — they’re not working with just bloggers/influencers. I’ve talked to a few PR folks that have worked with bloggers who haven’t been the most pleasant to work with, and this devastates me: in our industry, it only takes one bad apple to ruin it for us all.

Press Trip vs. FAM: Bringing Guests

One of the first learning curves with press trips? Learning the difference between a press trip and a FAM , and whether you can bring a guest or not. I define a press trip as an experience where I’m the only media outlet invited to an experience, and a FAM is when multiple bloggers and travel writers are hosted on one trip. 

If it’s a press trip, most of the time they’ll understand that you need to bring a guest. If I bring a guest, I let my guest know that this isn’t going to be a leisurely vacation: we have a tight itinerary, they have to help me out with photography, and they need to be on their best behavior. For FAM trips, most of the time you’re not allowed to bring a guest — but I always ask in advance. This might sound nerve-racking, but I love going on FAM trips with other writers I’ve never met before: some of the people I’ve met on FAM trips have become really good friends!

Review the Itinerary in Advance & Note Any Issues

You’ll be provided a copy of the itinerary in advance before a trip, and if there are any major conflicts that you see on it, notify your contact immediately. For example, I’m headed on a FAM trip next month, and it includes a hike. I’m still recovering from a knee injury, and I’m physically unable to complete the hike. However, I’m letting the CVB know well in advance that I’m unable to do this portion of the trip. This way, they can either schedule another activity for me or I can have a PR rep stay behind with me while the others enjoy the hike.

To Tip or Not To Tip?

When you’re on a FAM trip with other writers, typically the tourism board or CVB that you’re partnering with will take care of any checks and tip accordingly.

However, when you’re on a press trip by yourself? If you have a meal that is comped, I would highly recommend asking if gratuity is included or not. Sometimes it will be, but most often it isn’t. I rarely carry cash, but I’ll ask the restaurant to run my card for a dollar so that I can leave a tip, and I like to tip 20-25% of the value of our meal.

Say Your Proper Thank-Yous & Follow Up

Guys…please make sure to say thank you. I like to email within 48 hours of returning home from the experience, and if I had an experience that was exceptionally great,  I might send a hand-written thank you note or send baked goods/flowers to the team (rare, but it happens!)

In my thank you note, if I’m planning on writing a blog post about the experience, I like to give them an approximate date that it will go live. If I’m being paid on top of the trip, the turnaround time is a lot shorter for me to get a post up. If an experience is unpaid, I still aim to post on the blog within a 2-month timeframe — since I shoot a lot of photos on a trip, it takes a longer time for me to sort through photos and figure out my exact angle for a post. 

How to Cover Your Experience

I’ve been on some press trips and FAMs that are pretty laid back, and that don’t set hard guidelines for coverage: they just hope that if you enjoyed your experience, you’d want to share it on all of your platforms. I’ve also been on some trips where they say right off the bat that you need to post a certain about of times on certain platforms. 

I’m always a fan of underpromising and overdelivering: I went on one trip where 3 Instagram Stories were required, and I ended up posting 7 of them. Keep track of every social mention you make and every inclusion for a blog post — the folks who are coordinating the trip want to measure reach and ROI from a press trip and/or FAM, so you’ll want to keep track of everything!

Always Be Honest

Not every trip is going to be an ideal experience for you. Just because you received something complimentary, doesn’t mean that you should give it a glowing review.

If you didn’t enjoy something about your trip, I would let your contact know in your follow-up email. I don’t have to do this too often since I review the itinerary before a trip and make sure I’m aligned with it, but sometimes things happen. A little constructive, polite notes about a trip can go a long way. Sometimes I’ll omit parts of a press trip that I genuinely didn’t enjoy, or don’t think would resonate with my readers.

What are your press trip tips and tricks?

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28 Comments

This is such a great post Alicia! It’s been so exciting to watch the travel side of your blog flourish this past year. I went on my first press trip in December and definitely used some of these tips you mentioned today! 🙂

xoxo A http://www.southernbelleintraining.com

Thank you so much lady! Can’t wait to see where you get to go in 2018!

this is great. thank you for sharing those tips and specially the last one is my fav 🙂 being honest is always good.

Thanks so much Shenali!

I loved reading this post! It’s been a secret goal of mine to find a way to do more press or FAM trips and I have been researching it a bit. Loved reading your perspective on press trips and I have loved following your adventures on your blog and Instagram!

Thank you Amanda! I know you can achieve that goal of doing more trips this year!

Such a great post, I need to do more press trips instead of reaching out and pitching myself. I want to make sure I’m getting the full experience to share with my readers. Love your tips!

The Champagne Edit

Which reminds me….I finally want to plan a trip for all my blogger friends this year and have you there!!

I am SO down! xx

Awesome tips! I’ve never done a press trip of FAM but I feel like these tips on how to handle oneself professionally can be applied in other places as well!

Thank you so much Cynthia!

These are great tips! I haven’t done a ton of these, but I hope to ramp them up in 2018, so this is really well timed. Excellent post!

Thank you Nicole! I totally think you can ramp them up this year!

These are wonderful tips! I haven;t gone on a press trip yet, but I’m glad to have read the advice you have here!

Thanks Jenni! I hope you get to go on a trip soon!

Great tips! I was so confused when I first started going on trips. I always make sure to tip for press trips.

I was clueless when I first started too, such a new concept!

Great info! I’m hoping to do some press and FAM trips during 2018!

Thanks Vicki! I hope you crush your goal!

Love these tips! I’ve only been on one press trip so far and it was so fun so I’m looking to do more in 2018.

I’m sure you’re going to go on some fab press trips this year!!

I have not gone on any trips yet as I am still a new blogger but I hope to in the future and these tips make a lot of sense. I will remember these! Thank you for sharing them.

I used to work on the brand side of influencer marketing and while I had many great experiences with bloggers, I also had some not so great interactions. These tips are important to follow if you want to get hired for a second time!

Gennifer Rose | http://www.GenniferRose.com

This is a great post for bloggers who are new to this experience. I am kind of shocked how many bloggers who have tried to turn a press trip into a leisurely vacation. I am a stickler for being on time, so it surprises me when people decide to miss events.

Good tips. I used to be in PR and now am a blogger. You hit it on the money.

Great tips, I wouldn’t add a thing. Press trips are a lot of work and although they are fun, you are there to do a job.

This was such an interesting read, Alicia! It makes me want to work for a company that organizes these press trips (ha ha)! I’m excited to read more about upcoming travel from you!

Lisa http://www.theeeverydayelevated.com

I’ve been invited on my first FAM trip and am so excited as I’m hoping it will be a chance to not only learn about a new place, but meet some new bloggers and writers. These were such great tips that I will definitely keep in mind!

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Why organizing a press trip?

Press trips are a great opportunity for brands to share their values and philosophy with the media.

And if authenticity, customization, and experience is what customers and users value the most, why not offering this to the communication media so they get to experience the brand? This will be the most effective way to have them communicating about our brand from their own experience.

In this way the credibility of the brand will be increased because the media will endorse it.

A press trip need to be planned in detail, as it can help to enhance our brand, but if it is not perfectly executed, it could affect the company in a very negative way.

The good thing about involving the media in this type of action, in addition of creating a stronger bond with these professionals, is that they become brand prescribers. This is why it is essential to have a good communication with the media.

How to organize a press trip?

The most important thing is to define what type of media are perfect for the brand. Just as each product/company has its target audience, something similar happens with the communication media.

When summoning the media it is important to ensure that all guests have a good relationship with each other, trying to avoid competitors, so nobody feels uncomfortable and thus offering the best type of experience.

Destinations and venues are a key factor to a successful event, as they will host activities and experiences aimed to provide journalists and other media professionals an enjoyable, relaxing atmosphere. It is crucial that the brand takes care of every small detail of this trip, because that is where the differences with respect to competitors will lie.

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3 bodies in Mexican well identified as Australian and American surfers killed for truck’s tires

Relatives have identified three bodies found in a well as those of two Australian surfers and one American who went missing last weekend, Mexican authorities said Sunday. Baja California state prosecutors said the relatives had viewed the bodies recovered from a remote well about 50 feet (15 meters) deep and recognized them as their loved ones.

A demonstrator holding a bodyboard written in Spanish " I don’t want to die” protests the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

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Locals march to protest the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

A demonstrator holding a bodyboard written in Spanish " No more violence” protests the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

In this image made from video, Mexico’s police officers stand guard at the Ensenada station in Ensenada, Mexico, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Mexican authorities said Thursday they have found tents and questioned a few people in the case of two Australians and an American who went missing over the weekend in the Pacific coast state of Baja California. (AP Photo)

In this image made from video, Mexican security forces frisk men at a checkpoint in Ensenada, Mexico, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Mexican authorities said Thursday they have found tents and questioned a few people in the case of two Australians and an American who went missing over the weekend in the Pacific coast state of Baja California. (AP Photo)

A demonstrator holding a bodyboard written in Spanish " They just wanted to surf and they were executed” protests the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

A demonstrator holds photos of the foreign surfers who disappeared during a protest in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Relatives have identified three bodies found in a well as those of two Australian surfers and one American who went missing last weekend, Mexican authorities said Sunday.

Baja California state prosecutors said the relatives had viewed the corpses recovered from a remote well about 50 feet (15 meters) deep and recognized them as their loved ones.

Thieves apparently killed the three, who were on a surfing trip to Mexico’s Baja peninsula, to steal their truck because they wanted the tires. They then allegedly got rid of the bodies by dumping them in a well near the coast.

The well was located some 4 miles (6 kilometers) from where the foreigners were killed, and also contained a fourth cadaver that had been there much longer.

Three suspects are being held in connection with the case, which locals said was solved far more quickly than the disappearances of thousands of Mexicans.

The three men were on a camping and surfing trip along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada, posting idyllic photos on social media of waves and isolated beaches, before they went missing last weekend.

Chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip for brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad.

She theorized the killers drove by and saw the foreigners’ pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal their tires. But “when (the foreigners) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.”

She said that’s when the killers would have shot the tourists.

The thieves then allegedly went to what she called “a site that is extremely hard to get to” and allegedly dumped the bodies into a well they apparently were familiar with. She said investigators were not ruling out the possibility the same suspects also dumped the first, earlier body in the well as part of previous crimes.

“They may have been looking for trucks in this area,” Andrade Ramírez said.

The thieves allegedly covered the well with boards. “It was literally almost impossible to find it,” Andrade Ramírez said, and it took two hours to winch the bodies out of the well.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers expressed sympathy for the Robinson family. “I think the whole country’s heart goes out to all of their loved ones. It has been an absolutely horrendous, absolutely horrific ordeal and our thoughts are with all of them today,” he said at a news conference Monday in the capital, Canberra.

The site where the bodies were discovered near the township of Santo Tomás was near the remote seaside area where the missing men’s tents and truck were found Thursday along the coast. From their last photo posts, the trip looked perfect. But even experienced local expatriates are questioning whether it is safe to camp along the largely deserted coast anymore.

The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has lived in the area for almost two decades, wrote in an editorial Saturday that “the reality is, the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas are outweighing the benefits anymore.”

But in a way, adventure was key to the victims’ lifestyle.

Callum Robinson’s Instagram account contained the following slogan: “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.”

At the news conference, Andrade Ramírez was questioned by one reporter who expressed approval that such a massive and rapid search was mounted for the foreigners, but asked why, when local people disappear in the area, little is often done for weeks, months, or years.

“Do you have to be a foreigner in Baja California in order for there to be an investigation if something happens to you?′ asked the reporter, who did not identify herself by name. ”Every investigation is different,” Andrade Ramírez replied.

As if to underscore that point, dozens of mourners, surfers and demonstrators gathered in a main plaza in Ensenada, the nearest city, to voice their anger and sadness at the deaths.

“Ensenada is a mass grave,” read one placard carried by protesters. “Australia, we are with you,” one man scrawled on one of the half-dozen surf boards at the demonstration.

A woman held up a sign that read “They only wanted to surf — we demand safe beaches.”

Gabriela Acosta, a surfer, attended the protest “to show love, solidarity and respect for the three lives that were lost.” Acosta said that surfers in Baja are aware of the dangers.

“We are women and we would sometimes like to surf alone,” Acosta said. “But we never do that, because of the situation. We always have to go accompanied.”

“I think that what happened to them is just an example of the lack of safety in this state,” she said.

Surfers later performed a “paddle-out” ceremony where they formed a circle on their boards in the ocean.

Baja California prosecutors had said they were questioning three people in the killings, two of them because they were caught with methamphetamines. Prosecutors said the two were being held pending drug charges but continue to be suspects in the killings.

A third man was arrested on charges of a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but that was before the bodies were found. It was unclear if he might face more charges.

The third suspect was believed to have directly participated in the killings. In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him by his first name, Jesús Gerardo, alias “el Kekas,” a slang word that means “quesadillas,” or cheese tortillas. Andrade Ramírez said he had a criminal record, and that more people may have been involved.

Last week, the mother of the missing Australians, Debra Robinson, posted on a local community Facebook page, appealing for help in finding her sons. Robinson said Callum and Jake had not been heard from since April 27. They had booked accommodation in the city of Rosarito, not far from Ensenada.

Robinson said Callum was diabetic. She also mentioned that the American who was with them was named Jack Carter Rhoad, but the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately confirm that. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports of a U.S. citizen missing in Baja, but gave no further details.

In 2015, two Australian surfers , Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were killed in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California — also known as the Sea of Cortez — from the Baja peninsula. Authorities said they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects were arrested in that case.

How a beach trip in Mexico’s Baja California…

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Karen read murder trial: day 6, uncategorized, how a beach trip in mexico’s baja california turned deadly for surfers from australia and the us.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two Australians and an American were doing what they loved on the stunning, largely isolated stretch of Baja California’s Pacific coast. Their last images on social media showed them sitting and gazing at the waves, contemplating the breaks.

What happened to end their lives may have been as random as a passing pickup truck full of people with ill intent. The surfers were shot in the head, their bodies dumped in a covered well miles away. How it unfolded was the stuff of nightmares.

Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad had apparently stopped to surf the breaks between Punta San José, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Ensenada, and La Bocana, further north on the coast. They were attacked there on April 28 or 29.

As soon as police arrived at their last known camp site, it was clear that something had gone violently wrong.

There were bloodstains and marks “as if heavy objects had been dragged,” leading to suspicions of an attack, the Baja California state prosecutor’s office said in an attempt to reconstruct the scene.

Chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip for the three men.

She theorized the killers drove by and saw the foreigners’ pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal the truck’s tires and other parts. But “when (the foreigners) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.”

She said that’s when the killers would have shot the men. She said they were likely not attacked because they were tourists. “The evidence suggests they (the killers) did not know where they were from.”

Andrade Ramírez said the reconstruction of events was based on the forensic examiner’s reports, noting all three had bullet wounds to the head.

There was a hurried attempt to destroy evidence. The foreigners’ tents were apparently burned. The pickup truck was driven miles away and burned. The assailants’ truck was later found with a gun inside.

Then, at “a site that is extremely hard to get to,” the bodies were dumped into a well about 4 miles (6 kilometers) away. Investigators were surprised when, underneath the bodies of the three foreigners, a fourth body was found that had been there much longer.

“They had to have previous knowledge of it,” Andrade Ramírez said of the attackers, acknowledging the possibility they were behind the previous killing.

The well had been covered with boards. “It was literally almost impossible to find it,” Andrade Ramírez said. It took two hours to winch the bodies out.

Prosecutors have said they were questioning three people in the killings. Two were caught with methamphetamines. One of them, a woman, had one of the victims’ cellphones when she was caught. Prosecutors said the two were being held pending drug charges but continue to be suspects in the killings.

A third man was arrested on charges of a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but that was before the bodies were found. It was unclear if he might face more charges.

The third man was believed to have directly participated in the killings. In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him by his first name, Jesús Gerardo, alias “el Kekas,” a slang word that means quesadillas, or cheese tortillas.

Andrade Ramírez said he had a criminal record that included drug dealing, vehicle theft and domestic violence, adding, “We are certain that more people were involved.”

She emphasized that she could not discuss anything related to the suspects, or their possible statements, because that was not allowed under Mexican law and might prejudice the case against them.

Andrade Ramírez noted that the victims’ families said the brothers and Rhoad had come many times to the seaside spot and never had any problem. This time, however, “there was no way to ask for help when the attackers showed up.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday he had requested an opportunity to speak to the brothers’ parents Deborah and Martin Robinson.

“This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to them. To identify these wonderful young men and they have been travelling in Mexico. We’ve been dealing with them through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I’ve indicated that I wish to speak to them at an appropriate time of their choosing,” Albanese told reporters in the Queensland state town of Rockhampton.

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Investigations

When judges get free trips to luxury resorts, disclosure is spotty.

Tom Dreisbach

Carrie Johnson

Many federal judges receive free rooms and subsidized travel to luxury resorts for legal conferences. NPR found that dozens of judges did not fully disclose the perks they got. Chelsea Beck for NPR hide caption

Many federal judges receive free rooms and subsidized travel to luxury resorts for legal conferences. NPR found that dozens of judges did not fully disclose the perks they got.

Dozens of federal judges failed to fully disclose free luxury travel to judicial conferences around the world, as required by internal judiciary rules and federal ethics law , an NPR investigation has found. As a result, the public remained in the dark about potential conflicts of interest for some of the United States' top legal officials.

Federal judges — occasionally with family members or even their dog in tow — traveled to luxury resorts in locations as far-flung as London; Palm Beach, Fla.; Bar Harbor, Maine; and the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park for weeklong seminars. The judges received free rooms, free meals and free money toward travel expenses, together worth a few thousand dollars.

Victims of harassment by federal judges often find the judiciary is above the law

At one event, a far-right German politician with a history of racially inflammatory and anti-immigrant statements made a presentation to dozens of judges. At others, judges heard from an advocacy group that uses lawsuits in federal court to change environmental policy, as well as from corporate CEOs in the oil and pharmaceutical industries.

For almost two decades, the federal judiciary has recognized that the combination of apparent luxury and ideological content can present the appearance of undue influence on the courts. In response, the judiciary has required more transparency in the form of public disclosure.

An NPR investigation found that the disclosure systems often fail to give the public timely information about the outside benefits that judges receive and from whom.

As a result, judicial ethics experts say, people with cases before these judges lack important information about a judge's potential biases. That information, if received in time, could be used to request that a judge recuse from a particular case.

"It also matters to the public, even if someone never shows up in a courtroom, to believe in the integrity of our judiciary and to trust in the decisions that are issued by judges," said Renee Knake Jefferson, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center. "Having disclosures of judicial financial interests goes directly to the public having confidence in the outcomes of the decisions — that they are free of any bias or influence."

Many judges defend these events as helpful forums to discuss important issues, and they reject criticism that a stay at a fancy hotel could influence their decisions. Critics call them "junkets" and glorified vacations that reward ideological allies.

Both sides agree that disclosure is needed.

There are two primary ways the public can view information about judicial education events and see which judges attended: One disclosure is filed soon after the event, and the other is submitted much later.

First, within 30 days of an event, judges are required to file a form that details the host of the event and the entities that provided funding, as well as the speakers and topics of discussion. This form, called a " Privately Funded Seminar Disclosure Report ," is posted on every federal court's website.

Second, federal law requires that judges report the reimbursements they received for the events on an annual financial disclosure report. That report also includes information like alternate sources of income (such as a book deal or teaching job) and what stocks a judge might own. Those reports are eventually posted on a centralized online database maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

By closely examining the portion of these events subject to public records laws, NPR identified problems with both systems.

In nearly 40 instances, judges attended events at luxury resorts but failed to properly file a report within 30 days. In fact, the forms were uploaded months or even years late and only after NPR began asking questions.

In 13 cases, NPR found that judges failed to declare the benefits they received on their annual financial disclosure forms.

NPR contacted all those judges for comment.

And in another dozen cases, judges' financial disclosures for 2021 or 2022 were simply unavailable to the public. By all accounts, judges are filing those annual disclosure reports on time. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts bears responsibility for posting those reports online and has acknowledged delays in getting the system up to date.

There is no indication that the judges intentionally withheld information in order to deceive the public. And the office that administers the annual financial disclosure website told NPR that it struggles to work through a backlog of reports, as well as requests for redactions to protect judges' safety, but is making progress.

Ethics experts said delays and omissions in these reports undermine the entire purpose of the transparency rules.

"That information loses most of its value if it's a year and a half later," said Kedric Payne, the senior director of ethics at the nonprofit watchdog Campaign Legal Center. "It's just too distant from the potential conflict of interest."

Regardless of intention, the result is that the public is kept in the dark. And NPR's findings likely represent an undercount of the larger problem.

Events with ideological presentations and a side of luxury

Nonprofits, legal organizations and private universities all host judicial education events around the world. But those groups are generally not subject to public records laws. As a result, their full attendee lists are shielded from public scrutiny.

When it comes to the hosts of these events, George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., is exceptional in two ways.

George Mason University's campus in Fairfax, Va., in 2018. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images hide caption

George Mason University's campus in Fairfax, Va., in 2018.

For one, GMU — particularly the university's conservative-leaning Law & Economics Center — has long stood out as one of the most prolific hosts of judicial education events. Collectively, hundreds of judges have attended the university's events at luxury resorts over the years. GMU is quick to point out that the events are paid for by private donors. The Law & Economics Center's website lists donors that include major corporations like Amazon, Pfizer, Google and Facebook, as well as the business lobby group the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. According to the New York Times , conservative activist Leonard Leo helped gather $30 million in donations to rename the law school after late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

GMU is a public university in Virginia, which means it is subject to the state's Freedom of Information Act. NPR requested attendee lists for eight of its judicial education events from 2021 to 2023. By comparing attendee lists with the publicly available records, NPR was able to identify dozens of missing disclosures.

That missing information may be relevant to both the public at large and people with cases in front of these judges.

For example, dozens of judges took part in a 2022 event that featured a speaker from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany) political party. Germany has been rocked by massive protests in recent months over revelations about AfD's ties to right-wing extremism. A regional AfD leader is facing charges in Germany for allegedly using Nazi slogans, which he denies.

Gunnar Beck, a member of the European Parliament and an AfD member, spoke to the group of American federal judges about "European Jurisprudence." Beck has a history of anti-immigrant and racially inflammatory statements.

In 2021 — the year before his presentation to the judges — Beck took multiple photos of Black families, including young children in strollers, and posted them on social media. In one of the posts, he used the photo to criticize what he called the Afrikanisierung (Africanization) of Germany. (This post was deleted after NPR contacted Beck.) In another, Beck wrote that due to immigration, "Germany has no future as an industrial and cultural nation, but it does have a future as a welfare office."

Beck told NPR in an email that "each country and its people have a right to control their border with a view to safeguarding their maintenance of their national culture and identity" and that "I do not think these views are either fascist or racist."

The GMU events have also featured presentations from a nonprofit that says it uses lawsuits to promote a pro-market, as opposed to pro-regulation, approach to environmental policy; the CEO of a U.K.-based pharmaceutical company ; and the CEO of an energy company that is currently suing the federal government over financial regulations.

One recent event included a reading assignment on the "worst decisions ever handed down by the Supreme Court" as defined by conservative and libertarian legal scholars. Roe v. Wade , which established a constitutional right to abortion, was No. 2. Landmark cases establishing rights to same-sex marriage and the use of birth control also appeared among the top 10 "worst" decisions.

Given the power of judges to affect Americans' lives on issues from guns to abortion, the environment and crime, transparency about these events is critical, said Gabe Roth of the nonprofit watchdog group Fix the Court.

"The public has a right to know whether or not its top legal officials have any potential conflicts going into hearing cases," said Roth. "Sometimes they're small bore, but a lot of the times they have major national impact."

The agendas for the GMU events showed that the event programming often ended around noon, followed by a five- or six-hour "study break." In some instances, the agendas leave days completely free.

It's unclear exactly how judges spent that time. But attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the Ritz-Carlton's clay tennis courts, the Alyeska Resort's Nordic Spa or the short walk to Buckingham Palace from the May Fair Hotel in London. The agenda for GMU's 2022 Bar Harbor Colloquium in Maine reserved 90 minutes for a wine tasting .

The Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, in 2009. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

The Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, in 2009.

A spokesperson for GMU did not respond to NPR's specific questions for this story.

"Topics are selected based on foundational concepts in the economic analysis of law relevant to judges and other areas of interest to the judiciary," wrote Ken Turchi, associate dean of GMU's Antonin Scalia Law School, in an email. "Every judge who attends has the option to complete and submit a disclosure form detailing expenses incurred and reimbursed."

Which judges have disclosure problems?

Problems plagued the paperwork for judges appointed by presidents of both major parties going back decades, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

And the judges who failed to fully comply with the disclosure requirements include some notable names.

In this screenshot, Aileen Cannon speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing to be a U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Florida on July 29, 2020. She was appointed to the position later that year. U.S. Senate via AP hide caption

In this screenshot, Aileen Cannon speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing to be a U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Florida on July 29, 2020. She was appointed to the position later that year.

Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida is presiding over former President Donald Trump's criminal trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents. Cannon, herself a Trump appointee, attended two seminars at a luxury resort in Montana, but the privately funded seminar disclosures for both events were not posted online until NPR began making inquiries. Clerk of court Angela Noble told NPR in an email that the absence of the disclosures was due to technical issues and that "Any omissions to the website are completely inadvertent."

Judge Robert Conrad is the director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. U.S. Courts hide caption

Judge Robert Conrad is the current director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which implements the policies of the federal judiciary. Conrad, who was appointed by George W. Bush to the Western District of North Carolina, attended three privately funded seminars from 2021 to 2023. He later included the events on his annual financial disclosure but did not file a publicly available disclosure for any of those events within the required 30-day time limit. "He inadvertently did not make the additional disclosure in the separate system for private seminar attendance," said Peter Kaplan, a spokesperson for the Administrative Office. "Judge Conrad appreciates your bringing this oversight to his attention."

Judge Leslie Gardner of the Middle District of Georgia, who is the sister of prominent Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, also failed to file a privately funded seminar disclosure on time. Additionally, NPR found that Gardner omitted the reimbursements she received for lodging, meals and travel on her annual financial disclosure. In a phone call to NPR, clerk of court David Bunt said that Gardner, an Obama appointee, was updating her annual financial disclosure and privately funded seminar disclosure, which were incomplete due to an "oversight."

"I don't have really an excuse for it, and I'm going to correct it"

Judges contacted by NPR largely described the issues with their disclosures as the result of an "inadvertent oversight" or an "accident." In a handful of cases, court clerks blamed technical issues with the online system for uploading paperwork. One judge appeared to be unaware of the requirement to file a disclosure report within 30 days. Several judges thanked NPR for contacting them and prompting them to update their disclosure reports.

"It looks like we blew it," said Judge Philip Gutierrez of the Central District of California in a phone call to NPR. Gutierrez failed to file a disclosure within 30 days of attending a judicial seminar at The Breakers, a resort in Palm Beach, Fla., in 2021. "I apologize. It's important. I'm embarrassed."

Gutierrez immediately uploaded the missing disclosure.

Judge Gary Fenner of the Western District of Missouri attended the same GMU 2021 seminar in Palm Beach but failed to file a privately funded seminar disclosure and omitted the event from his annual financial disclosure that year.

"I am really surprised that I did not report that," said Fenner, an appointee of Bill Clinton, in a phone message to NPR. "I'm going to rectify it. I'm embarrassed about the fact that somehow that was overlooked by me. But I don't have really an excuse for it, and I'm going to correct it."

Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi, a George W. Bush appointee, said he had thought he marked his attendance at GMU's seminar at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa in Colorado in 2021 on his annual financial disclosure. He acknowledged that it was missing from the forms due to an "oversight."

"I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get it right," he said by phone.

In the District Court for the Southern District of Texas, NPR found three judges — Jeffrey Brown, Andrew Edison and Charles Eskridge — who had not filed the required privately funded seminar disclosure forms. After NPR contacted the court, the judges uploaded the forms, and clerk of court Nathan Ochsner said in an email, "At the direction of Chief Judge Randy Crane, my office will routinely remind all [Southern District of Texas] judges of this reporting requirement."

Meanwhile, the delays in getting access to annual financial disclosure reports appear to be the result of the time limits built into the transparency laws, as well as a combination of long processing times for redactions requested by judges and, in some cases, security concerns.

The law requires that judges file their annual financial disclosure reports for the previous year on May 15. Many judges request and receive a 90-day extension, pushing that deadline to mid-August. Judges can then request that the judiciary redact "personal or sensitive information that could directly or indirectly endanger" the judge or the judge's family, but then a committee has to review the request.

"So if you're a judge that asked for a 90-day extension and then, on top of that, you're asking for redactions," said Roth, of Fix the Court, the public release of the annual disclosure is "already well into the following year."

Former federal Judge Jeremy Fogel, who is now the executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute, evaluated some of these redaction requests when he served on the judiciary's Committee on Financial Disclosure.

"I don't think that the problem you described is one where the judiciary doesn't want to share the information," said Fogel. "I think the problem is that they have not been able to put the resources in place to get the information online and available to the public in a timely manner."

The Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C., houses the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

The Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C., houses the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

NPR sent a list of judges to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and asked why their annual financial disclosures for 2021 or 2022 were still unavailable. Kaplan, the Administrative Office spokesperson, said he "could not comment on specific judges' filings." In general, Kaplan blamed missing disclosures on backlogs in the system and reviews of filings for possible security issues.

"Currently, nearly all filings from 2021 and more than 80% of the filings from 2022 are available on the database," said Kaplan. "We are continuing to cut into the backlog of reports."

An ongoing debate over judges and luxury trips

Even if judges universally filed their disclosure reports on time and if the federal judiciary sped up the release of information, it would likely not end the ongoing debate over judges getting thousands of dollars in free perks, especially at ideologically slanted conferences.

Fogel said that in his time as a judge, he tended to avoid events that might be perceived as ideological.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's unethical," said Fogel. "But I think it's better — it's a best practice — for judges to avoid programs that have a particular philosophical or ideological viewpoint."

Judge Starrett, of the Southern District of Mississippi, has attended five GMU legal events in the last three years and even brought his German shepherd to one of them.

He rejected the idea that his views could be swayed by a certain speaker's agenda or free perks.

"I've been called a liberal judge. I've been called a conservative judge. I've been called a son of a bitch. That comes with the territory," said Starrett. "I pay close attention to speakers that are politically biased one way or another. I listen to them, and I challenge some of them. I ask pointed questions."

Judge Gutierrez, of the Central District of California, has attended three GMU events in the last three years.

"Certainly, I think people have a slant. But for the most part, I found them to be interesting and educational," he said. He added that a group of federal judges will always tend to ask tough questions and get into spirited debates — whether in court or in a legal seminar.

"We want our judges out in the world learning and teaching. And we want our judges to have friendships. We want our judges to be able to travel," said Jefferson, the legal ethics expert at the University of Houston Law Center. "It's the disclosure that matters."

Nick McMillan and Hilary Fung contributed reporting and visuals, with graphic editing by Alyson Hurt. This story was edited by Barrie Hardymon with research by Barbara Van Woerkom. Photo editing by Emily Bogle.

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• Aileen Cannon
• Federal Courts
• George Mason University
• federal judges
• financial disclosure