SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO HOSTS IFWTWA 2019 CONFERENCE
On this episode of Big Blend Radio, featured guests include travel writer Linda Milks – IFWTWA 1st Vice President & Conference Committee Chair, Joanne Hudson – PR Manager of Tourism Santa Fe, and Jenny Kimball, CEO of La Fonda on the Plaza.
Event Will Draw Professional Food, Wine and Travel Media and Influencers to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Three-Day Event
International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) will hold its annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 11-13, 2019. The conference focuses on professional development, networking, promotion of industry exhibitors and sponsors, and the opportunity to explore the exciting and historic city and surrounding areas.
The conference will be open to IFWTWA members and non-members who are professional media and influencers in the areas of food, wine and travel. The event will take place at the historic La Fonda Hotel on Santa Fe’s famed plaza, and will include a welcome reception, panel discussions, workshops and speakers. Organized off-site activities will include museum tours, chefs tastings, a cooking class at the Santa Fe Cooking School and more.
IFWTWA conference presentations will focus on the Santa Fe culinary scene with a panel of local chefs and on the tourism industry with a panel of destination marketers. Presentations and workshops will focus on the craft of writing for print and digital publications, the art of marketing oneself as a writer and influencer and other topics relevant to food, wine and travel media.
Conference attendees who are IFWTWA members may apply to attend hosted pre- and post-conference media tours of Santa Fe, Albuquerque and other nearby destinations to gain story material for publication.
Plaza and Buildings
“IFWTWA has a history of producing conferences with exceptional content at destinations of interest to travel, food and wine writers,” says Allen Cox, IFWTWA Director and organizer of IFWTWA’s 2018 conference. “IFWTWA’s last two conferences were at Coronado, California, and Whidbey Island, Washington—two very different destinations with much to offer our attendees. Santa Fe will be no exception with its rich history, its architecture, its vibrant arts and culture community and its unique culinary scene. We are very excited about hosting our next conference in such a landmark American city.”
An important component of every IFWTWA conference is a Tourism Marketplace. At the marketplace, destination marketers and hospitality/tourism providers from all over the world are invited to meet with media attendees one-on-one to inspire interest in their destinations for future media coverage. In addition, the Tourism Marketplace allows attendees to browse exhibitor booths in a trade-show forum. Many mutually beneficial relationships develop as a result of the Tourism Marketplace.
In addition, IFWTWA offers sponsorship opportunities to support the conference. Sponsorship brings several benefits and are yet another way for destinations and hospitality/tourism providers to amplify their message before an audience of professional media and influencers.
Conference registration at an early discount runs form June 1-July 14, 2019. More at www.ifwtwa.org.
The membership of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) is comprised of hundreds of seasoned, vetted media professionals and influencers. IFWTWA is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. Its members promote food, wine and travel through a variety of platforms, including print and digital publications, social media and broadcasting. IFWTWA publishes an online magazine FWT (food, wine, travel), showcasing members’ work with an audience of 15,000 views per month and growing; broadcasts on Big Blend Radio, with a radio and podcast audience of more than 3 million; and sponsors a hospitality scholarship program. Learn more at www.ifwtwa.org.
