Travel Networking 101

Hey all! Every Tuesday, I do an in-depth 101 post into the travel industry. Occasionally, I do a Wednesdays 102 post following up. I’ve been doing these weekly since March, and last week was the first week I missed one! But…

No one noticed 😅

So, let me know in the comments, are these valuable to you? Should I keep doing them?

Today, I attended a webinar with Matador Network to get my students the most up-to-date information on how to pitch and what they’re looking for.

In the webinar, one of the editors suggested you connect with them in person at events. He said they love coffee and beer and would be happy to meet if invited.

This solidifies what I have been saying all along — it gives you a significant edge in the travel industry if you are participating in it actively, attending events, and meeting brand reps, destination reps, and editors face-to-face.

You have a much higher chance of standing out versus just being another unknown submission in a bulk submission inbox.

I cannot emphasize this enough — if you’re nervous about oversaturation of the industry but you’re not taking this very easy step to distinguish yourself from everyone else, you are doing yourself and your career a disservice.

Let’s talk about how you can actually connect in a field where your peers and colleagues are all over the place, literally.

1. Attend media and travel events

There’s no better way to meet editors, brand reps, and tourism boards than through industry events. Look out for:

• Travel media events: TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange), IMM (International Media Marketplace), and IPW (hosted by the US Travel Association)

• Press and FAM trips: Organized by tourism boards or PR agencies, these are invite-only opportunities but they start with relationship building.

• Conferences and festivals: Events like the New York Times Travel Show, The Travel & Adventure Show, and ITB Berlin mix professionals from all corners of the industry.

Click here for Travel Conferences 102.

2. Join professional memberships and associations

Memberships not only add credibility, they plug you into exclusive communities and events. Consider:

• SATW (Society of American Travel Writers)

• IFWTWA (International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association)

• Travel Massive – a free, global networking community for travel industry professionals

• Local Journalist or PR Guilds – these can open doors to cross-industry collaborations.

Click here for Professional Travel Organizations 101.

3. Leverage, connect, and humble brag on LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t just for corporate travelers. It’s where editors, brand reps, and agency partners scout talent.

• Regularly post insights from your travels and campaigns.

• Use hashtags like #TravelMedia, #CreatorEconomy, #TourismMarketing.

• Engage with tourism boards’ posts and PR agencies — it’s low-effort visibility that keeps your name top of mind.

• Don’t be afraid to slide into DMs professionally. Introduce yourself, compliment a campaign, and mention how your coverage aligns with their goals

4. Conferences and panels

Once you’ve attended a few events, look for speaker or panel opportunities. This can elevate your credibility instantly.

Pitch yourself to organizers as someone who can offer unique insights. A speaking gig usually comes with a free conference ticket, occasionally with free travel to the conference, and with access to VIP only meet and greets at the event.

Click here to see TBEX’s latest call for speakers.

5. Creator programs and incubators

Programs like YouTube Shorts Creator Community, Casa TikTok, and Pinterest Inclusion Fund offer far more than an algorithm boost. They connect you with other creators, provide exclusive workshops, and often include access to private event invites, beta features, and brand partnerships.

By being part of these programs, your name naturally ends up on PR and brand lists so when a campaign, travel activation, or media trip comes up, you’re already in the right inbox.

They routinely send out opt-in forms for events taking place in New York or LA, like movie premieres or brand activations. I’ve seen creator programs give access to major events like Cannes or SXSW.

6. Attend events as press

When a brand, destination, or PR agency plans a press event, media lunch, or trip, they send invitations via press release distributions and curated journalist databases.

Press invites typically go out via:

• Press release distribution services like PR Newswire, Cision, and Meltwater.

• Direct media lists maintained by agencies (e.g., travel PR firms like Finn Partners or Diamond PR).

• Editorial relationships — if you write or contribute for an outlet (even freelance), your name and beat are often included in PR databases.

• Private journalist networks such as TravMedia and dedicated Facebook groups

I know it’s a lot of effort to network and be present amongst other humans when we’re all used to interacting with our video off at a distance, but this is how all industries work. Every industry has professional organizations and conferences. Society doesn’t operate in a bubble, and while deals and partnerships might come to you that way, more often than not they require some initiative in going out and finding them.