In the last few years, the velocity of change within the travel blogging industry has been increasing. New platforms have taken space in the industry like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Algorithms are changing and brands you might work with have become more savvy. Going to a travel blogging conference or related conferences can really help decipher what is going on.
Additionally, travel blogging can feel isolating. Instead of sitting behind the computer screen all day, going to a conference can help you network with travel bloggers and representatives from travel destinations while learning a ton about blogging.
Today, you can learn so much online and can even find the content presented at conferences online, but nothing beats the face time you gain at a conference. Here are some of the travel and blogging-related conferences to consider.
Travel Blog Specific Conferences
TBEX is probably the largest and most well-known conference for travel bloggers. Each year the conference is hosted in several locations including North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. It is an excellent opportunity to meet people from all around the world including DMO’s travel brands, PR firms, and the most influential travel bloggers.
Each conference is full of speakers covering everything travel blog-related including social media, influencer marketing, SEO, monetizing your traffic, how to improve your writing, and much more.
Upcoming TBEX conferences
TBEX Europe 2024 in San Sebastián, Spain
TBEX North America 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Travel Con
I went to the first TravelCon and it was the best travel conference I have attended. It was created by Nomadic Matt and was actually supposed to cease to exist. Due to popular demand, it is back and in Portland May 15-17.
Traverse
Traverse started as a conference only for UK travel bloggers but has since grown to be a conference any blogger can learn from. The conference starts with midweek events in the surrounding areas. For two days, the conference is then in full swing with workshops and panels.
Traverse 2024 has already past, but we will add the 2025 dates as soon as they are available.
Travel Shows
You may not learn about blogging, but travel shows are a great place to meet representatives from destinations and possibly meet up with other bloggers.
The New York Travel Show is huge, showcasing over 100 destinations in over 500 exhibits. I have been invited to come as press for two years but have not been able to make it there yet. Bloggers should be able to avoid paying an admission fee. You can also attend travel seminars and meet tv travel personalities.
Travel & Adventure Show
I went to the Travel & Adventure and it was wonderful to meet so many people from different destinations. They are trying to market to the public at the event, but can often give you the contact information for whoever deals with travel writers to arrange media trips later. I was also able to meet up and go to lunch with a group of travel bloggers. It was great to put faces to names I knew well from Facebook groups.
World Travel Market
Located in London every year, this is the place people come to meet. This is a perfect opportunity to meet with destinations and brands to make the connections to fill your calendar for the year.
The next WTM is November 5-7, 2024.
Digital Marketing Conferences
There are dozens and maybe even hundreds of other digital marketing conferences that are extremely relevant for travel bloggers. If you can’t make it out to a travel blogging conference, find a digital marketing conference close to you where you are sure to learn plenty and network with people who work in digital marketing full-time.
Pubcon
My preferred conference is held annually in Las Vegas with regional conferences throughout the US. This February, I regularly attend the regional conference in my hometown of Austin. The one-day regional conferences are affordable, especially when you book early, they usually start around $350 and then go up as you get closer to the day. The disadvantage of most digital marketing conferences is the price. For most people the business they work for is paying for the conference, making it easy for them to charge more.
Annually, there is a conference in Las Vegas. It is a three-day event full of panels, keynotes, and workshops. These events bring speakers from Google, Facebook, and many top industry professionals.
Local Conferences and Workshops
I’ve listed some of the largest conferences but look locally for even more opportunities to learn. You can find local groups like Travel Massive, Wordcamp, and tons of others on Meetup.com. At a local level, you can get more involved for better networking and learning.
Conferences are a great way to learn and get motivated to take you to the next level in travel blogging, but it is only one way. Until you can make it out, look for local events, Facebook groups and digital marketing blogs to keep in the know and keep learning.
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.