TBEX '11 Schedule & Speakers

TBEX ‘11 Schedule & Speakers
Vancouver, British Columbia – June 10, 11 & 12

(There will be complimentary wifi available for registered attendees)

Friday, June10th

Day tours hosted by Tourism Vancouver – schedule & RSVP

8:00 pm – TBEX ’11 Kickoff Party, Vancouver Art Gallery (map)

sponsored by Canadian Tourism Commission,
Tourism BC & Tourism Vancouver

(Registered Attendees Only, Sorry No Guests)

Saturday, June 11th

9:00 am

Community Session – Room 211

Welcome & Opening

“Let the Good Times Roll, But Don’t Lose Soul” –
Kim Mance, Galavanting

-- As bloggers gain influence with readers and industry alike, let’s remember why we got into travel in the first place. Then let's talk about how to make money doing it.

“Grandma’s House” – Evelyn Hannon, Journeywoman

-- Follow the journey of a blog which started as a 20-page newsletter and now has more than one million visitors every year.

“Board of Ethics”

-- TBEX unveils a live crowd-sourced weekend whiteboard project to establish guidelines for travel blogging disclosure and ethics, which will help keep sketchiness away, and enhance our reputation as a community.

10:00 – 10:55

Workshops (NOTE: sessions repeat for those who don’t want to miss a particular topic.)

Rm 211

Rm 217

Rm 215

“Monetization Reality Check: Get Creative” – Dreaming big about all that banner-ad income you’ll rake in from your travel blog? It’s time to step outside that box and into more creative ways to monetize.

Kim Mance, Galavanting

Amanda Pressner, Lost Girls

Gary Arndt,
Everything Everywhere

Alexander Basek, Fortnighter

Mike Barish,
Freelance (& Cruzerati)

“Non-Narrative Travel Writing” – Learn ways to make a top ten list that doesn’t suck, or profile a destination with fact-filled panache. Attendees of this workshop will create a project during the weekend, and get feedback from these expert instructors during a follow-up session Sunday.

Jason Clampet, Frommers

Paul Brady, AOL Travel

Annemarie Dooling,
Frill Seeker Diary

“Narrative Travel Writing” – Telling a story takes more than just a keyboard and recollection of events. Attendees of this workshop will create a project during the weekend, and get feedback from these expert instructors during a follow-up session Sunday.

Spud Hilton,
San Francisco Chronicle

David Farley, Author & Freelance

Jim Benning, World Hum

Rm 210

PR / Industry Track

“Who Are These People?” – With an ever-changing new media landscape and focus on influencer-personalities, it can be hard to verify who’s legit. Learn from actively engaged industry members how they find and vet bloggers, and results from projects and campaigns with bloggers.

Angela Berardino, Turner PR (moderator)

Kara Rosner, Diamond PR

Johnny Jet
& TBEX Connect

11:00 – 12:00

Workshops

Rm 211

Rm 217

Rm 215/16

“Branding & Niche Expertise” – You know those bloggers with a soaring popularity index and are even quoted in news as experts in their travel niche? Learn how to get that panache, genuine expertise, and be recognized for it across the web and beyond.

Benny Lewis,
Fluent in 3 Months

Jessica Spiegel,
WhyGo Italy

Anne Taylor-Hartzell,
Hip Travel Mama

Annemarie Dooling,
Frill Seeker Diary

Jen Leo, LA Times

Randall Shirley, 5 Faves

Crai Bower, Flowing Stream

Andrew Evans,
Nat Geo Traveler

Don George, Gadling

Pam Mandel, Nerds Eye View

Rm 210

PR / Industry Track

“Time Management” –

When you find yourself checking hashtags, Facebook insights, stat counters and RSS feeds before your morning coffee, just so you can get everything else done, it's time for some new technology.

Angela Berardino, Turner PR

Ryan Whaley, Keystone Resort

12:00 – 1:30

Lunch Break (free time on your own)

1:30 pm

Community Session

Giveaway (must be present to win)

“Tell it Like it Is” – A newbie travel writer can often be spotted through travel platitudes or glowing reviews. But these expert writers of travel goodness will help us avoid these pitfalls and give you the tools to bring our readers a realistic view of a destination through authentic voice.

Spud Hilton,
San Francisco Chronicle

(moderator)

Jim Byers, Toronto Star

Rich Beattie,

Travel + Leisure

Don George, Gadling

Mike Yessis, World Hum

“Blogger + Industry Jam Session”

With only a "click" needed to publish and blogger influence sometimes going viral, big brands and destinations are coming up with more creative ways to promote themselves. This interactive jam session panel with attendees will hopefully generate more mutually beneficial ideas.

Angela Berardino, Turner PR (moderator)

Elizabeth Crosta, American Express

Kara Williams The Vacation Gals

Mike Barish,
Freelance (& Cruzerati)

Lisa Wooldridge Tourism Australia

Adam Anderson Expedia

Kara Rosner

Diamond PR

3:15-

3:30

3:30 – 4:30

Coffee & Tea sponsored by Northern Territory Australia's Outback

Workshops

Rm 211

Rm 217

Rm 215/16

Benny Lewis,
Fluent in 3 Months

Jessica Spiegel, WhyGo Italy

Anne Taylor-Hartzell,
Hip Travel Mama

Annemarie Dooling,
Frill Seeker Diary

“Photos on the Road” – As if globetrotting and chronicling our journeys isn’t enough, many travel bloggers also become photographers. Learn about tips, tricks, apps, and time savers for creating captivating photos while continuing out on the road.

Peter West Carey, Photographer

Kirsten Alana, Photographer

“Video ” – Telling a story through video is one of the greatest ways to share your journey on the web. But it's a little daunting at first! Learn from these expert instructors on technique, storytelling, and basic editing.

JD Andrews, EarthXPlorer

Lisa Lubin, TV producer

Robert Reid, Lonely Planet

Rm 210

(112)

PR / Industry Track

“ROI – Tools for Measuring Success” – So you’ve figured out how to get bloggers talking about you, but with the fast pace of the internet combined with the longevity of online content, measuring return on the investment of your efforts can be tricky. Hear about some savvy ideas, blogger experiences, and the newest tools to do just that.

Kim Mance, TBEX Connect (moderator)

Kara Rosner, Diamond PR

Jessica Parker,
Weber Shandwick

4:30 – 5:00

Community Session

"Polyglottony"
– Benny Lewis, Fluent in Three Months

A popular blogger and polyglot gives us some of his favorite tricks and inspiration for trying out local languages wherever you may land.

5:00 – 6:30

Tnooz Appy Hour

Vancouver Convention Center

6:00 – 8:00

TBA

TripAdvisor After Party

Diamond PR -Men of TBEX Calendar Shoot Party (time and place TBA, invite only)

Location – limited space,
RSVPed attendees only -
(sold out)

Sunday, June 12th

8:30-10:00

9:00 am

San Juan Marriott presents a "Hair of the Dog" hangover relief refreshment break

Community Session – Room 211

Welcome & Good Morning Giveaway Prize (must be present to win)

“From One to One Million” – Sean Keener, BootsnAll

Pulling themselves up by their boot straps, BootsnAll Travel Network went from an idea, to a site that now has millions of visitors and contributors from around the world.

“Keep it Churning” – Striking a balance between time spent traveling and writing posts about those travels can be a little tricky. These veterans of cranking out great material at high volume provide tips to keep your blog – and your sanity – alive and well.

Jen Leo, LA Times (moderator)

Grant Martin, Gadling

Jason Clampet, Frommers

Crai Bower, Flowing Stream

Paul Brady, AOL Travel

Pam Mandel, Nerds Eye View

10:00 – 10:55

Workshops

(NOTE: sessions repeat for those who don’t want to miss a particular topic.)

Rm 211

Rm 217

Rm 215/16

"Monetization Reality Check: Get Creative” – Dreaming big about all that banner-ad income you’ll rake in from your travel blog? It’s time to step outside that box and into more creative ways to monetize.

Kim Mance, Galavanting

Amanda Pressner, Lost Girls

Gary Arndt,
Everything Everywhere

Alexander Basek, Fortnighter

Mike Barish,
Freelance (& Cruzerati)

"Non-Narrative Travel Writing” – Learn ways to make a top ten list that doesn’t suck, or profile a destination with fact-filled panache. Attendees of this workshop will create a project during the weekend, and get feedback from these expert instructors during a follow-up session Sunday.

Jason Clampet, Frommers

Paul Brady, AOL Travel

Annemarie Dooling,
Frill Seeker Diary

"Narrative Travel Writing” – Telling a story takes more than just a keyboard and recollection of events. Attendees of this workshop will create a project during the weekend, and get feedback from these expert instructors during a follow-up session Sunday.

Spud Hilton,
San Francisco Chronicle

David Farley, Author & Freelance

Jim Benning, World Hum

Rm 210

PR / Industry Track

“Ask A Blogger/Pitch Review” – If you’ve ever wondered why that well-crafted press release seems to go into a blogosphere black hole, this session is for you. What in the world do bloggers want, anyway? It’s your turn to ask a few of them.

We'll work on turning out a sample pitch email, and then reviewing with bloggers, the internet viability of your newborn pitch.

Michael Yessis, World Hum

Jen Leo, LA Times

Anne Taylor-Hartzell,
Hip Travel Mama

11:00 – 12:00

Workshops

Rm 211

Rm 217

Rm 215/16

"SEO" -

What's all this search engine optimization stuff we keep hearing about, and why do the rules keep changing? A casual roundtable discussion on SEO and why we can't depend on our fellow travel writers to "stumble upon" our content to boost page views may not put your mind totally at rest, but at least your knowledge base for online writing will be expanded.

Jen Miner
The Vacation Gals

Bring: laptop, notebook & pen.

Jen Leo, LA Times

Randall Shirley, 5 Faves

Crai Bower, Flowing Stream

Bring: laptop, notebook & pen.

Andrew Evans,
Nat Geo Traveler

Don George, Gadling

Pam Mandel, Nerds Eye View

Rm 210

(112)

"Photos on the Road” – As if globetrotting and chronicling our journeys isn’t enough, many travel bloggers also become photographers. Learn about tips, tricks, apps, and time savers for creating captivating photos while continuing out on the road.

Peter West Carey, Photographer

Kirsten Alana, Photographer

12:00 – 1:30

Lunch Break (free time on your own)

1:30 pm

Community Session

Caribbean Destination Prize Giveaway
(must be present to win)

“Pick Up the Phone”
–Robert Reid, Lonely Planet

In a day and age where knowledge is at our Googling fingertips, what could be better? Actually, there are a couple of things. Find out how to add to your blogging prowess and sound smarter to all your friends and readers.

“TBEX '12 Location Announcement”–

Kim Mance, Galavanting

With much fanfare.

3:30

Niche Time! - Get to know those with similar obsessions

You've connected online, now meet in person with the people that are just as nerdy as you in your niche.

Photo & Video Bloggers, Family, Travel, Food/Wine, Budget, Luxury

(Rooms TBA at the conference)

4:15

Community Session

Lottery Panel

We'll draw from a pool of topics, with a barrel of names submitted by attendees, and hear from the wisdom of the crowd.

"State of the Travel Blogging Union"

One of the world's most popular travel bloggers takes a stab at describing this rising group and its impact on internet users and the travel industry its self.

-Speakers: It might be you!

-Gary Arndt,
Everything Everywhere

6:30 – 8:00

AMResorts After Party

6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

AMResorts Harbour Cruise

After Party The Corporate Yacht
RSVP only - Limited Space Available

Tags: 12, details, schedule, speakers, tbex, vancouver

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Comment by Wendy Pearson on June 9, 2011 at 12:11am: Why would they even list an invite only party on here? Better just not to promote it rather than create all the bad feelings.

Comment by Meliha on June 8, 2011 at 9:51pm: I'm curious about the niche meeting timeslot. What "niches" are available? I'm not exactly sure (yet) where I fit in...

Comment by Saadia Shafati Shamsie on June 8, 2011 at 1:49pm: yes I did notice that..i think ill RSVP to it! thx =o)

Comment by Jeremy Branham on June 8, 2011 at 1:39pm: If you want something cheap and easy, there is always the Mexican tweet up in Vancouver. Right now, about 40 people are going on Sunday night.

http://twtvite.com/cvxuth

Comment by Saadia Shafati Shamsie on June 8, 2011 at 1:34pm: we could always do our own cruise: http://www.boatcruises.com/tour.php?pv=p4

haha

Comment by Saadia Shafati Shamsie on June 8, 2011 at 1:32pm: Those of us not invited, can we do something fun after we wrap up the conference on sunday?

Comment by Jeremy Branham on June 8, 2011 at 1:29pm: Who exactly was chosen for the AMR party? How did they come up with the list? Aren't I hip and popular enough to go? :)

Comment by Saadia Shafati Shamsie on June 8, 2011 at 1:25pm: U know what? that IS a fail! So basically you have to be cool enough on some radar to get invited? So sad. Perhaps those of us not invited can have our own after party =o)

Comment by bearshapedsphere on June 8, 2011 at 1:16pm: Hoping there will be room for other niches, such as expat bloggers. With 600 attendees, it'd be wise to keep the groups smallish at any rate. More niches means smaller groups. I'll post on the expat blogger board to see who else is going and maybe we can rally for a niche group. I'd like to talk about how to bring some of this stuff back to my local expat blogging community in Chile.

Also, the only-some-are-invited afterparty? FAIL. We're here to promote community, not divisiveness. FYI, the invitations went out days ago. I didn't receive one, either. Don't know what the criteria were for invitation. Darn.

Looking forward to meeting more travel bloggers! See you!

Comment by Krista on June 8, 2011 at 7:34am: Any other updates on the AMResorts After Party? Kinda a bummer if it's invite only. Haven't received anything. :(