TBEX ’10 Speakers & Schedule Announced

Gadling is a proud Media Partner of this year’s Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX). And we’re stoked that the schedule and speakers list has been announced for the June 25-27 event. Not only will some of the sharpest, most well-traveled and entertaining travel bloggers from around the world be attending, but some of the best and brightest writers in the industry will be speaking on the various panels. And, lest we all run out of things to talk about, there are two night of parties to keep the conversations flowing.

After a kick-off party on Friday night that attendees will find via clues tweeted by speakers, the event begins in earnest on Saturday. The big names are rolled out early, as World Hum founders Jim Benning and Mike Yessis join Gadling’s David Farley, travel writing legend (and Gadling team member) Don George and Alison Stein Wellner in leading a session on improving your travel writing skills.

From there, topics include shooting video for the web, how to work with public relations firms, branding, travel writing ethics (a can’t miss session with Mary Engle of the Federal Trade Commision, Kim Mance, Spud Hilton of The San Francisco Chronicle and others), search engine optimization and podcasting. The event wraps up with the Community Keynote, which will feature Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View and yours truly reading some of the best travel blog posts submitted by writers (the deadline to submit a post is June 1, so send yours in now).

In between the business, there will be parties hosted by American Express Gold Rewards, BootsnAll and Eurocheapo and Diamond PR. All that talking will surely make us thirsty.

TBEX ’10 is going to be a fantastic event for travel bloggers, writers and all lovers of travel. We can’t wait to see everyone, talk shop and, yes, have a few cocktails. Hope you’ll be there!

Submit your travel writing to TBEX ’10 Community Keynote

TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) is preparing for its second annual event after a successful gathering of travel bloggers and writers in 2009. This year’s event, TBEX ’10, will be held in New York on June 26-27 and will include a new session focused on highlighting the best in independent travel blogging. The Community Keynote will feature readings of some of the best travel blog posts in nine categories and aims to honor the amazing writers who write about travel not for money but to share their stories and passions.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Hey, I have a travel blog. How can I submit one of my posts for consideration?,” you should head over to the TBEX ’10 Community Keynote page for all of the details. Even if you’re not able to attend TBEX ’10, your writing could be featured. So, no matter where in the world you are located, you could be honored at this fantastic session.

The nine categories that will be featured at the Community Keynote are:

1. Twinkle in a Traveler’s Eye – The Ideas That Inspire the Trips

2. In Transit – The Perils (and Joys) of Transportation

3. Talking to Strangers – The People You Meet

4. Spit or Swallow – Culinary Conundrums

5. The Power of Places – Inspiring Destinations

6. You Did What? – Adrenaline Rushes and Adventures

7. Love at First Flight – Tales of Romance on the Road

8. Trips & Falls – Embarrassing Tales & Travel Fails

9. Home, Bittersweet Home – Reverse Culture Shock & Many Happy Returns

The session will be hosted by the talented Seattle-based writer Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View and Gadling’s own Mike Barish (hey, that’s me) who also blogs at his own site (and apparently strays into third-person writing from time to time).

So, what are you waiting for? Look through your archives, find your best, most unique and awe-inspiring blog posts and submit them for consideration today! Your work could be featured at the TBEX ’10 Community Keynote (and that’s pretty damn cool).