Demography is one of the external factors that shape travel and tourism.  The structure of societies is continuously changing, and it is incumbent upon both public and private sector organizations to anticipate these changes and react in a competitive way.  Translated into marketing, demographic changes...

Kathryn Abajian writes: Dear Writers and Friends of Writers, Italy, In Other Words held a memorable and inspiring workshop this past summer in Santo Stefano di Sessanio in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Now, we are excited to announce our expanded program for June 2011: “Literary Abruzzo and The...

Lisa Alpine is leading a workshop in Kenya: “Capturing the Adventure: Writing Travel Vignettes with Lisa Alpine.“ April 13-22, 2011 This daily creative writing class will be an entertaining experiment in developing your ability to describe a scene or experience in the Technicolor of the senses....

The travel and tourism industry claims that as a major generator of foreign income and local jobs, it is a driver of national economies.  Yet, it is generally shy of flexing its political muscle to engage lawmakers in framing economic policies or social legislation.  There are, however, a few exceptions...

Maxine Cass asked us to post information from the American Society of Journalists and Authors regarding an unintended-consequences problem with changes to the Internal Revenue Service’s 1099 reporting law. These changes could create lots of paperwork for freelancers.  The IRS is accepting comments...

JOIN US FOR ADVENTURES IN JORDAN! Travel Writing and Photography Tour February 6-16, 2011 Petra, Jordan (photo © John Montgomery) Led by an American who lives in Jordan, Alena Bartoli, B.A., Yale University, Director, Eastern Enterprises, with workshops led by Diane LeBow, Ph.D., President...

Roger Brooks, CEO of Destination Development International, in a presentation to calTIA‘s 2010 tourism conference examined the primary ingredients of change and pointed to 10 things that need to be done to survive in this “brand” new age of tourism.

If the rate of change inside your organization is greater than or equal to the rate of change outside, you’re probably in good shape.  If it’s slower, you’re toast. As the very nature of the travel and meeting business changes dramatically, one of  the world’s favorite tourism...

[Many thanks to Eliza Southard, who wrote this detailed piece about the July BATW meeting at the Aquarium of the Bay.] A motion behind the seaweed caught my eye. What an odd fish, I thought, such human eyes, just like ours. I looked closer, and, under the misty bubble, the head turned, the eyes scanned...

Thanks go to Edward Hasbrouck, who has made available audio of the June, 2010, BATW panel discussion at the meeting about “The Ethics & Etiquette of Travel Writing.”  Speakers were Edward, David Page, Catherine Boire and Tom Wilmer, and the moderator was Erin Van Rheenen. To stream the...