Top Eight Reasons for Associates to Join IFWTWA

Associates, Team With Us

You Need Market Visibility.
We Help You Get It.

You’re a travel and hospitality industry pro. You run a professional tourism agency, hotel, public relations firm, theme park, convention and visitors bureau, destination management organization, tourist board or other entity with a footprint in your area.

You know your venue: your city, your region, your country. You know the personalities and businesses that make your destinations desirable. And you know which events and activities at your destinations will attract and drive traffic.

But how do you get the word out? And how do you break through the white noise of cyberspace to get out high quality thought-provoking stories for maximum market exposure at the lowest costs for your clients?

That’s where we come in. We bridge the gap between you and our content creation specialists. We make it easy for you to find the right pros to meet your needs.

Sherrye Wyatt, PR and Marketing Manager for Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism, describes how greater connections to international markets opened doors to new audiences: “International markets are a source of growth for our local tourism economy. Last May [2018] we hosted the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association annual conference and brought nearly 50 influencers from throughout the world to our islands. This was the first time this conference was held in the Pacific Northwest and it led to new coverage from the UK to Australia.”

When you join us as an Associate member, you gain access to a host of benefits that will make your professional life much easier. Here are just a few benefits you realize as a member …

Reason #1: Tell Our Members Who and Where You Are

You’ll have a member profile on our membership website. It’s your chance to tell your story to our freelancers and let them know how to work with you. Share with our members the following:
  • Tell them what you do and sign-up to guest-host an IFWTWA webinar.
  • Sign up to be a guest host an IFWTWA webinar and roundtable.
  • About your destination and your clients.
  • How they can collaborate.

Reason #2: Find Talent at our Conferences and Workshops

Join us at one of our annual conferences and meet with our writers and content creators at our Marketplace and during speed-dating.

  • Collaborate on stories with our freelancers in person and virtually.
  • You’ll leave our conference with many new contacts to work with.
  • Find freelancers you may wish to host in the future .

Reason #3: Collaborate With Us on Media and Press Trips

As an associate member, our media trips committee team will work with you proactively to host media and press trips to your area.

These trips will consist of small groups of travel writers, photographers, and videographers. We’ll ensure you have access to all the information you need to help you pick those content creators that fit your destination’s needs.

Reason #4: Network with Freelancers Online

Our website offers opportunities to connect with IFWTWA members.

Join our private FaceBook group to gain access to what is happening with IFWTWA, participate in social shares, get to know our members, or share information about your destination.

Reason #5: Be a Guest Host at a Webinar and Roundtable

Join one of IFWTWA’s webinars or roundtables. As a guest host, present your destination or specialty to our members.

This lets members become acquainted with your destination, inspiring a future visit.

Reason #6: Grow Your Brand on Social Media

Our members are all over the internet. Every week of the year, they share social media posts. It’s easy to join in. Every week we promote our members on:

  • Toot Your Horn Monday
  • Travel Tuesday
  • Wine or Wellness Wednesday
  • Thirsty or Throwback Thursday
  • Foodie Friday

You’ll also gain access to our private Facebook group where you can ask questions, share travel plans, and collaborate on social media posts, and more.

Reason #7: Promote your business or destination on radio

We’ve teamed up with Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine to give you the extra exposure you need for your business or destination. Since 1997, Big Blend Magazines has produced, published, and distributed engaging content on multimedia platforms, successfully educating and entertaining an audience. Their digital content marketing and branding system introduces and connects their partners with audiences of like interest.

As an Associate member in good standing, you can apply to be part of a panel or do a solo business or destination promotion.

Reason #8: Advertise in Food Wine Travel Magazine

Advertise your destination/organization through ads in IFWTWA’s digital magazine.

We Don’t Just Talk: We Do

We don’t talk about helping you bridge the gap between you and our freelancers. We open the doors to help present your business or destination.

When you join us, you’ll partner with a unique group of industry specialists who collaborate to elevate and improve the travel and hospitality industry. IFWTWA is geared to promote the interests of the food, wine, and travel industry, our members, and your business or destination, giving you every reason to join.

Associate Membership is $255 per year with a first-year application fee of $50.