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International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
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International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association

Top Ten Reasons for Media to Join IFWTWA

You want to show the world what you can do.
We show you pathways to success.

Young woman tourist with camera hat and backpack sightseeing in Valletta, Malta

Reason #1: Build Connections, Discover Stories, and Grow Your Career at IFWTWA Conferences

The relationships you build through IFWTWA can open doors to new assignments, fresh story ideas, media partnerships, and industry opportunities. Our annual professional development conference brings together food, wine, and travel journalists, content creators, destination representatives, PR professionals, and industry leaders for several days of learning, networking, and inspiration. The conference offers pre-trips and post-trips that allow attendees to apply for associated media trips.

As an IFWTWA conference attendee, you’ll:

  • Connect with fellow travel writers, editors, bloggers, podcasters, photographers, videographers, and industry professionals
  • Participate in professional development sessions designed to help you stay current with industry trends, storytelling techniques, digital publishing strategies, AI tools, content marketing, and business growth
  • Experience exclusive destination tours, behind-the-scenes access, and immersive food, wine, and travel experiences curated specifically for media professionals
  • Apply for pre- and post-conference media trips that provide deeper exploration opportunities and additional story potential
  • Meet tourism boards, destinations, hotels, attractions, cruise lines, and travel brands during our Media Marketplace, creating valuable connections for future assignments and collaborations
  • Gain insider access to local experts, winemakers, chefs, historians, tourism leaders, and other fascinating personalities who bring destinations to life
  • Discover hidden gems, emerging destinations, and authentic experiences that go beyond the typical visitor itinerary

Whether you’re an established journalist or building your media career, IFWTWA conferences provide the connections, education, and story opportunities that help members grow professionally while expanding their influence throughout the food, wine, and travel industry.

See What Others Like You Found Out

Reason #2: Access Exclusive Media Trips and Uncover Exceptional Story Opportunities

Great stories begin with firsthand experiences. IFWTWA connects members with carefully curated media trips that provide access to destinations, attractions, culinary experiences, wineries, cultural institutions, and tourism partners looking to work with professional travel media.

Our hosted press trips take members beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of a destination. Whether you’re exploring ancient sites in Jordan, experiencing local culture in Greece, discovering Louisiana’s vibrant culinary and music scene, or uncovering the natural beauty of Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula, each trip is designed to help you find compelling stories and create meaningful industry connections.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Apply for exclusive small-group media trips available only to qualified members
  • Experience destinations through curated itineraries designed specifically for travel journalists, bloggers, videographers, photographers, and digital publishers
  • Meet local experts, tourism leaders, chefs, winemakers, historians, and community voices who can add depth and authenticity to your coverage
  • Gather fresh story ideas, photography opportunities, and source contacts for future assignments
  • Travel alongside fellow professional journalists, writers, bloggers, photographers, podcasters, and digital publishers
  • Build lasting relationships with colleagues who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of travel media
  • Expand your portfolio with unique experiences that help your work stand out in a competitive marketplace

Because space on many media trips is limited, participation is competitive—making each opportunity both valuable and highly sought after. For members who are serious about building their careers, IFWTWA media trips provide access, experiences, and story opportunities that can lead to articles, partnerships, and professional growth long after the trip ends.

“IFWTWA is an organization whose leadership has been more welcoming to me and one that listens to its members when they express their concerns and needs. I love the way you find ways to support members wherever they are in their journeys, the breadth of professional development offered to members, and the genuine kindness and camaraderie of the membership. It really is something special.”

— Meena Thiruvengadam
Travel Journalist
Travelwithmeena.com

Reason #3: Share Your Stories with a Global Audience

Every writer needs a place to showcase their work, build credibility, and reach new readers. Through IFWTWA’s flagship consumer publication, Food, Wine, Travel Magazine, members have the opportunity to publish travel stories that inspire audiences around the world while strengthening their professional portfolios.

Our editorial team is always looking for compelling food, wine, travel, and lifestyle content that reflects the expertise and unique perspectives of our members.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Pitch story ideas to our editorial team for consideration
  • Publish your work in a respected consumer travel publication with a global audience
  • Receive a stipend for one approved and published article each month
  • Build an impressive portfolio of published work that can support future pitches, assignments, and career opportunities
  • Increase your visibility as a travel media professional and expand your reach beyond your own platforms
  • Be featured as IFWTWA’s Author of the Month, highlighting your work and accomplishments to readers and fellow members
  • Create published clips that may be eligible for professional writing and journalism competitions
  • Share your expertise and travel experiences with an engaged audience seeking trusted food, wine, and travel inspiration

Publication is competitive and not guaranteed. Our goal is to maintain high editorial standards while providing members with meaningful opportunities to showcase their best work. When you bring us a strong story, we help put it in front of readers who are eager to discover their next great destination, culinary experience, or travel adventure.

“Participating in the social media sharing threads on the IFWTWA members-only Facebook page has helped increase my reach and engagement on social media. They have enabled me to become more visible on social media and grow my travel community.”

— Kathryn Anderson
Author, Travel Journalist, and Speaker
Board Director and Social Media Committee Chair
Coffeeandmascara.org

Reason #4: Learn, Connect, and Stay Ahead Through Virtual Events

Professional growth doesn’t happen only at conferences. IFWTWA offers year-round virtual programming designed to help members expand their industry knowledge, sharpen their skills, discover new destinations, and connect with colleagues from anywhere in the world.

Chanda Temple

“When I first learned about IFWTWA, I felt like I had found my people. I interviewed [IFWTWA member] Cherith Fluker about a book she had written…I noticed that her signature line said she was a member of IFWTWA. She gushed about the organization. Writing about food is my happy place, and I’d be thrilled to make IFWTWA another happy place for me. The other reason I wanted to join is to be around more writers in the food and travel writing industry, network, gain knowledge about emerging trends, etc. I want to grow even more as a food writer, and I feel IFWTWA can help me do that.”

— Chanda Temple
Food Writer
ChandaTempleWrites.com

Reason #5: Connect with a Supportive Community of Industry Professionals

Success in food, wine, and travel media isn’t just about what you know—it’s also about who you know. One of the greatest benefits of IFWTWA membership is access to a welcoming community of professionals who share ideas, celebrate successes, answer questions, and support one another throughout the year.

Whether you’re looking for advice on a pitch, recommendations for a destination contact, feedback on a project, or simply a place to connect with colleagues who understand the industry, you’ll find an engaged and supportive network waiting for you.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Connect daily with fellow writers, editors, bloggers, photographers, podcasters, videographers, and industry professionals
  • Participate in our active private member community, where members share opportunities, resources, accomplishments, and industry insights
  • Ask questions and receive guidance from experienced professionals who have faced similar challenges
  • Exchange destination contacts, story ideas, publication leads, and industry recommendations
  • Celebrate your successes and support fellow members as they achieve theirs
  • Stay informed about association news, events, media opportunities, and member activities
  • Expand your professional network beyond your local market and build relationships across North America and beyond
  • Increase your visibility through IFWTWA’s social media channels, which regularly highlight member stories, accomplishments, publications, and industry contributions

Many members tell us that the connections, friendships, and professional support they gain through the IFWTWA community alone make membership worthwhile. In an industry where many people work independently, having a trusted network of colleagues can be one of the most valuable resources for long-term success.

Linda Barnard

“I joined IFWTWA because I was looking for more outlets to publish my stories. The opportunity that all members have to write for FWT Magazine was why I signed up. It’s well edited, looks great, and adds heft to my portfolio. I’m thrilled that my first story, on an eco-tourism expedition into the British Columbia Great Bear Rainforest, won three awards: two golds in the SATW Canadian Chapter and an honorable mention at the TMAC awards. The prize money more than covered my membership fee—even with the U.S. exchange rate. IFWTWA membership has also helped me land media trips. “

—Linda Barnard
Freelance Food & Travel Writer
LindaBarnardPortfolio.com

Reason #6: Amplify Your Visibility and Grow Your Personal Brand

Creating great content is only part of the equation. Today’s food, wine, and travel professionals also need visibility, engagement, and a strong personal brand. IFWTWA helps members expand their reach by connecting them with a community that actively supports and promotes one another’s work.

Through member-driven social sharing, peer engagement, and association-wide promotion, you’ll have opportunities to put your content in front of a broader audience while building recognition within the industry.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Share your latest articles, blog posts, videos, podcasts, photography, and social content with fellow members
  • Participate in weekday social sharing opportunities designed to help increase visibility and engagement
  • Take advantage of our popular weekly promotion days to showcase new bylines, media appearances, speaking engagements, awards, projects, and accomplishments
  • Gain exposure through IFWTWA’s social media channels, which regularly highlight member content and achievements
  • Build relationships with colleagues who can help extend the reach of your work through authentic engagement and sharing
  • Increase awareness of your expertise among fellow media professionals, destinations, publicists, and industry partners
  • Strengthen your professional reputation and grow your presence within the food, wine, and travel community
  • Become part of an active network of creators and industry professionals who understand the value of supporting one another’s success

When you join IFWTWA, you’re not just joining an association—you’re becoming part of a community that celebrates achievements, shares opportunities, and helps members gain greater visibility in an increasingly competitive media landscape.

Put a bunch of food lovers, storytellers, and curious travelers in one organization and good tings are bound to happen. IFWTWA has connected me with people who understand that travel is about far more than checking boxes. It’s about stories, culture, community, and the connections we make along the way. IFWTWA has been a wonderful place to connect, collaborate, and keep discovering the world. 

— Dannelle Gay
TV Host, Podcaster, Syndicated Author and Freelancer
Travelingcheesehead.com

Reason #7: Expand Your Reach Through Radio, Podcasts, and Multimedia Exposure

Today’s most successful food, wine, and travel professionals build their audiences across multiple platforms. Through IFWTWA’s partnership with Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine, members have opportunities to extend their reach beyond traditional articles and blog posts and position themselves as trusted voices in the industry.

Whether you’re promoting a recently published story, discussing a destination, sharing travel expertise, or participating in a panel discussion, audio and multimedia appearances can help you connect with new audiences and strengthen your professional brand.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Apply to appear on Big Blend Radio programs as a featured guest or panel participant
  • Promote your published articles, books, destinations, projects, and areas of expertise to a broader audience
  • Build your reputation as a recognized authority in food, wine, travel, hospitality, or related specialties
  • Gain valuable experience with interviews, podcast appearances, and broadcast media
  • Reach audiences beyond your own website, publication, or social media channels
  • Increase visibility for your work while creating additional promotional opportunities for your stories and destinations
  • Develop a stronger multimedia presence that can support speaking engagements, media interviews, and future professional opportunities
  • Connect with listeners and viewers who are actively interested in travel, food, wine, culture, and lifestyle content

In today’s media landscape, expertise is often measured by visibility across multiple channels. Through opportunities like Big Blend Radio, IFWTWA members can expand their influence, grow their audiences, and showcase their knowledge in ways that go far beyond the written page.

Big Blend Radio Logo 2026

“IFWTWA has a fantastic network of professional food, wine and travel writers who keep our Big Blend Radio and Magazine audiences up-to-date on where to travel and how to have an authentic once-in-a-lifetime experience. They are informative and fun, and always inspiring!”

— Lisa D. Smith and Nancy J. Reid
Radio Show Hosts
Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines

Reason #8: Receive an IFWTWA Press Credential Card

Professional credentials can help open doors when you’re researching destinations, covering events, conducting interviews, or gathering information for stories. As a qualified media member, you’ll receive an IFWTWA press credential that identifies you as a member of a respected professional association serving food, wine, and travel communicators.

While acceptance is always at the discretion of the venue, organization, or event, an IFWTWA press credential can help support your professional activities and demonstrate your affiliation with a recognized industry organization.

As an IFWTWA media member, you’ll receive:

  • An official IFWTWA press credential recognizing your membership in the association
  • A professional identification tool that can be used when attending industry events, media functions, and destination visits.
  • Added credibility when introducing yourself to tourism representatives, publicists, attractions, and industry contacts
  • A convenient way to identify yourself as a working food, wine, and travel media professional
  • Potential access to media rates, press events, familiarization opportunities, or discounted admission where offered by participating organizations
  • A credential that complements your professional portfolio and industry affiliations

While a press credential does not guarantee admission, complimentary access, or special privileges, many members find it to be a valuable professional resource when covering destinations, attending events, and building relationships throughout the food, wine, and travel industry.

Merle Rosenstein

“Since I joined IFWTWA, I’ve learned what’s new in destinations such as Washington State’s San Juan Islands, New York State, and Gettysburg. I also found out how to market myself on a media trip application and used this knowledge to apply for a Finger Lakes FAM. I want to thank IFWTWA president, Cori Solomon, and the IFWTWA board, for these opportunities. I continue to develop as a writer because of IFWTWA.”

— Merle Rosenstein
Travel, Food, and Wine Writer
WSET Level 2 Diploma
Superbubbie.ca

Reason #9: Raise Your Profile Through Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities

One of the fastest ways to build meaningful relationships and increase your visibility within the food, wine, and travel industry is to get involved. IFWTWA is a volunteer-driven organization, and our members are the reason the association continues to grow, innovate, and provide valuable opportunities for the community.

Volunteering not only helps strengthen the association—it also allows you to showcase your expertise, develop leadership skills, expand your professional network, and become a recognized voice within the organization.

As an IFWTWA volunteer, you can:

  • Take on leadership roles that increase your visibility among fellow members and industry partners
  • Assist with conference programming, logistics, and member engagement activities
  • Share your expertise by presenting webinars, workshops, or professional development sessions
  • Mentor newer writers and content creators entering the industry
  • Help organize media trips, destination experiences, and member programs
  • Contribute editorial, research, communications, or project-management skills to association initiatives
  • Bring fresh ideas, specialized knowledge, and new perspectives that help advance the organization’s mission
  • Participate in membership outreach and help welcome new members into the community

Volunteering is more than giving back—it’s an opportunity to develop professionally, strengthen your industry reputation, and build relationships with some of the most engaged professionals in food, wine, and travel media. Many of our most successful and well-connected members began by simply raising their hands and getting involved.

Kathleen Walls

“One great benefit of IFWTWA is the press trips. Press trips are the bread and butter for most travel writers so having them set up and arranged is a big benefit. Traveling with a compatible professional group is a bonus. Naturally you need to get approved by the host but that is a standard for all trips. My last trip with IFWTWA was to Lafayette. What a treat. It was a great mix of nature, history and food. I sold stories from that trip and posted some on my own site.”

— Kathleen Walls
Author and Travel Journalist
American Roads and Global Highways ~ Katy’s World

Reason #10: Thrive as a Multi-Platform Storyteller

The media landscape has changed dramatically. Today’s successful food, wine, and travel professionals don’t rely on a single outlet or platform—they create content across multiple channels, build personal brands, and connect with audiences in a variety of ways.

IFWTWA embraces this evolution by supporting creators wherever and however they tell stories. Whether your work appears in magazines, blogs, podcasts, videos, newsletters, social media, books, or broadcast media, you’ll find a community that understands the realities of modern content creation.

As an IFWTWA member, you’ll have opportunities to:

  • Connect with professionals working across writing, blogging, photography, videography, podcasting, social media, newsletters, and publishing
  • Learn strategies for expanding your audience and increasing engagement across multiple platforms
  • Build credibility as a trusted voice in food, wine, travel, and lifestyle media
  • Stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities shaping the future of storytelling
  • Develop skills that help you remain competitive in a rapidly changing media environment
  • Showcase your expertise through articles, podcasts, webinars, radio appearances, speaking engagements, and social media
  • Create a more resilient and diversified media business by expanding beyond a single publication or platform

Whether you’re a traditional journalist, digital publisher, photographer, podcaster, or a combination of many roles, IFWTWA helps you grow as a modern media professional. Our members understand that the future belongs to storytellers who can engage audiences wherever they are—and we’re here to help you succeed in that evolving landscape.

We Don’t Just Talk: We Do

We don’t talk about helping you live the food, wine, and travel writer’s life; we open the doors to help you experience it.

When you join us, you join a unique group of industry specialists who collaborate to elevate professional development, networking, and content creation.

Membership Requirements

IFWTWA is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit. Membership  is open to professionals in three areas. Those currently publishing, photographing or broadcasting in the food, wine, or travel industry, tourism industry related professionals and businesses, and aspiring students currently enrolled in an writing classes.

Yes, you have every reason to join and no reason not to do so if you want to be a success. Membership in IFWTWA means you contribute your time, talents, and ideas to help us make our Association a best-in-class experience.

Regular Membership is just $180 per year with a first-year application fee of $50.

Are you up to the challenge?

Apply – Find Out!

IFWTWA Mission Statement

To provide guidance to the restaurant, hotel, and travel industries and the bestowing of awards on meritorious organizations and individuals through means of evaluation, articles, education and visitation. Further, to provide scholarships for students in hospitality and travel programs and to provide funds to educational organizations furthering the development and progress of the food, wine, travel and hotel industry.

Susan Lanier-Graham

“IFWTWA has been one of the most valuable investments I’ve made in my career. Through the organization, I’ve built lifelong friendships, developed a trusted network of fellow writers and editors, and connected with destination representatives I can turn to for story ideas and expert insights. The educational webinars, professional development opportunities, and conferences have helped me sharpen my skills while exploring destinations in meaningful ways. Many of the opportunities I’ve received through IFWTWA have contributed directly to the growth of Wander With Wonder into an award-winning travel publication. More than a professional association, IFWTWA has helped me grow both my business and my brand.“

— Susan Lanier-Graham
Digital Publisher and Online Writing Educator
Lowell Thomas Award Winner
WanderWithWonder.com