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A world without travel writers

At TravelTECH Asia/Pacific, a travel distribution and marketing conference held in Sydney last month, the Café heard experts pronounce the imminent demise of travel writers and travel agents.

Their argument is because of the power of social networking sites where everyone is now a journalist, writer, commentator, opinion-maker ie blogger, who needs travel writers to tell us where to go and what to see and travel agents to recommend places to stay?

Sites like Trip Advisor, IgoUgo and Yahoo! Travel – in the same vein as YouTube and My Space – engage readers to share their travel stories and tips. Even hotel branded sites such as Sheraton.com are also inviting customers to tell their stories.

An article in the IHT last week similarly hailed the power of business travel blogs. It quoted Clancy Ratliff, an assistant professor of English at East Carolina University, who wrote her dissertation on blogging, “Bloggers have the potential to change business travel. Maybe they haven’t reached a critical mass yet, the way bloggers have in other places. But their influence may be growing.”

It cites blogs such as InflightHQ, started by a frustrated business traveller who wanted to rant about being charged Internet charges in a hotel when he thought the rate included those fees. His entry prompted an apology and refund.

Then there’s upgradetravel.blogspot.com in which a Mark Ashley criticised Northwest Airlines for the extra $15 it was charging for certain sought-after economy class seats which also applied to its elite fliers. Northwest subsequently dropped the fee for its frequent fliers.

Marriott International has also begun to reach bloggers – it has asked bloggers to speak to its corporate communications team, and has inviting them on press trips and offering them news in advance of the print media.

What does this mean? Press trips for the masses? No more travel writers or travel agents, just bloggers and bookers?

We think not. Just as everyone’s been predicting the death of travel agents for the longest time, travel writers too will survive the tides of change but they have to adapt to the new landscape.

And if anything, we think good travel writers are going to be even more needed than ever to cut through the clutter that’s going to emerge from all that blogging going on.

Besides, how do you know that the person raving about a great new place to stay on a travel website has not been paid to do so?

What travel writers really want

Travel writers and photographers in Australia and around the world want new twists and quirky stories and photo opportunities delivered on well-paced famils, according to a recent survey.

The report produced by website database WriteClick www.writeclick.com.au, shows that regardless of where they are based, these wordsmiths and pixmen cite similar work needs and likes and dislikes.

WriteClick, which launched last October in Sydney, has registered more than 345 travel writers and photographers from Australia and around the world.

The report revealed travel writers and photographers are looking for a number of specific things in a story idea/pic opportunity.

These include exposure to history, culture, food and wine; meeting the locals; something unique/different; local colour and flavour; destinations that have not been done to death; new twists on an old theme; great characters; fantastic photographic opportunities; and themed famils.

Among their likes, travel writers and photographers have cited new experiences; the exotic; authenticity; flexible famils; free time on famils; and “the classic”, according to the 10-page report.

Top 10 travel writing interests include wildlife/nature; culture; luxury; hotels/resorts; city; food & wine; soft adventure; festivals/events; ecotourism; and regional/country.

Travel writers and photographers dislike trips which are too busy/rushed; wasting time on long lunches; hotel/site inspections; sharing a room; and large group famils.

How do you think travel writers need to lift their game to stay ahead of bloggers? What do you want of them? Write us.

In the end, some travel writers may lose out because they fail to adapt to changing spends and trends. Likewise, many bloggers will either switch to more lucrative employment, or may get paid to write for the corporates. Which is PR, not blogging.

Or is it PRogging?

The need for great writers of books, magazines, journals, blogs and advertisements will never go away. If you're good enough, you'll not be replaced and you will adapt.

I also wonder, will event organisers last if they fail to come up with less simplistic subject matter? Ha.

Hello Scribe
What do you mean by the last question? I don't get it.
Fellow Scribe

I found this article about travel writers on the Australian Society of Writers bulletin board. Interesting.

Beyond the pale?

By freelance travel writer, Steenie Harvey in Ireland

Travel writers. We're corrupt... our work is tainted... readers shouldn't trust our recommendations.

That's what Miami Herald readers probably believe after seeing this headline in the business section: "When visiting South Beach, be sure to try the free sushi, nightclubs, cocktails and hotel rooms. But only if you're a travel writer."

The five writers who found themselves in the spotlight were Brits. And the journalist who penned the article could barely hide his outrage. He made my compatriots sound like the most loathsome bunch of freeloaders ever to roam the earth.

The article pointed out they'd gotten free round-trip airfare from London, complimentary rooms in South Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and six days of gratis meals. But that wasn't all...

Our writers lolled around in a "boudoir-themed hotspot." They sipped an "amuse-bouche of lobster bisque." They stuffed their faces with dulce de leche soufflés and molten chocolate cakes.

The thing is, press trips can be hard work... and that wasn't mentioned. After a 10-hour daily slog of non-stop sightseeing, what's wrong with a $750 night out where somebody else picks up the tab?

In my view, nothing. But according to the travel editors of some US newspapers, there's plenty wrong with it. Many won't use articles about destinations where a writer has accepted complimentary or subsidized travel. As a freelancer, it's something you need to be aware of.

The thinking is that by going on junkets, writers are compromised. ''If you're recommending a place because you've been led by the nose by a publicist to the place, to me that sounds fishy,'' said Chicago Tribune travel editor Randy Curwen.

It seems unfair. Sports writers get free tickets (and the best seats in the stadium). Music and book reviewers get free CDS and books. And contributors to motoring sections do not buy a brand-new Porsche before they test-drive it. Nobody calls their judgment into question.

With notable exceptions, many of these shows set conflict as the agenda - in other words, setting up two opposing arguments and debating them.

While they can make good spectacles, starting with conflict can dictate the tone of discussions, and miss the opportunity. I suspect successful travel agents sitting through repeated "demise of the agent" sessions go away feeling likewise.

What I prefer is problem solving and how-to sessions. Bloggers and journalists co-exist, as do agents and online players. How can it work better? Elaborating on real-life success stories or giving problem-solving examples seems to a better use of people's "face time" than playing out simplified conflicts.