Travel Radio, Trucking to Oz

It was good to be back in action today with a call to Around the World Travel Radio with host Arthur von Wiesenberger and the very English Richard Mineards today. (Happened to catch Richard on the E Channel this weekend) Unfortunately wires got crossed so I did some about Stockholm which Max did last week but it all worked out. There is also a version of Around the World Travel Radio in Australia hosted by good bud Ren Zwiers who also has a blog filled with info from an Oz point of view. He included my segment of Sailing St Vincents recently that aired on multiple stations Down Under, “good on ya Ren”! I have always enjoyed Ren’s segments here in the US so it is great to be able to keep up with my favorite Aussie, check him out. We also have Max’s and my segments available on GoNOMAD, love when Max cracks the whip.

http://www.aroundtheworldradio.com/
http://travelwithren.blogspot.com/
http://aroundtheworldradio.podbean.com/

Kharma and it's Part in Travel Writing

I try to remember that kharma plays a big part of my travel writing and good things do happen unplanned. I love it when I am invited on a press trip because I was recommended by someone that either was on a trip with me or a PR firm that though enough of my work and actions to share my name. The King of Travel, Johnny Jet and my good friends from Spring O’Brien come to mind. Many Thanks Nora!

In fact my association with GoNOMAD came about with a phone call way back in 1999 from Lauryn Axelrod with an invitation to join the team, she found me by word of mouth. I often wonder what happened to the other six originals. Fate again played a part when Max Hartshorne bought GoNOMAD, I had worked on articles as contributing editor for Transitions Abroad where he served several stints as managing editor but we had never met in person. I decided to go up to his home to meet him in person and found a highly motivated guy that also happened to be fun to chat with, I found a home at GoNOMAD there and then. My travel column in the Lincoln Eagle also came about via a unexpected phone call.

Word of mouth over the years still plays a big part of my writing career I was recently asked to send a tape to Stone Entertainment for a possible host gig on a Travel Channel Show all because someone recommended me, I have no clue who. I most likely will not get the job but it was nice to be asked. Recently thanks to my friends at France’s Tourism office in NYC Katherine and Jessie I am writing a piece for their 2008 France Guide, a beautiful glossy that will be distributed around the world. I do not discount hard work and its part in travel writing success however a little good kharma never hurts.

The Travel Media Showcase, Another One Chalked Up

J Vero’s booming Brooklyn accent screaming, “Going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come”, hit the over worked travel media visitors as it always does, like a tidal wave. That’s right next years travel media fest will be in Kansas City. I am barely over this year to think about that! All in all I had a good time meeting some old media buds and some new ones also. Despite feeling flu like mid session I think I hooked up some good domestic destinations for Max, myself and our regular GoNOMAD writers.I even managed to do a radio segment for Around the World Travel Radio.

Best part of the show was hearing how well received GoNOMAD has become, our rep has climbed high over the past years. I remember when Max and I started going to these events and online sites were a hard sell. Not anymore! The picture is of Scandinavian Tourism Board’s Harald Hansan and Julia Hallin, fitting since I have traveled to Norway with Harald and am heading to Sweden soon with Max. Smart marketing on Scandinavia’s part to attend the show. Today I meander down the Southern California to La Jolla, no schedule and on my own.