I recently took part in my first press trip, to the Outdoor Academy in West Sweden. Approximately 45 journalists, tour operators and retailers took part, and we spent our time sea-kayaking and eating crayfish. Visit Sweden ran a tight ship and as a first-timer I was very impressed with the hosts, but I soon learned that there are certain steps that attendees can take to make sure they make the most of their experience.
Here are my tips for a novice press trip attendee.
1. Be prepared
If you are required to organise anything yourself (travel insurance, transport to airport etc.) do so as soon as possible and keep a track of everything. Last minute stress is not good for you or your hosts, so be professional and be prepared. It doesn’t hurt to research the destination either. I bought a local author’s crime novel, which enriched my experience of the area and hopefully proved to my hosts that I was keen to immerse myself.
2. Don’t act like a child
Prior to departure, I read a lot describing the regressive behaviour of some press trip participants; horror stories of seemingly mature adults lapsing into their moody teenage ways, or worse, acting as helpless (and annoying) as a five-year-old child. On occasion I did have flashbacks to my school trip days, but just because someone else is in charge of the itinerary and providing the refreshments doesn’t mean you can throw a strop or expect them to do everything for you.
3. Conserve your energy
Press trips can be incredibly tiring (and mine certainly was). As everyone stressed (with a smile), press trips are not a holiday; if you’re serious about getting the most out of your trip, take it easy at the bar, get to bed at a decent time and take care of your health. You want to do a good job, so make it easy for yourself.
4. Patience, patience, patience
As bloggers/journalists, we tend to be fairly independent types, so group work can be frustrating. With some of the group acting like the children described in point two, some turning up late because they ignored point three, and some with egos that come from running a marginally successful blog or business, there’s always someone to push your buttons. Don’t rise to the bait.
5. Ask questions
Scratch that; read your welcome pack and then ask any questions that have not already been answered for you. This also involves paying attention and listening to presentations, rather than chatting through them, only to expect a personal recap with the speaker.
It’s likely that you have a team of local experts desperate to share their area with you, so ask them about it! Not only will you enrich your experience and display your enthusiasm, you might just find that hook for a fantastic, unique story.
6. Talk to fellow guests
You should regard your press trip as one long networking event. Your peers are likely to be in the same industry as you, so talk to them! As a recent graduate, new to the travel industry, I was stunned to be sharing restaurant tables with seasoned travel journalists and leading tour operators, and seized the opportunity to pick their brains at every chance.
7. Be respectful and gracious in front of PRs and hosts
Perhaps I’m naïve and yet to be jaded by the world of journalism, but if someone pays for your flights, accommodation, meals and activities, whilst showcasing their home country to you, you do not turn your nose up! Complaining about having to get up early, or moaning about the weather is about as ungrateful as you can get.
8. Be ruthless
You (should) know why you took up the press trip. You know what story will interest your readers, and which aspects won’t. When you’re being presented with something that interests you, grab the opportunity with both hands; get to the front of the group to get the best pictures and the best chance of catching the speaker (whether it’s a tour operator, hotel owner etc.) for a private chat afterwards.
9. Enjoy it
It’s drummed into you the entire time: A press trip is not a holiday! That said, you’re not in an office, and while a level of professionalism is imperative, all involved will have a better time if you are relaxed and flexible. The PRs want you to have a good time, so if you have a problem, let them know.
10. Follow up
If you wish to maintain the contacts you made during your trip, it’s always worth sending a quick e-mail to thank them for their hospitality or encourage your peers to keep in touch. Try your best to meet any deadline requirements for write-ups, and do a good job. That’s if you want to get invited back.
Do you have any tips to add?
Great advice. You should also be prepared for the fact that, in every single press trip, there is going to be that one annoying person who drives everyone crazy. The person who won’t shut up, who is always late, who complains about everything – or maybe all of these! This person will make the eyes of everyone in the group roll in concert and will be the one thing that unifies the group in how much they despise this individual. Count on it. Other than that, relax and have fun!
#7 is probably the most overlooked aspect. Be polite. This is work, and the person who invited you has paid a lot to have you there. No matter how tired I get or how badly planned the trip is, I still try my best to say thank you to everyone, and go out of my way to pay attention to even the most boring presentations.
After the event I do then make sure to send pointers on what I enjoyed and what I think can be done better. Helping, I hope, for future trips to be even better.
Great post!
I like No. 3′s wishful thinking – take it easy at the bar, go to bed early and take care of your health! As a veteran press tripper that one really did make me laugh out loud, but then again it could be just wine writers/bloggers….
Fair point Denise! I was on a physically demanding trip in fairly cold weather conditions, so I had to pass up the odd glass of wine to make sure I survived the next day – I suppose it does depend on the type of trip and one’s tolerance of alcohol and late nights :P
Phew! So glad my Swedish press trip was all about the food and wine of Southern Sweden (and yes they have a nascent wine industry there!) ;)
Nice post, but I’d add one more piece of advice: “Be flexible.” Sometimes, a trip turns out to be different from what was advertised, and you need to remember the old rule that says “When life serves you lemons, make lemonade.”
I once got invited on a transatlantic press trip that was supposed to be about a town in Southern Italy, but when our group of half a dozen journalists arrived, we discovered that we were part of a larger group who had been invited to cover a competition for the best cheese trolley in Italy. It was hard to tell who’d screwed up–our PR host from the U.S. or her clients in Italy–but in any case, we had to choose between shifting gears and sulking. (I chose the former. Luckily, I liked cheese!)
Great advice, thanks for sharing and beign so honest in this post!
Again and again the same?????? or even less??????
Be prepared , be respectful….???? Excuse me!!!!!!….. Ask Questions???’ if these things are muSt to to consider and not obvious, and also have an place as something important nowadays…………………….
HOUSTON………………………………………………..We HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM!!!!!
I think Emma makes it pretty clear that the post is meant for beginners on press trips, as she was when she wrote it. You may have heard it before, but other’s haven’t. I personally think it’s a great post. It’s funny and informative. Well done Emma!
Arantxa, agreed these points do seem a little too obvious.
Emma, did you actually witness these behaviours on your trip?
Hi John and Arantxa,
Thank you for your comments.
I certainly did witness many of the behaviours mentioned above – the points were all inspired by my first press trip a couple of months ago.
I realise this topic may be old news for lots of T5 readers, and I agree that it is just common sense! – But people don’t always use theirs…
No 7. in particular is one that should just come naturally, but definitely does not always happen.
No. 6 and No 8 are points I will be aiming to work on personally even more next time I get an opportunity. I think they will both take practice – not ev
This really is back to basics, for the ultimate novice who might be a little nervous (like I was) – and I believe there are people who will make use the post.
** not everyone finds it easy to work in large groups.
Emma, that is worrying and doesn’t help the image of bloggers. It is amazing how some people can leave their common-sense behind whenever they get onto a plane. It is good therefore to know that the iAmbassador scheme is raising the standards.
I can’t speak with experience of Press Trips as I avoid them for a number of reasons.
If anyone is considering taking a Press Trip then my advice would be to get a copy of the itinerary before accepting. Iain Mallory of MalloryOnTravel always publishes his before embarking on the trip.
They make interesting reading for anyone embarking on a Press Trip. It becomes clear that the day(s) is (are) strictly regimented and not all of the activities will appeal to all members of the group. However, when the activities that align with your blog present themselves Points 6 and 8 are crucial.
There were actually few bloggers on the trip – it was mostly freelance journalists and tour operators. I was working in two capacities (for my blog, and My Destination).
Agree with your point about itineraries :)
Appreciate that this might be old news to some, but some bloggers are new to the industry and heading out on their first trips. Worth a recap as it is to everyone’s benefit – both bloggers as well as the trip organisers.
I remember my first trip with you, Aranxta, a post like this would have been very useful to me at that point in time :)
Totally agree. We believe in being courteous. Nothing more annoying that a demanding person who feels like they are ‘owed’ everything.
Great tips!
Readers of Travelllll.com who haven’t yet gone on press trips should be told that most trips don’t consist of 45 people. In my experience, most press trips have about half a dozen participants {plus host), or maybe a dozen at the outside. Even if you aren’t a fan of group travel, a trip with only six or eight participants shouldn’t be too painful..
Hi Durant
Thank you for pointing that out, I agree with you.
A trip that consists of 45 people is quite extreme and probably the exception. However, I’d think that you would learn a lot from a trip like this for that reason, as everything would be slightly amplified with so many attendees and especially if it was your first experience of a press trip.
Great advices. As a travel blogger I have been in blogtrips .
The bloggers shoudn’t think that blogtrips are ”free holidays” in this moment we are working, we should listen and as you say ask some questions because this can help for our future post.
I also consider that blogtrip is one of the best travel experiences because its the best feedback, some company choose you cos they think that you are the best for this. This is wonderful.
Jesús Martínez
Vero4travel
Travel blogger