Blog post by Fiona Anderson, Company Director at GEC PR
When GEC PR’s client Women in Travel CIC decided to run its global International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum event virtually this year, I must admit, I was apprehensive. The inaugural IWTTF that took place in Iceland in January 2020, was an in-person event, and the connections and authentic, frank debating that happened there would, I thought, be difficult to beat. Women and men from 18 countries had hedged their bets against the stormy Icelandic weather to make it there and certainly there was a sense of ‘triumph over adversity’ about getting there. Swapping tales about cancelled flights were conversational icebreakers that helped the bonding process as we discussed diversity, inclusion and our localised and global experiences of those issues.
It’s safe to say this year has been one of the most difficult years the tourism industry has ever experienced. As a PR agency specialising in working with travel and lifestyle brands, we’ve certainly had our share of some of low points. However, we’ve thankfully had first-hand involvement of several of the highs.
I was lucky enough to attend my first World Travel Market last year and was left wide-eyed by the extravagance of the stand designs and marvelling at the industry coming together from around the world. Not to mention exhausted from running from one side of Excel to the other juggling press packs, on-stand badges and a laptop, all whilst wearing high-heeled boots – oh I had a lot to learn!