Wednesday October 2nd | 11am-6pm
In Partnership with Destination Canada
> Jump to Schedule & Panellists
The first BGTW Sustainability Symposium, in partnership with Destination Canada, will be an intimate and relaxed event, allowing time for networking and socialising while discussing a wide range of topics related to sustainable travel and travel media in all its forms. We’ll be learning from industry-leading sustainability experts to understand the questions to ask beyond often paid-for accreditation to avoid greenwashing; discussing capturing story-supporting photography, videography and social media content when dealing with sensitive subjects and meeting local communities; touching on overtourism and diving into how no-fly journeys can become award-winning articles; hearing from tourism boards who are changing their marketing strategies to more sustainable models; and discussing how to ensure those pitches land and become far-appealing features, rather than potentially preachy pieces. I look forward to seeing some of you on October 2nd.
– Daniel Clarke, BGTW Vice Chair & Sustainability Lead
For any last-minute attendance requests, please email [email protected]
Submit Questions in Advance:
All sessions will be recorded as podcasts and available to all members unable to attend on the day. If you would like to submit any questions for a specific panel or panellists or open questions to be asked at the most suitable time, please email them to [email protected] in advance.
In Partnership With
Destination Canada will join us on the day to share details of their “Tourism 2030: A World of Opportunity” strategy and what this means for working with travel media.
Hosted By: Hyatt Place London City East
Black Lion House, 45 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DU
Nearest Tube: Aldgate East [Map]
Winner of AHEAD’s European Special Award for Sustainability, Hyatt Place London City East is one of London’s most sustainable hotels – see here for more information.
Equidistant from Aldgate East and Whitechapel tube stations, the 280-room award-winning Hyatt Place London City East incorporates bespoke street art by local artists throughout to reflect the area’s cultural connections. To capitalise on its central location, all 102 rooms from the sixth to ninth floors offer uninterrupted views of the London skyline, of which 13 include their own private outdoor terrace or balcony. With two flexible meeting and event spaces, free WiFi, and a fully equipped 24/7 fitness centre, the pet-friendly hotel also boasts the 70-seat Pocketsquare Skyline Bar & Terrace, with panoramic views, and 60-seat Sotto Cucina Restaurant & Bar.
Schedule
11am: Arrival (Please arrive promptly for an on-time start)
11:10: Session One – Eat & Sleep: Avoiding Accidental Greenwashing
12:10: Session Two – Support & Planning: Sustainable Shifts in Destination Marketing
13:00: Networking Lunch
14:00: Session Three – Illustrating the Story: Responsible Visual Storytelling Beyond Stock
15:00: Session Four – Arriving & Writing: Turning Slow Travel into Sellable Stories
16:00: Session Five – Pitching not Preaching: Securing Sustainable Story Commissions
17:00: Social & Networking Drinks
18:00: Networking continues with a cash bar (20% discount for attendees)
*A full digital program and event book will be shared with attendees prior to the event. The BGTW Sustainability Crib Book will be produced post-event, including session summaries and other essential information and sustainability contacts.
Panels & Sessions
Avoiding Accidental Greenwashing [Eat & Sleep]
In conversation with hospitality industry experts, we’ll discuss the questions we should ask regarding the unavoidable (and often pre-decided parts of press trips), restaurants and hotels, to cut through the accreditation and marketing terms and avoid accidental greenwashing in our coverage. In this wide-ranging panel, we’ll talk about food ecosystems and sourcing produce sustainably, as well as what design and eco-credentials truly make the difference behind the scenes in kitchens and accommodations.
Panellists
Michael Mason-Shaw
Hospitality ESG Specialist and Regional Director of Operations Cycas Hospitality Industry
With a lifelong passion for sustainability in all forms and as the former General Manager of Hyatt Place London City East, winner of AHEAD’s European Special Award for Sustainability, and numerous other sustainability accolades, Michael has a phenomenal understanding of the ever-developing legislation around ESG, and legislation’s relevancy within the wider picture, goals and commitments of being a sustainable business in the hospitality sector.
Full Bio
Respected by his peers, and having extensive experience in internal and external audited reporting, and a valuable understanding of which industry-leading ESG partners we should be watching, Michael knows what truly makes a difference across the hospitality industry and will be sharing his excellent insights on how travel media can ensure they can spot, question and cover various technical ESGs in easy-to-understand ways.
Michael Mason-Shaw was recently promoted to Regional Director of Operations Cycas Hospitality, where he’s focussing on driving operational excellence across several properties within the Cycas portfolio. An award-winning hotel management company, Cycas Hospitality partners with all the major global brands (including Hyatt, Marriott and IHG) as well as helping to curate several, outstanding independent brands. Since 2019, Michael has been using Ecologi to track and offset his own personal carbon footprint.
Juliane Caillouette Noble
Managing Director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association
With a background in nutrition and a love of good food, Juliane’s career has been deeply engaged in global food policy issues ranging from sustainable farming and urban growing to food education and school food systems. She has designed food education tools and resources for teachers, developed local and global campaigns, and served as a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for School Food in the UK. Juliane came to The SRA in 2016 and is focused on growing the impact of our flagship sustainability accreditation for F&B businesses, the Food Made Good Standard, around the world.
Host & Moderator:
Alicia Sheber
Travel & Hospitality Writer
Alicia’s travel writing career springs from earlier passions, including the interior design of international hotels and restaurants for studios in Denver, Colorado, and London, as well as numerous years selling wine, which sparked her interest in gastronomy. Formerly the international editor of Boutique Design magazine, she has also been a contributing editor for HOTELS magazine, writes regularly for Hospitality Design, and has been published in Starboard, Travel Ticket, Hospitality Interiors, SPACE, BEAST, and Hotel Investment Today, amongst others. She has also moderated conference panels in NYC, LA and London and judged awards competitions. Alicia strives to cover ESG topics in every article she writes.
Full Bio
Alicia’s travel writing career springs from earlier passions, including the interior design of international hotels and restaurants for studios in Denver, Colorado, and London, as well as numerous years selling wine, which sparked her interest in gastronomy. Upon receiving her MBA from a French ‘école du commerce’, she wrote the ‘Going Out’ chapter of Dubai-based Explorer Publishing’s The Complete Residents’ Guide to Paris, which entailed visiting restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs across all 20 arrondissements and recommending the best ones for readers. Alicia gained her dual US/UK nationality whilst working in a London studio providing marketing services for Europe’s top hospitality designers, architects and trade shows. Six years ago, she launched her ghostwriting business, Read Thread, and simultaneously focused on journalism and copywriting. Formerly the international editor of Boutique Design magazine, she has also been a contributing editor for HOTELS magazine, writes regularly for Hospitality Design, and has been published in Starboard, Travel Ticket, Hospitality Interiors, SPACE, BEAST, and Hotel Investment Today, amongst others. She has also moderated conference panels in NYC, LA and London and judged awards competitions. Alicia is currently a British Guild of Travel Writers’ board member and was previously on the US and UK boards of NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), a global charity raising scholarship funds for hospitality design students. She loves working with non-native English speakers, recently helping translate books about Ukrainian cultural conservation through modern interpretations of traditional crafts. Alicia strives to cover ESG topics in every article she writes.
Sustainable Shifts in Destination Marketing [Support & Planning]
We’ll discuss how DMOs are changing their ways of working in the face of overtourism, natural disasters and community cries for a more mindful marketing approach. How does this impact the travel media in terms of press trip support, budgets and, most importantly, the kind of features locals would like to see supporting, rather than selling, their homes and our destinations?
Panellists
Nim Singh
Media and PR Manager, Destination Canada
Destination Canada will join us on the day to share details of their “Tourism 2030: A World of Opportunity” strategy and what this means for working with travel media.
Sandra Ishmael
Netherlands Tourism representing Amsterdam
Sandra Ishmael is Director UK at the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions. She started at the tourist board in 2006 as Consumer Marketing Manager and took over the reins as Director in 2011.
Full Bio
Sandra Ishmael is Director UK at the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions. She started at the tourist board in 2006 as Consumer Marketing Manager and took over the reins as Director in 2011. Sandra’s career after university started in one of the buying departments at Marks and Spencer’s Head Office in London. She then took the decision to move overseas to Saint Lucia (Caribbean), where her travel career began. Sandra worked for one of the leading marketing and PR agencies on the island and hence began her ‘masterclass’ in travel marketing and PR. Upon returning to the UK, Sandra worked in the marketing departments for both Garuda Indonesia (airline) and Sandals and Beaches Resorts, before moving onto her current employer.
Host & Moderator:
Mark Bibby Jackson
BGTW Director of Communications
Mark Bibby Jackson is the founder and editor of the website Travel Begins at 40, as well as Wellness Begins at 40. He is also the . Mark has a Diploma in Climate Friendly Travel from the ITS Malta. He has launched, published and edited several magazines, websites and newsletters, as well as award-winning novels.
Sicilian Lunch hosted by SOTTO
SOTTO Cucina & Bar is on the lower ground floor of the award-winning Hyatt Place London City East, an already phenomenal hotel with first-class sustainable credentials and a palpable relationship to East London through its bespoke art, including murals from renowned London street artists.
The menu of typically Sicilian flavours centres around freshness and quality of ingredients. At the underground Sicilian kitchen and bar guests will experience the charm of Sicilian trattorias, with interiors combining rustic elegance with contemporary art. A steep industrial staircase takes you to the lower ground floor, where the seventy-seater restaurant with deli bar and outdoor ‘Terrazza’ is a sanctuary from the bustling streets above. Wall art includes murals from local London based street artists along with an exhibition of sustainable art from the stellar students at Norwich University, and a new Sam Kerridge artwork, specially commissioned for the launch of the restaurant.
Responsible Visual Storytelling Beyond Stock [Illustrating the Story]
In conversation with photographers, presenters and documentary makers, we’ll discuss what is critical when it comes to reporting on sustainability, conservation and communities. With these kinds of stories, stock imagery rarely cuts it, so we will gain tips and expert insight on capturing photography and videography (respectfully) to support these features, which is especially important as more traditional media outlets seek to support their articles with social and video content.
Panellists
Elisa L. Iannacone
Cinematographer & Artist
Elisa L. Iannacone is a Canon Ambassador who has worked on six continents producing work for outlets such as Newsweek, National Geographic, and BBC World. Covering challenging environments, from the Rabaa massacre in Cairo, the impact of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, to domestic violence within Iraqi refugee camps, has fuelled her work with social consciousness. Her travelling art exhibition and book, The Spiral of Containment: Rape’s Aftermath, detail her experience as a rape survivor healing trauma alongside 24 fellow survivors’ voices, through the mediums of photography, film, holographic projections and soundscapes. Her work as DoP has screened on television, Amazon Prime, and film festivals around the globe. She is a regular guest lecturer at universities, multiple times TEDx and event speaker, and the podcast host of the global campaign ‘Conversations on Consent’ to advocate for equality and human rights.
Full Bio
Elisa L. Iannacone is a Canon Ambassador who has worked on six continents producing work for outlets such as Newsweek, National Geographic, and BBC World.
Covering challenging environments, from the Rabaa massacre in Cairo, the impact of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, to domestic violence within Iraqi refugee camps, has fuelled her work with social consciousness. Her travelling art exhibition and book, The Spiral of Containment: Rape’s Aftermath, detail her experience as a rape survivor healing trauma alongside 24 fellow survivors’ voices, through the mediums of photography, film, holographic projections and soundscapes. Her work as DoP has screened on television, Amazon Prime, and film festivals around the globe.
She is a regular guest lecturer at universities, multiple times TEDx and event speaker, and the podcast host of the global campaign ‘Conversations on Consent’ to advocate for equality and human rights. Elisa founded Reframe House media agency to shift views on social justice through multi-media. Using magical realism to address human rights, her artworks have exhibited at the OXO Tower Bargehouse Gallery (London, 2018), Investec Cape Town Art Fair (2022), Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct (South Africa 2022), Art4More (Athens 2022), and Xposure International Photography Festival in the UAE (2023). Her work is now a part of the Constitutional Court’s Permanent Art Collection in Johannesburg.
Alex Outhwaite
Travel Television Presenter & Journalist
Alex Outhwaite is an award-winning television presenter with popular travel shows broadcast worldwide on Amazon Prime, SKY & Travelxp. Known for her adventure & travel TV shows highlighting lesser-visited destinations such as Kashmir, Guyana and El Salvador – Alex’s show ‘So You Think You Know’ was the winner of ‘Broadcast Programme of the Year’ at the Trav Media Awards 2024. Whilst her show on Travelxp ‘Off The Grid’, was nominated for Travel Show of the Year at the Indian Television Awards
Full Bio
Alex Outhwaite is an award winning television presenter with popular travel shows broadcast worldwide on Amazon Prime, SKY & Travelxp. Known for her adventure & travel TV shows highlighting lesser visited destinations such as Kashmir, Guyana and El Salvador – Alex’s show ‘So You Think You Know’ was the winner of ‘Broadcast Programme of the Year’ at the Trav Media Awards 2024. Whilst her show on Travelxp ‘Off The Grid’, was nominated for Travel Show of the Year at the Indian Television Awards
After winning cooking competition ‘Herb Heroes’ judged by Masterchef’s John Torode, Alex was chosen to present the travel and cookery show ‘Quest’ on SKY in the UK which saw her recreate ‘forgotten dishes’ in 17 states around India alongside food historians and tourism ambassadors. She has also fronted ‘Timeless Tamil Nadu’ & ‘Backpack’.
She has built up a large social media following from her work with over half a million followers and has earned nominations for Video Creator of the Year on five occasions including at the USA Media Awards, Vuelio Awards and Travel Media Awards, as well as winning Social Impact Freelancer of the Year.
Alex has regularly spoken at events about travel and sustainability for National Geographic, Global Peace Chain Summit & Allianz Climate Camp and been a contributor on BBC, Travel & Leisure and Channel 5.
Host & Moderator:
Chris Coe
Travel Photographer of the Year Founder & BGTW Chair
Chris is a professional photographer with over 30 years experience, photographing landscapes, people, travel, wildlife, architecture and more around the world. His work is commissioned for advertising and editorial projects, but is increasingly taking on both conservation-related projects and a mentoring dimension. He has shot over 50 travel and coffee table books and undertaken commissions for many multinational companies. His images have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and books. Chris has also written several books on photography and run many events and workshops in the UK and overseas. He has lectured for a range of companies including Fujifilm, Adobe and Apple and presented photographic features for TV.
Full Bio
Chris is a professional photographer with over 30 years experience, photographing landscapes, people, travel, wildlife, architecture and more around the world. His work is commissioned for advertising and editorial projects, but is increasingly taking on both conservation-related projects and a mentoring dimension. He has shot over 50 travel and coffee table books and undertaken commissions for many multinational companies. His images have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and books. Chris has also written several books on photography and run many events and workshops in the UK and overseas. He has lectured for a range of companies including Fujifilm, Adobe and Apple and presented photographic features for TV.
Chris mentors aspiring photographers and helps them to build their careers. He runs the free online creative photography, adventure and travel magazine, Eye for the Light and Newton & Coe podcasts, featuring some top photographers and conservationists like Cristina Mittermeier and Charlie Hamilton James.
In 2003 Chris founded of the prestigious international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards, now in its 22nd year. These awards have launched the careers of many photographers and the TPOTY exhibitions have travelled around the world. The 50th international exhibition will be in Bolivia in November and Chris has curated all of them.
He is also the Chair of the British Guild of Travel Writers, bringing writers, photographers, broadcasters, podcasters and bloggers together.
Turning Slow Travel into Sellable Stories [Arriving & Writing]
With a rise in no-fly travel interest from the public and publications, we will discuss how to craft compelling narratives with those who have taken overland journeys – even circumnavigating the board without flying. How do you turn what some might call a mundane journey into an award-winning feature or epic novel? What are the challenges faced when reporting on overland travel? How do you even photograph a train journey? All will be answered.
Panellists
Holly Tuppen
Travel Writer & Sustainability Expert
Holly is a freelance writer and responsible travel expert who has specialised in sustainable travel since circumnavigating the world without flying in 2010. Former Editor of Green Hotelier, Holly now writes for the likes of The Guardian and The Times, as well as consulting on sustainability for hospitality and travel brands. She’s also Communications Manager for conservation-led travel organisation, The Long Run, and Project Manager for a new initiative, Wildlife Heritage Areas. Holly’s book, Sustainable Travel: The Essential Guide to Positive Impact Adventures, was published by Quarto Knows in 2021, and Slow Travel Family Breaks, by Bradt in 2022.
Diana Jarvis
Travel Photographer, Writer & Sustainability Expert
Diana is a photographer and writer with an MSc in Environment and Sustainability and a curiosity for overland adventures. In the last eighteen months she has overlanded to Morocco in seven days, Albania in five days and Tunisia in two days. She also made it to Boulogne in northern France by just a bike and boat this summer. These stories have been/will be published in The Independent, The Guardian and Travel Weekly.
Host & Moderator:
Claire Martin
Travel Blogger & Videomaker
Claire specialises in travelling without flying. She spent five months travelling from Bali to London without flying, taking a variety of transport including a 60 hour coach, sleeper trains and a cargo ship across the Caspian Sea – all as a solo female traveller! She’s also taken various overland trips through Europe and North Africa and driven around Australia. Claire shares tips for travelling without flying safely, affordably and enjoyably on her website, Claire’s Footsteps, YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok.
Sustainable Storytelling and Commissions [Pitching, Writing & Editing]
In discussions with editors, authors and writers, we’ll learn how publications are approaching sustainability coverage in 2024/2025, gain some tips on crafting pitches that excite rather than preach, hear how weaving sustainability (from conservation to social sustainability) into more general features is important, and ask if, nowadays, “sustainable stories” should simply be called “stories”?
Panellists
Meera Dattani
Journalist & Executive Editor at Adventure.com
Meera Dattani is a freelance travel and culture journalist, and executive editor at award-winning website Adventure.com where she commissions and edits features from writers and photographers around the world. Focusing on community-led tourism, food/cultural heritage, soft adventure, and wildlife, her bylines include National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, BBC Travel, Condé Nast Traveller, Evening Standard, and the i paper.
She’s also involved in mentorship work for emerging/aspiring travel writers, awards judging, speaking/moderating on panels for organisations such as Women In Travel, IMM, Adventure Travel Networking and Destinations, and is the founder/host of TravelWritingWebinars which offers informal professional development for travel media professionals. X / Instagram / LinkedIn
Emma Gregg
Travel Journalist, Editor, Author & Photographer
Emma is an award-winning travel journalist, editor, author and photographer, specialising in responsible and ethical tourism who regularly reports from Africa’s safari heartlands and covers sustainable travel and eco-adventures in the Americas, Australia, the UK and elsewhere, including low-carbon, flight-free holidays and journeys. Emma focuses on tourism initiatives and holiday activities that have a positive impact on habitats, biodiversity and fragile communities, Emma has a particular interest in eco-friendly independent travel, including wildlife-watching and cultural experiences.
Emma’s features and news stories have appeared in National Geographic Traveller, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, Rough Guides, Travel Africa magazine and numerous other publications in the UK and worldwide, in print and online. Over the years, she has interviewed leading conservationists, naturalists and guides, including Sir David Attenborough and Dr Jane Goodall. As an editor, Emma handles commissioning, sub-editing, picture editing and project management for books, magazines, websites, e-books and apps.
To be announced
Host & Moderator:
Ash Bhardwaj
Author, Film-maker and Storyteller
Ash is a podcaster, writer and the author of “Why We Travel”. He has written for The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Huffington Post, The Evening Standard, City AM, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, BA Highlife, Etihad and Beyond Limits. His photography has appeared on the cover of The Times T2 magazine and he has produced programmes for Channel 4, the BBC, Animal Planet and Terra Mater. He’s also produced documentaries and a 6-part podcast for The Telegraph, “Edgelands,” presented the TV series On The Run, which launched on Insight (Sky platform).
In 2012 Ash travelled to Everest to document the journey of wounded British soldiers, and embarked on a pilgrimage with his father’s ashes to the source of the River Ganges. He wrote about the journey for The Sunday Telegraph. Science and space were his first love, and before travel writing, he taught secondary school Chemistry and Physics. His adventures started as a cowboy in Australia, a rugby player in New Zealand and ski instructor in Switzerland.
Social & Networking Drinks at PocketSquare
PocketSquare Skyline Bar & Terrace boasts awesome views of the London skyline, with iconic landmark buildings like The Gherkin, Canary Wharf and the O2 all visible from the stunning outside terrace. The Times newspaper has listed PocketSquare as one of the top ten best rooftop bars in London.
The gin-led bar describes itself as ‘where the City meets the East,’ with its inventive cocktails – inspired by the city’s diverse history and cultures – incorporating a local East London twist. Its team designs, creates and tailors each recipe in PocketSquare Skyline Bar & Terrace’s on-site cocktail laboratory, where extensive experimenting has led to intriguing and new flavour profiles not found anywhere else in London.
Art of local and international artists adorn the walls as part of the Curated at Hyatt Place exhibition series, and monthly live music nights, curated and hosted by musician and producer Tony Moore, showcase a mix of rising stars and established musicians.
A cash bar will operate following the networking drinks. Attendees will receive 20% off listed prices.
We look forward to seeing you at the BGTW’s
Sustainability Symposium
In Partnership With