TravMedia's 12th annual International Media Marketplace (IMM) took place in New York City towards the end of January, allowing Tourism Kelowna to meet with highly qualified travel media and content creators. The leading global networking event attracted more than 600 media and 500 tourism industry members this year, primarily from the US and Canada, making it one of the largest networking events of its kind in North America.
Each tourism industry professional attending IMM pre-scheduled 24 speed dating-style appointments with editors, freelance journalists, and content creators. Media were chosen based on their interests, location, and fit with Tourism Kelowna's key marketing initiatives for this year.
Canada contingent at IMM 2024
During the 15-minute, one-on-one appointments, I met with writers from Condé Nast, Travel + Leisure, BBC Travel, Afar Magazine, Lonely Planet, The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, and more. Many writers were unfamiliar with Kelowna but were very interested in the destination as we shared story pitches on various topics, including local harvest and wine, the craft beverage and culinary scene, outdoor adventure, cycling, accessible travel, partaking in responsible tourism through slow travel, and more. Since the event, there has been strong continued interest and follow-up, with trips already being planned for 2024.
Interested in learning more about our travel media initiatives? Contact me at shereen@tourismkelowna.com or (250) 861-1515 ext. 209.
You can also reach out if you're interested in showcasing your Kelowna area business for a future itinerary; please outline your experience so it can be considered when planning trips or responding to media requests.
