“We’re Salesmen, Aren’t We?”
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 08.03.05 | 9:43 PM ET
Another scribe has dared to pull back the curtain on how the travel industry woos travel writers. Nick Gallo’s MediaBistro story focuses on a recent five-day junket he took to the Tianguis Turistico Trade Show in Acapulco, Mexico. “I didn’t need much convincing to accept five days in the tropics… free airfare, hotel, food, and drink…the promise of golden beaches and sunshine…the lure of all-night galas and disco-till-dawn revelry,” Gallo writes. “All I had to do was promise to be ‘productive’—publish or perish, something, anything, somewhere, anywhere.”
We’ve posted items about travel junkets before—see Travel Junkets: On the Way Out or More Popular Than Ever? and “On the Press Trip You Are Treated Like the General of a Liberating Army”—but Gallo’s piece covers some interesting new territory. The best bits come toward the end of the piece when Gallo tried to engage his fellow writers about their role in the system:
“Conversation turned to the day’s announcements, which consisted mostly of familiar news about hotel development in Mexico’s major beach destinations. Mega-resorts were popping up all over Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Vallarta.
‘I love Mexico, but this isn’t the country I used to write about,’ colleague Bob said. ‘It’s all about luxury hotels and spas now.’
‘And cruise ships,’ added Maribeth, a San Diego writer. ‘They’re going to ruin Zihuatanejo if they approve a pier in that town.’
It’s all about money,’ said Bill, an industry insider. ‘Look at Loreto. You wave money at FONATUR (Mexico’s tourism development agency) and you get whatever you want.
‘So?” I said, “don’t we bear some responsibility for writing about these places?’
There was silence.
‘I mean, we promote these places, we’re salesmen, aren’t we?’”
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
Scott Cowan 02.28.06 | 11:41 PM ET
I would like to have some one explain who to contact for free air fares. I write for a daily paper and free lance. I spend way to much getting to and from stories. Please advise.