You may want to check this out. I have personally attended TMS three times. Each was more than worthwhile. They are well run and in addition to discovering a site you might now travel, you meet with tourism representatives who are anxious to learn about how you can work together. Be sure to memtion to are a member of IFWTWA. Hopefully, Michelle and I will see you there.  ~Maralyn D. Hill

J. Vero & Associates is pleased to announce that Travel Media Showcase 2012 will be held August 21-24, 2012 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Complete information is available on our web site at http://www.travelmediashowcase.com

Once again Travel Media Showcase will bring together leading travel media to meet with representatives from major national and international destinations in a highly organized, business-like format, involving pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments. The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau is going all-out to showcase the area and have put together an exciting list of regional fam tours.

All media must pre-qualify to apply for TMS 2012. You can do so on our website (http://www.travelmediashowcase.com/journalists/pre-qualification.php). The pre-qualification process will confirm that all necessary criteria for applying have been met. If so, you will be forwarded a Member ID and Password to fill out your official application for this year’s event.

If you should have any questions please contact Kim Ernst at 800-211-5161

IFWTWA is excited to launch the Infinity Publishing – IFWTWA Award, a writing competition for IFWTWA members only. This award program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Infinity Publishing.

The best part? Three talented IFWTWA member winners will take home some hefty prizes. First place in the Infinity Publishing – IFWTWA Award wins a $700 cash prize; second place wins $500, third place wins $300. In addition, the winners will receive an Award Certificate and publicity on IFWTWA’s website and press releases.

Entries will be evaluated in four areas by the IFWTWA Excellence Awards Committee:

• Grammar, punctuation, spelling

• Composition and structure

• Distinctiveness of style and voice

• Degree to which the story resonates with the reader

“There is a great deal of professional talent among IFWTWA members,” says IFWTWA President Maralyn Hill. “The Infinity Publishing – IFWTWA Award is an excellent opportunity for our members to gain much deserved recognition for their published work. I encourage every member to enter.”

Entry Guidelines:

• Story content must include a destination and/or at least one host from an IFWTWA press trip.

• Story must be about travel, food or wine/beverages, or any combination thereof.

• No word count limit.

• Two-year limit between the press trip and story publication.

• The story must have been published since Jan 1, 2011.

• Entry fee is $15.00 per single entry; send entry fee check, identified as Infinity Publishing – IFWTWA Award entry, to:

International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, 1142 South Diamond Bar Boulevard #177, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-2203

 Email submission with the subject line “Infinity Publishing – IFWTWA Award entry” to:

Allen Cox, IFWTWA Awards Committee Chair

allen@ifwtwa.org

In the email, identify the IFWTWA press trip the story is about and the dates of the trip. There is no limit to the number of entries per IFWTWA member. IFWTWA Excellence/Scholarship Awards Committee members may enter the competition and will be exempt from evaluating their own entry.

Entry deadline is December 31, 2012.

The evaluation period will be in first quarter 2013.

Awards will be made in April 2013.