The Show may be history, the Post-Show issue may be in your hands, but in terms of media coverage, The Travel Goods Show 2005 is far from over. In my 17 years with the Association, I have never experienced the quality and quantity of media attention we’ve received in the past couple of months. The coverage has been astounding. How many trade shows land a half-page placement in USA Today (“Ingenuity is their Bag”) on their opening day — for the third consecutive year, no less? How many trade shows score a live feed to “The Today Show” broadcast right in the middle of their exhibit hall floor? “The Today Show” flew two producers, two cameramen, one lighting technician and a reporter to Orlando specifically to cover our Show!
 The NBC affiliate in Tampa, FL, WFLA-TV, filmed two different segments at The Travel Goods Show, which aired one week after The Show in local markets, and were then fed to sister NBC stations across the country, CNBC, and MSNBC for national pick-up. Don’t be surprised to turn on your TV one day this spring and see the coverage. “Weekend Today in New York” broadcasted a live segment on new products and trends in travel goods on April 10, and on the same day The Orlando Sentinel devoted the cover and inside page of its Sunday Travel section to “Creativity is in the Bag.” This article, currently making the media rounds in syndication, is one of my all-time favorite Show recaps, both for writing style and content, and includes seven large photographs of products introduced at The Show. The April issue of Hemispheres, United Airlines’ in-flight magazine, featured their annual “Leaders of the Pack” story which showcased the products of many of The Show’s exhibitors.
But, wait. There’s more! USA Today continued its coverage of the travel goods industry with an April 22nd story in its “Destinations & Diversions” section, which is currently in syndication. USA Today’s March 18th story on The Show was syndicated and has already appeared in 11 Gannett newspapers across the country. We are currently working with writers and editors at The Washington Post, The New York Times, Brides Magazine, Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal, Arizona Republic, and Real Simple magazine, to name just a few. And, once this issue of Travel Goods Showcase makes its way to our 500+ media list, we are always good for another big burst of industry publicity!
In terms of media coverage, The Travel Goods Show 2005 was a winner — and still is. Right now, interest in the industry’s new and innovative products is getting serious media attention and we urge you to capitalize on it. With the summer travel season kicking off in just a few short weeks, this would be an excellent time to consider contacting your local and national newspapers and magazines with all that your company — and this industry — has to offer. A little industry publicity goes a long way — and a lot of industry publicity is even better!
Editor-in-chief
Copyright © 2005. Travel Goods Association
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