The new Board for the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) was announced at the Guild's Annual General Meeting and Convention held on the Isle of Man on 6 February 2024.

The 2024 Board consists of Chris Coe (Chair), Sarah Rodrigues (Membership), Mary Anne Evans (Events), Renate Ruge (Partnerships and Sponsorship), Valery Collins (Regional and National Liaison), while Mark Bibby Jackson will take an off-Board role handling Communications and Dan Clarke a similar position as Sustainability Lead.

At the meeting, Chris Coe spoke of a need for a positive reset. "The last years have thrown many challenges at the travel industry and this period of change is the perfect opportunity to build understanding and inclusivity, modernise and work closely together, both within our community and with our travel colleagues. It's time to get to know each other again, to celebrate our diverse skills and achievements and to support one another, talk more, share ideas and communicate better."

The announcement of the 2024 BGTW Board could have not been made in a more wonderful setting.

Thanks must go to Visit Isle of Man. From the start, the tourism organisation, led by chief executive Deborah Heather, made it clear it wanted to give Guild members the opportunity to really discover the very many stories the island has to tell.

Some 50 or so BGTW members travelled over, either on board the Isle of Man Steam Packet's new ship, 'Manxman', or flying from regional airports. The itinerary offered members the opportunity to drill down into stories and topics relevant to their own requirements. The final, detailed itineraries, including pick-up bus and minibus shuttles, hotel accommodation and other bespoke requirements, were handled with aplomb.

With former Guild joint chair Stuart Render taking the overview, working closely with Sarah Siese, it was BGTW administrator Charlotte Copeman who was the liaison with members.

Commenting on this, Stuart Render says, “The administration of our annual AGM and Convention requires many hours of work, both liaising with the host destination and ensuring members' individual requirements are met. On behalf of all Guild members, I would like to thank Charlotte for her enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring that challenge was met.”

At the end of the AGM, Chris outlined the plans he has for the year ahead. Ending the AGM session, Stuart Render wished Chris and the team all the very best.

For further information on the BGTW AGM and Convention or the 2024 BGTW Board, including access to photographs, or to arrange interviews please email Mark Bibby Jackson at mark.jackson@bgtw.org. The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) is a community of accredited writers, photographers, bloggers and broadcasters; the trusted body for independent editorial comment and expert content on worldwide travel. For further information email: charlotte.copeman@bgtw.org.

Photo: the BGTW on the Isle of Man.