Sydney (14 February 2025) — TravMedia's IMM (International Media Marketplace) Australia returned to ICC Sydney, building on the record-breaking success of the previous year's event. With more than 450 participants in attendance, IMM Australia 2025 brought together the region's top travel journalists, editors, content creators and broadcasters for a day of meetings and networking with 170 of the world's leading travel and tourism brands.

“In-person meetings remain vital to the travel industry's future,” said Nick Wayland, CEO and Founder of TravMedia. “IMM Australia continues to raise the bar, providing an unrivalled platform for media and industry leaders to collaborate, share insights and drive the conversations shaping global travel.”

More than 200 of Australia and New Zealand's most influential travel media engaged in prescheduled, one-on-one meetings with 170 of the world's foremost travel brands, cruise lines, tour operators, airlines, destinations and hospitality leaders. Attendees explored fresh story angles, planned future media trips and strengthened industry relationships in an immersive and dynamic setting.

"A sincere thank you to our valued sponsors—W Sydney, Destination British Columbia, Virgin Australia, Brand USA, Lonely Planet and our many esteemed partners. Their support has been instrumental in ensuring the success of IMM Australia, reinforcing its status as the region's premier media networking event. We also appreciate the ongoing contributions of the Australian Society of Travel Writers in championing excellence in travel journalism," Wayland continued.

Lunch Sponsor Destination British Columbia brought SBS on-air host Claudio Fabiano to address the delegation as the 500-day countdown to the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver begins. Claudio highlighted British Columbia's capabilities in promoting travel before, during and after the event, emphasising the unique opportunity that FIFA provides. More than just a sporting event, the World Cup is positioned as a gateway to British Columbia's stunning landscapes and vibrant communities, showcasing the region as an ideal destination for international travellers.

At the luncheon, TravMedia announced the TravMedia Awards Australia 2025 winners, recognising some of the community's best travel writers and PRs. TravMedia Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Jane Corbett-Jones in the PR category and writer Kerry van der Jagt for their contributions to the industry. Alison Roberts-Brown was named TravMedia PR of the Year for her work with the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Jeremy Bourke was bestowed with TravMedia Travel Writer of the Year 2025.

Virgin Australia elevated the networking breaks' experience with its lounge pop-up, offering attendees a chance to "Experience a More Wonderful Side of IMM." Guests enjoyed waffles, cookies and coffee while discovering the airline's new Qatar Airways partnership, making European travel easier via Doha from June onwards. The lounge pop-up provided the perfect space to relax, connect and explore new travel opportunities with Virgin Australia.

The Brand USA Cafe, part of the almost 40-destination-strong Brand USA Pavilion, proudly served as the official Coffee Cart Sponsor, providing visitors with much-needed caffeine boosts throughout the day. Brewed with beans from Proud Mary, a renowned roaster with locations in Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, the USA Cafe showcased the best of American coffee culture. Visitors were transported to the diverse and adventurous spirit of the USA, from iconic landmarks and road trips to rich cultural experiences and vibrant cuisines.

The Lonely Planet media bags offered a stylish and practical collection of travel essentials. Each durable canvas tote featured Lonely Planet items, including the Best in Travel 2025 and the LGBTQ+ Travel Guide, thoughtfully paired with a Lonely Planet notebook. The items perfectly reflected the spirit of adventure and exploration that Lonely Planet is known for. Also included were Norwegian Cruise Line water bottles and reusable keep cups, making it easy for media delegates to stay hydrated and eco-friendly.

Beyond the meetings, IMM Australia 2025 featured thought-provoking panel discussions, keynote speakers and industry insights at The TravMedia Summit the day prior, designed to equip media and PR professionals with the latest trends and strategies shaping the evolving travel landscape.

The two-day event culminated in a lively networking reception at W Sydney. The vibrant and striking design of W Sydney provided the perfect backdrop for TravMedia's IMM 2025 finale cocktail party, where guests from premium travel, tourism and hospitality brands gathered to unwind after a full day of one-on-one meetings and networking with top travel and lifestyle editors. The evening began in the hotel's expansive upper-level gallery, offering guests breathtaking views over Darling Harbour, sleek yachts and the gleaming city skyline as the sun set. W Sydney's General Manager, Titus Rosier, warmly welcomed TravMedia's IMM delegation into the Great Room for a memorable evening of socialising and celebration.

A stylish bar served vibrant Chandon sparkling Brut NV from the Yarra Valley, along with a selection of fine Australian wines, beer and mineral water, while attentive wait staff ensured the drinks flowed smoothly. The evening featured generous catering, with an abundance of savoury and sweet treats, an opulent oyster and sushi bar, and a dessert station offering delightful chocolate and matcha cakes on the other, making for a truly spectacular end to the 2025 event.

A record 170 international travel and tourism brands participated in IMM Australia 2025. The delegation included 40 Australian travel and tourism products, 39 hotels and resorts, Brand USA Pavilion with a record 38 North American DMOs, 15 tour operators, OTAs and travel technology brands, six cruise companies, eight Asian destinations, seven European and Middle East delegates and 15 New Zealand and South Pacific travel and tourism brands.

The 210 media in attendance included top national, in-house travel editors, journalists, broadcasters, podcasters and editorially-minded travel content creators from the following outlets (A-Z): 4x4 Australia, 9Travel, ABC Australia, ABIA Weddings Australia, Adventure and Mountain Bike Publications, Adventure.com, ACE Radio Network, AFR, A Lovely Planet, Alluxia, Australian Country, Australian Country Road Trips Magazine, Australian Freelance Journalist, Australian Geographic, Australian Geographic Adventure, Australian Traveller, Australian Traveller Media, BBC Travel, Barefoot Bucket List, Big Splash Media, Body+Soul, Boss Hunting, Boy Eats World, Breathing Travel, Brisbane Travel Guide, Broadsheet, Business Insider, Captured Travel, Caravan and Camping with Kids, Caravan World, Citro, CNN Travel, Cosmopolitan Australia, Cruise Critic, Cruise Passenger, Cruise Weekly, Daily Mail Australia, Delicious, Departures, Diveplanit, Dream by Luxury Escapes, enRoute (Air Canada), Esquire, Escape, Excess All Areas, Executive Traveller, Explore, Explore Australia, Explore Travel, Fat Mum Slim, First Class Magazine, Fluffy Towel, Food Wine Travel, Fodors, Frugal Frolicker, Getaway, get lost magazine, Global and Beyond, Global and Beyond Travel, Go World Travel Magazine, Good Food, Gourmet Traveller, Grainger TV, Great Walks, Hair Romance, Hardie Grant, Have A Go News, Have Wheelchair Will Travel, Heidi Who, Holidays for Couples, Holidays with Kids, House of Wellness, HM Magazine, Indian Link, Instagram, International Traveller, Janice Fung Food & Travel, Karryon, Karryon Luxury, Khaleej Times, Live To Create, Lonely Planet, LotsaFreshAir, Luxe Surf Style, Luxury Escapes, Luxury Travel, Luxury Travel Magazine, Mamamia, Marie Claire, Maxim Australia, Meeting Newz, Melbourne Bay Courier, Metro, MiNDFOOD, Medium Rare Content Agency, Monocle Magazine, Motivated Travel, Mr & Mrs Romance, Mum on the Move, National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller, Network 7, News.com.au, News.com.au Checkout, Newcastle Herald Weekender, New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Travel Trade, Nick and Helmi, Nine Network, Nine Publishing, Not Quite Nigella, NZ Business Traveller, NZ Herald, NZ Herald Travel, Ocean Magazine, Off the Leash in Australia, One World Just Go, Open Road (NRMA), Out & About with Kids, Outback Magazine, Paddling Magazine, Pedestrian.TV, Peaked, Penguin/Random House, Pet & Vet Magazine (UK), Places in Sydney, Point Hacks, Public Eye, Qantas Magazine, Qantas Travel Insider, Queensland Travel Guide, Repeat Traveller, Refinery 29, Retreat Magazine, Robb Report, Romance Media, RVDaily, Salt and Charcoal | Content Creator, SBS Food, Scuba Diver Magazine, Selector, Seniors Today, Seven Network, Signature Luxury Travel & Style, Signature Media, Singapore Travel Insider, Small World Media, So Perth, So Where Next, Softer Volumes, Spa & Wellness, Startup News, Sunrise, Sydney Travel Guide, Talking Travel, Tales and Trails, T Australia, The Accidental Australian, The AU Review, The Australian, The Australian's Travel + Luxury, The Australian Women's Weekly, The Canberra Times, The Concierge, The Guardian, The Hobart Magazine, The Lux Traveller, The New Daily, The Road Ahead (RACQ), The Sleep Retreat, The Soundscape Studio, The Star Malaysia, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Way to Wherever, The Weekend Australian, The Weekend Australian Magazine, The West Australian, The World Awaits Podcast, This Magnificent Life, Thrifty Family Travels, Time Out, Time To Wander, Time Travel Turtle, Tika Andhini, Travel Bulletin, Travel Daily, Travel Monitor, Travel + Leisure Asia, Travel Today, Travel Today NZ, Travelling Señorita, Traveller, Traveller Nine Publishing, Traveller Sunday Life, Traveller We Are Explorers, Travel Nuity, Traveloscopy, Travel Oz, Travel Talk, Travel Talk Media, Travel Weekly, Travel Without Limits, Travel Writers Radio, TRAVELinc Memo, Unsealed 4x4, Urban List, Vacations & Travel, Various Airline Publications, Various Others in Australia and Overseas, Vogue UK, WA Good Food Guide, Wandering Donut, We Are Explorers, Where Wild Things Roam, What the Well Podcast, Winning Magazine, Wild Magazine, Women's Fitness Australia, Women's Golf Magazine, Yahoo Australia and 3AW.

About TravMedia

TravMedia is the travel industry's only global media network. Founded in 1999 by Nick Wayland, a former travel editor seeking an easier way to research and report travel news, TravMedia is the one-stop solution trusted by travel PRs and media to network and share press releases, stories and ideas. The platform hosts thriving online communities and is an essential daily tool for collaborating and developing long-lasting relationships. 

TravMedia provides global travel newsfeeds and connects more than 25,000 travel media and more than 20,000 travel brand PRs worldwide via an online newsroom, press release distribution, events, Journalist Alerts and daily industry updates. To learn more and register for TravMedia, visit travmedia.com. 

About IMM

TravMedia's IMM is the leading travel industry event for travel brands and destinations to connect with the media. In its 13th year, IMM hosts more than 2,500 media and international travel brands annually in six countries worldwide. Upcoming IMM events include IMM UK in London on 17-18 February, IMM Germany in Berlin on 3 March, IMM France in Paris on 12 March, IMM Brazil in Sao Paulo on 11 April, and IMM Asia in Singapore on 13-14 October, IMM North America in NYC in January 2026 and IMM Australia in Sydney on 26-27 February 2026.

For more information, visit www.travmedia.com/imm or email imm@travmedia.com. 

Registration for IMM Australia 2026 to be held on 26-27 February 2026 will open in June for exhibitors and 1 August 2025 for media.

Media Contacts for IMM Australia

Blake Riddington
Regional Director Australia and New Zealand

blake.riddington@travmedia.com
0468 438 451

Lauren Moelk
Chief Communications Officer

lauren.moelk@travmedia.com
+61 (0)422 258 062