For years I’ve heard about TBEX through blogging circles. Last month I finally attended my first TBEX travel conference, choosing the European segment as my introduction since it would be hosted in one of my favourite countries in the world. This blog post is a first-timer’s review of TBEX plus some tips to help you if you’re thinking of going to this or any other conference.
This blog post will answer questions like “What is TBEX?”, “What is the difference between regular TBEX and TBEX Summit?”, “How should I prepare for TBEX?”, “Where to stay”, “Is TBEX worth it for more advanced bloggers?”, and so on.
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Have I Attended Other Travel Conferences?
I’ve attended several blogging and travel conferences in the past including TravelCon, WITS (Women in Travel Summit), and WTM (World Travel Market), as well as a few regional travel industry conferences in Ontario, Canada. I’ve also had the privilege of speaking twice at The Travel Summit (a points and miles conference) and have attended several Travel Massive events in Toronto. Additionally, I’ve branched into travel adjacent conferences such as the gigantic Collision tech conference held in Toronto.
A lot of my colleagues in Toronto blogging circles have talked positively about their past TBEX experiences, especially the one in Québec City, so my expectations were high. Now that I’ve experienced TBEX for myself, here is my honest review of TBEX, plus several helpful pieces of advice if you plan on attending.
What is TBEX?
TBEX, which stands for Travel Blog Exchange, is a travel conference geared toward travel content creators. Originally that meant travel bloggers, though today it includes bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and social media content creators.
The conference started in 2009 with 6 blogging friends who created a meet-up in Chicago. The objective was to gather industry colleagues and friends together to network and talk shop. In that first year, 250 people showed up! The rest is history. Today, TBEX also welcomes DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations) and travel brands who wish to connect and work with travel creators.
It’s incredible to think that this conference has been running for 16, going on 17, years. There have been over 32 events worldwide, with almost 2,000 speakers and 22,000 attendees. Imagine the international connections built from this one organization!
TBEX has grown to include 2 days “in the classroom”, learning from keynote speakers and best practice presentations, as well as social evening events, and Pre-Bex and FAM (familiarization) Trips. I’ll explain more about Pre-Bex and FAM Trips below.
What is the Difference Between the Traditional TBEX Conference and the TBEX Summit?
The traditional TBEX conference covers a broad range of travel content creation topics for writers, bloggers, influencers, and other travel industry professionals. Expect to see a variety of sessions from beginner to advanced, as well as professional and social networking events.
The TBEX Summit is directed towards more advanced bloggers and travel content creators, as well as travel brands that have a lot of experience working with them. The TBEX Summit focuses on topics relevant to the North American travel landscape.
While both TBEX events are laid out in a similar fashion (keynotes, topical sessions, networking events), the TBEX Summit digs deeper, with more in-depth and longer session discussions. The travel industry collaborations are said to differ as well.
Pro Tip: When the speaker list is released, do some research and make note of whose sessions you’d like to attend. Then, when the conference agenda is released, add those sessions into your calendar. The more organized you are, the more you’ll get out of attending.
Where is the TBEX Travel Conference Held?
There are 3 conference locations each year: TBEX North America, TBEX Europe, and TBEX Asia. There is also the TBEX Summit.
According to Tomiko Harvey, the conference director for TBEX, the difference between the normal TBEX events and the TBEX Summit is, “TBEX Summit America is a specialized event designed for experienced travel creators who are at the top of their game and want to dive deeper into high-level discussions, advanced workshops, and networking opportunities. The summit offers longer sessions in a more intimate setting, making it easier for your brand to take it to the next level, and to connect with the brands that are already there.”.
In 2025 the conference was held in Québec City, Canada (North America), Letterkenny, Ireland (Europe), and Wichita, USA (TBEX Summit location). In 2026 TBEX will be held in Richmond, USA (North America) and Almaty, Kazakhstan (Asia). Europe is yet to be determined for 2026, however in 2027 it will be in Çeşme, Türkiye.
When is TBEX?
TBEX generally happens in the spring, summer, and fall.
Pro Tip: Think like a 9-5er and add travel time in the destination before or after the conference/FAM trips. You’ve already gone the distance to travel to the conference, so why not stay longer and explore it or a neighbouring country?
Who are Past Speakers at TBEX?
TBEX has an impressive and diverse range of individuals presenting at the conference. Past speakers include award-winning PBS TV Host Mickela Mallozzi of the phenomenal show Bare Feet, Dr. Nadine C. Duncan of the Traveling Black Women Network (and my Kildare FAM trip travel buddy!), and fellow Canadian Kevin Wagar of Wandering Wagars, to name a few.
What is a FAM Trip?
A FAM trip, short for “familiarization”, is an opportunity for content creators to experience the destination while creating and building relationships with local tourism representatives.
The short-term positive to these hosted experiences is exploring a new place in tandem with your colleagues. It will provide you tons of content to create (check out my blog on spending a weekend in County Kildare and Kildare Instagram stories!) and it’s awesome working with other creators who just “get it”. You’ll also meet so many wonderful passionate locals working in tourism.
The long-term goal with signing up for FAMs is that the relationships you start and the content you create will lead to paid work down the line. Think of a FAM trip as an audition and portfolio builder. It’s a heckuva lot easier to reach out with a pitch to a DMO representative that you’ve met in person than it is to send cold emails.
Pro Tip: Make sure to sign up for FAMs as soon as the notice goes out because they fill up quickly! You’ll need to apply for them, providing information on your website, socials, and other platforms if you’re a vlogger, podcaster, or work in print media.
Can You Attend TBEX Virtually?
Yes. Digital attendance options are often released closer to TBEX events.
Tips for Buying Your TBEX Ticket
Conference tickets can be costly (though are typically worth it). The good news for you is that there are a few ways to reduce your registration fee.
Purchasing your tickets early can be great for reducing costs. At the end of each TBEX (or really any conference I’ve attended) they announce where the next event will be held. Usually it’s possible to buy reduced price tickets on the spot.
There will also be tiered ticket releases leading up to the conference, just like with music festivals. Early bird pricing is awesome if you miss the in-person announcement. This is often found on the conference website or in newsletters. Receiving the official conference newsletter also gives you access to holiday sales like Black Friday.
Discount codes from speakers and Facebook groups like This Week in Blogging (also a fantastic free newsletter) are another stellar way to knock a few dollars off the price.
Volunteering so you can attend for free is the ultimate conference money-saving tip, although I don’t think TBEX offers this option. You could also email the organizers directly to inquire about volunteer positions.
Transportation Tips
For all my points and miles peeps (did I just say peeps?!) out there, you know where I’m going to start with transportation. If you live in Canada or the USA and you anticipate being on a plane at some point in your life, get into the points and miles game. Now. Actually, yesterday. I’m not joking! I’ve saved thousands of dollars on flights over the past decade simply for earning points on everyday items. In fact, my flight home from this conference cost $22 CAD, which is mind-blowing!!! That’s the lowest I’ve ever paid on that Dublin-Toronto route.
If you’re Canadian and not sure where to start with points and miles, or maybe you have started and you find the whole system overwhelming and confusing, I’ve got you. Check out my Points and Miles Consulting Services or Pay Yourself to Travel online course and let’s get you on track!
If you don’t have points and miles then here are a few other flight tips to help you reduce costs: don’t leave booking your flight to the last minute, set up Google Flight alerts to track prices, be flexible with your travel dates and perhaps even with your airports.
If you’re within driving distance to the TBEX conference, why not carpool? It helps Mother Earth and your pocket, and who doesn’t love a road trip with like-minded individuals?! Trains are another fabulous sustainable option.
Where to Stay
I’ve stayed at conference hotels, off-site hostels (I use Hostelworld), and short-term vacation rentals. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s briefly go over them.
Staying at the conference hotel can have a lot of perks, notably convenience, depending on the destination and your budget. It can be pricey. Usually I stay at the conference hotel and save money by sharing a room with other attendees. If you know people already it’s fun to stay with friends, like an adult sleepover camp. If you’re new to the conference, find people to share with via attendee Facebook groups. Set up a video call with them beforehand to see how you’d jive.
This year the Donegal TBEX wasn’t held in a hotel and the partner pricing was out of my budget so I booked a nearby Airbnb. It was great to have a short walk to stretch the legs each day and it turned out the host and I had a ton in common as French teachers! What are the chances?! Her spot was really lovely and the perfect home away from home.
Ultimately you need to make the best decision for your scenario. Depending where your values lay for cost, privacy, convenience, and so on, whatever decision you make will be just dandy.
TBEX Conference Food
At the most recent TBEX in Donegal, Ireland generous lunches were provided. At the evening events there were finger foods, although there was a lot more to fill your belly at the closing party. Actually, I thought the food at the closing party was incredible. TBEX and Go Visit Donegal partnered up with Food Coast Donegal which gathered outstanding local partners to the (dinner) table.
I’d also suggest doing a little grocery shop to have snacks on hand, especially if your accommodation doesn’t come with breakfast. (That would be another pro of staying at a conference hotel – breakfast included.)
What to Pack
This section’s going to depend on the destination, so I’ll keep this short.
In general, packing layers is always a great idea. Even if the conference location is piping hot like Puerto Rico was for WITS, hotel conference rooms are often chilly. Dress as you feel comfortable and in a way that represents you well. Travel conferences tend to be more on the relaxed side for clothing, though you always want to put your best food forward. Bring a reusable water bottle, like my favourite one from Vapur. Come prepared with business cards. Having a QR code on them that links to all of your digital touch points is another tip.
How to Make the Most of Your First Time at TBEX
Know Your “Why”
People attend conferences for all sorts of reasons: business meetings, presenting, socializing, curiosity, learning, etc… Understanding why you’re going to a conference will ensure you are more intentional with your time and energy. This will also help you evaluate post-conference whether it was worth it.
Branch Out of Your Comfort Zone
I think it would surprise most people in the general public to know that a lot of content creators (in the travel industry and maybe others?) are quite introverted. I was shocked years ago to discover this! Though I find myself needing more “recharging time” as an adult, I’d say I still slide to the extroverted side. That being said, sometimes I find it awkward to insert myself into new groups. Luckily the folks at travel conferences are a pretty friendly bunch and everyone’s in the same boat. Make new friends. Include others. Be curious and have fun!
In addition to making new friends, practice your elevator pitch. Sign up for the speed networking events and put yourself out there – even if you don’t think you have enough followers or site traffic or whatever other metric. Just do it. Repetition builds confidence and helps to smooth out the kinks. Plus you can ask for constructive feedback from the very people (your colleagues) who’re most familiar with your industry.
Extend Your Stay
This is a genius way to get the most out of your conference experience. Hear me out. During the conference the schedule is full-out, which is fantastic but it leaves little to no down time and sometimes the FAM and Pre-Bex trips can feel a bit rushed. By giving yourself time after the conference (or before, though I suggest after if you can), you make room to digest everything you’ve learned and give yourself time to exhale. For example, there were a few spots our bus tour took us on the Pre-Bex tour that I would have loved to spend more time in. This is an opportune time to rent a car and putter around at your own pace. If you’re a digital nomad, this is especially a no-brainer. If you’re a 9-5er, this may be harder to swing – but it’s worth the try!
My Personal Review of TBEX
Please note that this review is an opinion and not the be-all-end-all on whether or not you should attend TBEX. Like an event that has many iterations, no conference is the same.
The Good
I had fairly high expectations coming into TBEX, knowing that it’s basically the OG of blogging conferences and having heard my colleagues talk so highly about their experiences.
The most valuable part of the conference, for me this year, was the location. Ireland is a destination that I’ve been trying to crack for years with regards to tourism partners. I knew that attending FAM and Pre-Bex Trips would allow me the opportunity to meet tourism reps in person. The speed networking was also helpful. I sent out invitations to set up meetings with every single vendor. Unlike other conferences where I’ve stayed in my shell for the speed networking, I broke out of my comfort zone and went for it! It’s incredible how much you can learn about a person or an organization in 8 minutes and it was wonderful to connect with people in surprising ways.
It was also fun reconnecting with colleagues I hadn’t seen in ages, not to mention meeting new talented and passionate individuals. Tourism professionals are a group that likes to have fun and nerd out. I’m here for all of it! If you’re looking for some inspiration outside of Travel with TMc, check out these fabulous hardworking people:
- Bucket List Bri
- Nate Hake of Travel Lemming
- Erin from Flying Off the Bookshelf
- Elaina and Zac from Mind Over Matter Travel
- Kristian from KO Abroad
- The ageless Unstoppable Stacey
- Ashley from The Resilient Roamer
- Andy & Val from Avrex Travel
- Keryn from Twist Travel Mag
- Yanitza from Next Stop Adventures
- Raffaele from TourRadar
- Kevin Noypi
- Jet Off with Jess
- Nadine from The Traveling Black Women Network
- Jen from Travel Books and Movies
- Palle from The Radio Vagabond
The Not as Good
The sessions and keynotes I went to were decent, though nothing totally blew my mind. (Author’s Note: I humbly say this. In no way am I claiming I know everything. In fact, I sometimes wish a blogging god would come in and give me a clear blueprint! What I mean to communicate is that many of the presentations were about topics I’ve heard covered before.) That being said, it’s always good to hear reinforcement on the things you’re doing. Special mention goes out to Val for her illuminating session on Facebook Groups and Mickela’s positive keynote.
Would I Attend Another TBEX?
Prior to arriving in Dublin I’d already purchased my ticket to TBEX in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I’ve been wanting to explore “The Stans” for years and thought what a perfect opportunity!
Is TBEX a worthwhile travel conference to attend? Yes. Like with all conferences, your “why” might change each time. I know mine has over the years. Overall, TBEX is definitely worth attending at least once so you can make your own informed decision, meet some wonderful people, and explore the world.
Thank You for Reading!
I hope that this review of TBEX has been helpful for you! I’ve written several other conference review blog posts as well. If you have any questions about TBEX or general conference questions, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at connect@travelwithtmc.com.
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