The New York Times Travel Show was intimidating at first. I received my press pass from the front desk around 11 a.m. and spent 30 minutes or so getting oriented in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. My mission was twofold: to simply experience and photograph the travel show itself and to spend time talking with people in the travel industry (specifically travel writing and photography) about a possible career in the field or the possibility of publishing a book about our trip. I think I succeeded on both fronts.
At 11:30 a.m., I listened to a 90-minute talk by Reid Bramblett, the creator of ReidsGuides.com. He discussed the basics of maintaining a travel website to a group comprised mostly of members of the Society of American Travel Writers. He was scheduled to speak again at 2 p.m., so I spent some time cruising the show grounds. Things were still being set up for the public opening tomorrow, but I did have the chance to photograph the ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. As soon as the ribbon was cut, I hurried back to Reid’s seminar on more advanced website theory. The crowd was smaller this time around, but just as engaged. After he wrapped up his talk at 3:30 p.m. or so, I spent a few minutes speaking with him and a few other people from SATW or other organizations before making my way back out onto the show floor.
I did get to talk with a few organizations on the show floor as well, but most of the people I will want to talk to won’t be at the event until tomorrow, so Julia and I will be sure to go back. I haven’t shown the portfolios to anyone at the show yet, but there should be an opportunity or two to show them off tomorrow.
Meanwhile, here are a few photos from the show today.
The ribbon cutting.
An ethnic display at the show.
A sloth at one of the booths.
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