Why Military Spouse Bloggers and Creators Should Attend TBEX
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Why I attended TBEX
As a military spouse, passionate *new* travel blogger, and content creator, I have always sought ways to share my unique travel experiences with the world. After being stationed in Poland and South Korea I started taking collaborations with tourism boards and organizations more seriously. While stationed in Korea, my friend Caitlin invited me to write travel guides for the newly launched lifestyle publication “United on the ROK,” I seized the opportunity to build my writing portfolio. I had always wanted to start a blog, but I was always fearful of what others around me would think but with a newly established writing portfolio I figured I needed to seize the day. In November 2023, after returning to Europe, I summoned the courage to launch my blog and committed to elevate my photography and content creation.
I’m also a sucker for professional development and knew that at the start of the year, I needed to attend a conference so I could network, learn from others and put my feet in the water. Enter TBEX—the Travel Blog Exchange Conference—scheduled to take place in San Sebastian, Spain. I instantly bought a ticket after being Inspired by a fellow military spouse who raved about her experience at TBEX Kalamata in 2023.
Why You?
I firmly believe that Military Spouses possess a distinct perspective on living abroad, and we can channel our travel knowledge in profoundly positive ways. Some of us are akin to walking Google Search engines regarding travel insights. Moreover, my biggest realization is that tourism boards and organizations should work with military spouses and servicemembers stationed abroad—a partnership like that could significantly impact their ROI and bring in a diverse demographic. This is why developing yourself professionally and attending conferences like TBEX are important!
What Is TBEX?
TBEX, short for Travel Bloggers Exchange, has held its position as one of the premier travel blogger conferences since 2009. The first TBEX was held in Chicago, Illinois, and has since grown to attract 500-700 of the top travel and lifestyle creators from around the world. TBEX has been hosted in cities like Eau Claire Wisconsin, Kalamata Greece, and Dublin Ireland. TBEX has always had the mission to help those in this industry learn, network, and have fun. Whether you’re a seasoned travel blogger or just starting out, TBEX offers a platform to engage with peers. I had the privilege of conversing with beginners like me as well as seasoned bloggers, digital nomads, podcast hosts, and writers from around the globe.
The conference features sessions led by top industry professionals. Topics range from visual storytelling and narrative techniques to the practical aspects of transitioning from passion to profession. I attended sessions on compensation strategies for travel content creators and even delved into drone videography. Additionally, discussions on AI and the future of travel blogging rounded out the enriching experience.
TBEX encourages participants to sign up for speed networking sessions with Tourism Boards and Affiliate Marketing Company representatives. Before the conference, an online portal allowed us to connect with these industry professionals. I armed myself with business cards and wrote my pitch on the Notepad app on my phone. I dove headfirst into these nerve-wracking encounters with companies like Stay22, Donegal Tourism, Walks/Devour Tours, and NordVPN/Saily, to name a few. Despite my fumbles, the representatives were incredibly encouraging and genuinely interested in my audience, my background, and what I could offer.
Beyond the Conference: PREBEX and FAM Tours
But TBEX offers more than networking. Participants can also sign up for PREBEX and FAM Tours (Familiarization Tours). These curated experiences, organized in collaboration with San Sebastian and Basque Country tourism agencies, acquainted attendees with the local area, its cuisine, and the community. While I missed the post-conference Fam Tours because these aren’t a guarantee, I did attend a PreBEX event—a Basque Cooking class. We explored the local market, picked out fresh ingredients, and then headed to MIMO Cooking School, where chefs taught us to prepare a traditional Basque meal. It was a treat, and I left with new friends and culinary inspiration.
A Boost in Confidence
I walked away from TBEX San Sebastian with new insights, lasting friendships, and a significant boost in confidence. The networking opportunities, enriching sessions, and immersive experiences exceeded my expectations and helped me discover where I wanted to take my blog and content creation. If you’re interested in attending the next TBEX conference, here’s my recommendation:
- Start working on your media kit and create your business cards. Canva has some great templates for both!
- Work on your pitch; who are you? How can you increase the ROI of the tourism board or brand you are pitching to?
- Take on feedback from other content creators, find a mentor in the space, and ask questions!
- Don’t stop just because of the recent Google Updates or because of an algorithm on Instagram and TikTok. Find ways to create a community through growing your email list, giving your audience value, and connecting with them!
Use Your Voice as a Military Spouse
You have the ability to motivate and inspire others through your words, videos and photography, so take advantage of it and stand out from the rest by attending TBEX!
This is great! Fellow Military Spouse here in Germsny, I just started my blogging journey and I am thinking about going to TBEX in Alaska! I needed to see this!