COLUMBUS – The Midwest Travel Writers Association (MTWA) has selected Columbus to host its 2016 Spring Meeting. The meeting, which will take place May 10-15, 2016, will draw approximately 50 attendees and prominent travel writers, representing publications including USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, National Geographic Traveler, Midwest Living and more.
MTWA is the oldest association of professional travel writers in the United States. The organization is comprised of 90 members, who are invited to join and vetted annually, from 13 Midwestern states. Past host cities have received widespread publicity. Columbus last hosted MTWA in 1992.
“Our board of directors was excited when Columbus bid to host MTWA's 2016 Spring Meeting,” said Amy Eckert, MTWA president. “We'd been reading good things about Columbus' rapid growth and its burgeoning food and fashion scene. The details of the bid really enforced those ideas. This seemed like a perfect opportunity for MTWA to explore a great American city, one that's often overlooked and one that's in our own backyard. I anticipate this Columbus meeting will give MTWA members lots of fodder for travel stories in publications circulated across the country and around the globe.”
While in Columbus, MTWA attendees will be immersed in the city’s renowned arts, culture and nightlife; nationally-recognized culinary and fashion offerings; and diverse neighborhoods.
“We look forward to welcoming MTWA to Columbus,” said Brian Ross, Experience Columbus president and CEO. “Hosting this meeting gives us a great opportunity to showcase our city to these top travel and food writers. They will get to experience first-hand Columbus’ unique style and smart and open community.”
The booking represents the latest under Experience Columbus’ “Make it Columbus” initiative designed to encourage locals with connections to national associations to bring their groups to Columbus. More information on the initiative and other groups that have booked through it can be found at makeitcolumbus.com.
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Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region, dedicated to growing visitor spending that is generated by conventions, meetings, trade shows and leisure visitors. Annually, visitors make more than 37.6 million trips to Greater Columbus, generating $8.7 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 71,000 jobs. For more information, visit experiencecolumbus.com.
