This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This hotel stay was hosted as part of the Zion National Park  WITS FAM trip who did not review or approve this story. 
All images by Kateryna Topol.

The vibe & Shares space

Located a 20-minute from Zion National Park, the resort is set near the Virgin River and Zion’s towering red rocks. The accommodations are set in a circle around an open green space. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed at the check-in desk, which shares space with a common area and restaurant. Tall windows, turn sliding doors, open on the campsite with a large pool tucked to the side of the Clubhouse. 

To the side of the shared lawn is a kids’ playground structure with swings and lawn games that guests can take advantage of. The airstreams are staggered to one side, while campsites and cottages are lined against the mountain ranges. While some guests might choose to find a nearby restaurant for dinner, most spend their evenings on-site by the firepit, grilling hot dogs and cracking beers.

Conceptualised by Narrative Design Studio, the property is nature’s oasis, seamlessly blending nature and elegance. The Clubhouse design, in particular, takes from natural hues and mid-century design, embracing wood and stone elements. The property is pet-friendly and has EV charging stations.

Note: AutoCamp Zion is a Hilton property, so make sure to collect those points. 

Above and below: AutoCamp Zion, Classic Cabin.

AutoCamp accommodations range  

Virgin is known locally as the glamping capital of Utah, and AutoCamp is certainly here to step things up with luxury accommodation. The interiors have warm neutral palettes and mixed textures that echo the desert landscape. All spaces offer a sense of tranquillity and blissfully comfortable sleep.

The range of accommodations includes three types of Airstreams (Suite, Premium Suite, and Explorer), each of which sleeps three adults or two adults and two children. Bigger options include a Classic Cabin with a full kitchen and a private dining area, and a BaseCamp Suite, which pairs an Airstream and a canvas tent to accommodate six guests. 

All suites and cabins have a TV, Bluetooth audio system, heating and AC, spa-inspired bathrooms, well-equipped kitchenettes, and luxury bath products. ​​Cast-iron skillets and basic cookware are stored in every kitchenette. Every suite has access to a firepit and an outdoor dining area, some more private then other, all shaded and comfortable. 

On-site amenities 

The Clubhouse and terrace are the main hub at the resort, where you find games and come to enjoy your complimentary breakfast granola. The kitchen serves all-American classics and gourmet comfort food (7 AM -10 PM). Kitchen dishes can be enjoyed in the Clubhouse or in the comfort of your campsite. Here, guests will also find a general store, selling camping supplies, blankets, branded clothing, and camping snacks.

Free seasonal activities range from bike rentals to kids’ arts and crafts, game nights, morning yoga, and even live music. 

What to do nearby

Explore the Zion National Park and its many hiking routes; some parts of the park require advanced reservations. Closer to the campsite is Virgina River and the town of Springdale, with a charming historic centre, shops, and restaurants. This region also offers a wide array of adventure excursions for mixed activity levels.

Orderville: East Zion Park White Mountain Horseback Tour

A short hike followed by horseback riding experiences in the backcountry of East Zion.

Book with GetYourGuide

Greater Zion: Sunset UTV Tour & Views of Zion National Park

Take an off-road vehicle across Zion’s red rock formations and across dunes.

Book with GetYourGuide

Zion National Park: 10- or 20-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour

See Zion National Park from a bird ‘s-eye view with informative pilot commentary.

Book with GetYourGuide

AutoCamp Zion
Prices starting at $186 USD for an airstream
1322 UT-9, Virgin, UT 84779, United States
Book directly on autocamp.com or compare rates to Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post Glamping at its best at AutoCamp Zion, Utah appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show

travelshows.com/shows/atlanta
Date: January 11-12, 2025
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: Free, must apply for press credentials as active media.
Membership requirements: NA.

Programming: Learn the latest travel tips, trends and advice in 4 theatres located right on the show floor, and get the chance to meet your favourite travel celebrities including CBS Travel News Editor, Peter Greenberg, YouTube Travel Star, Drew Binksy and The Points Guy Columnist, Scott Mayerowitz.

Who is this event for: Trade, media, advisors.

Inclusions: Access to the tradeshow and programming as well as access to over ten thousand dollars in travel savings, trip giveaways, and exclusive show-only deals.

FAM/press trip options: NA

IMM

travmedia.com/immnorthamerica
Date: January 22-23, 2025
Location: New York, New York
Cost: Free, must apply as active media and be selected to attend.
Membership requirements: TravMedia.com, free.

Programming: TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM), one-on-one meetings, and a one-day summit.

Who is this event for: The travel industry, active media, broadcasters, and influencers.

Inclusions: Trade floor, appointments, summit.

FAM/press trip options: N/A

New York Travel & Adventure Show

travelshows.com/shows/new-york
Date: January 25-26, 2025
Location: New York, New York
Cost: Free, must apply for press credentials as active media.
Membership requirements: None.

Programming: Learn the latest travel tips, trends and advice in 4 theatres located right on the show floor, and get the chance to meet your favourite travel celebrities including CBS Travel News Editor, Peter Greenberg, YouTube Travel Star, Drew Binksy and The Points Guy Columnist, Scott Mayerowitz.

Who is this event for: Trade, media, advisors.

Inclusions: Access to the tradeshow and programming as well as access to over ten thousand dollars in travel savings, trip giveaways, and exclusive show-only deals.

FAM/press trip options: NA

TravelCon

travelcon.org
Date: March 14-16, 2025
Location: Tucson, AZ
Cost: $99 – $399 for creators, $699 for industry.
Membership requirements: NA

Programming: Expo, sessions, meetings with industry, meetups.

Who is this event for: Travel creators and industry.

Inclusions: Expo, sessions, meetings with industry, meetups. All-access creator pass has reserved seating and lounge access. Free 1-Year Access to Online Creator Community.

FAM/press trip options: Available.

Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show

travelshows.com/shows/san-francisco-bay-area
Date: March 15-16, 2025
Location: San Francisco, California
Cost: Free, must apply for press credentials as active media.
Membership requirements: NA.

Programming: Learn the latest travel tips, trends and advice in 4 theatres located right on the show floor, and get the chance to meet your favourite travel celebrities including CBS Travel News Editor, Peter Greenberg, YouTube Travel Star, Drew Binksy and The Points Guy Columnist, Scott Mayerowitz.

Who is this event for: Trade, media, advisors.

Inclusions: Access to the tradeshow and programming as well as access to over ten thousand dollars in travel savings, trip giveaways, and exclusive show-only deals.

FAM/press trip options: NA

Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show

travelshows.com/shows/washingtondc
Date: March 29-30, 2025
Location: Washington, DC
Cost: Free, must apply for press credentials as active media.
Membership requirements: NA.

Programming: Learn the latest travel tips, trends and advice in 4 theatres located right on the show floor, and get the chance to meet your favourite travel celebrities including Award-Winning Travel Writer, Director and Producer, Andrew McCarthy, CBS Travel News Editor, Peter Greenberg, Travel Guide Book Legend, Pauline Frommer, and NY Times Bestselling Author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Patricia Schultz.

Who is this event for: Trade, media, advisors.

Inclusions: Access to the tradeshow and programming as well as access to over ten thousand dollars in travel savings, trip giveaways, and exclusive show-only deals.

FAM/press trip options: NA

WITS

witsummit.com/downtownnyc
Date: May 16-18, 2025, May 13-21 inclusive of FAM trips.
Location: New York, New York
Cost: Creator non-member $444, member $364; beginner BootCamp is $120, and industry is $1,199.
Membership requirements: Membership* is optional, on sale now for $9/month ($29 normally) for a traveller membership and $24/mo ($44 normally) for a creator membership. A 14-day trial is available.

Programming: Three days of sessions, tours, networking events, and industry meetings. I attended in 2024, here’s more on how WITS Utah went.

Who is this event for: Creative entrepreneurs, influencers, media, DMOs, and industry.

Inclusions: All sessions and workshops, media Marketplace, official parties and happy hours, tours and events, Sunday Brunch, and a ticket to the Bessie Awards.

FAM/press trip options: FAMs are multiple days and include overnight stays. Pre-conference FAMs are May 13-15, and post-conference FAMs are May 19-21. I attended two last year, they were maxed out at 5 people. Access by application.

AdventureELEVATE

events.adventuretravel.biz/adventureelevate/north-america-2025
Date: May 23-30, 2025
Location: Denver, Colorado
Cost: Free, must apply as active media, travel content creators, and broadcasters.
Membership requirements: NA

Programming: Content focused on building your business or brand in North America, establish connections with media, buyers, and suppliers from North America, learn about cutting-edge trends, access motivational talks, and business solutions, and join exciting outdoor activities.

Who is this event for: Industry and media.

Inclusions: Marketplace and media connect sessions, day of adventure, plenary sessions and accelerator workshops, and multiple networking opportunities. Approved media will receive:

• Official Media accreditation at ELEVATE and entry to AdventureELEVATE conference sessions and networking events (29-30 May 2025)
• Accommodations at the Hyatt Regency in Denver (4 nights total)
• Round-trip economy airfare to and from Denver and ground transportation and meals within the destination
• Day of Adventure in Denver: 28 May 2025. Travel costs to the destination will be covered for fully-hosted media with the requirement to participate in a Day of Adventure.

FAM/press trip options: NA

22nd Annual NATJA Conference & Marketplace

natja.org/conference
Date: June 2 – 5, 2025
Location: Palm Springs, California
Cost: Media cost is $799, industry cost is $1,599, there are also lower tickets available if you’d like to bring your partner.
Membership requirements: NATJA membership, by application, $200 USD fee.

Programming: The annual conference brings together NATJA media and destination marketing organization members, from all over the world, for three days of professional development, networking, and tours of the host destination. 

Who is this event for: Media, creators, and industry.

Inclusions:

• 3-Night Stay at Margaritaville Resort, NATJA coordinates hotel reservations on your behalf.
• Professional Development Sessions, Marketplace, and Networking
• Afternoon Tours and Press Trip Opportunity
•  All scheduled conference meals and Airport Transfers

FAM/press trip options: FAMs are multiple days and include overnight stays. Last year there were five post-conference trips, Access by application.

TMAC Conference and Media Marketplace

travelmedia.ca/tmac-conference-2025
Date: June 4-8, 2025, May 31- June 12 inclusive of FAMs
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Cost: CA + tax: Media Members $220, Industry Members: $1,400 plus tax.
Registration opens on February 3, 2025
Membership requirements: TMAC membership, by application, CA$225 + tax media membership fee.

Programming: Gathering of industry professionals, media experts, and travel enthusiasts as we come together to explore the latest trends, opportunities, and innovations in travel media

Who is this event for: Travel Media Writers/Creators/Photographers and Travel Media Industry Representatives.

Inclusions:

• Media marketplace, Professional Development Sessions,
• Local Tours, Pre and Post Tours
• TMAC Dinner and Awards Gala
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Onsite transportation

FAM/press trip options: This year there are local tours, media members can pick either PRE or POST FAM, this year there are 6 tours available.

IPW

ipw.com
Date: June 14-18, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Free if approved. Media interested in attending IPW should submit their name and credentials for review to the International Advisory Committee (IAC) Chair in their region, along with several examples of recently published articles in accredited news outlets (within the past 12 months). Articles must be about travel within the United States. Info for USA-based journalists, info for international journalists.
Membership requirements: NA

Programming: IPW connects travel buyers and media with America’s top travel exhibitors through an efficient face-to-face show format with abundant business and networking opportunities.

Who is this event for: Working journalists and media.

Inclusions:

• Access to the IPW Online Press Room, offering comprehensive press materials, 30 days in advance of IPW and 3 months after.
• Exclusive Press Brunch and Destination Experiences on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
• Brand USA Media Marketplace activities on Monday, June 16, 2025.
• Opportunity to request additional appointments with exhibitors who did not participate in the Brand USA Media Marketplace.
• All meals and related functions.
• Year-long organization listing on ipw.com and online access to all registered exhibitors.

FAM/press trip options: NA

TBEX North America 2025

tbexcon.com/north-america-2025
Date: June 16-19, 2025, June 16-23 inclusive of FAMs.
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Cost: $597 CA for travel creator ticket, $897 for industry.
Membership requirements: NA

Programming: Inspiration, education, and serious business meetings, leave with actionable tips, tricks, and advice you can put into practice right away, networking opportunities.

Who is this event for: Media, creators, industry.

Inclusions:

• All Keynotes, Breakout Sessions, and Session Recordings.
• Pre-BEX Day Trips.
• Speed Networking.
• Sponsor Showcase Access and Evening Events.
• Any Included Meals, and Coffee Breaks.
• Access to Advanced Workshop Registration.

FAM/press trip options: FAMs are available by application, this year there are 10 post-event trips.

TBEX Summit America

tbexcon.com/summit-america-2025
Date: October 1-4, 2025
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Cost: Travel creator is $227, industry is $497
Membership requirements: NA.

Programming: Inspiration, education, and serious business meetings, leave with actionable tips, tricks, and advice you can put into practice right away, networking opportunities.

Who is this event for: Media, creators, industry.

Inclusions:

• All Keynotes, Breakout Sessions, and Session Recordings.
• Pre-BEX Day Trips.
• Speed Networking.
• Sponsor Showcase Access and Evening Events.
• Any Included Meals, and Coffee Breaks.
• Access to Advanced Workshop Registration.

FAM/press trip options: Pre-bex day tours are not yet announced.

IFWTWA Conference

ifwtwa.org/2025-ifwtwa-conference
Date: October 12-16, 2025
Location: Lafayette, CA
Cost: Member early bird by December 31 is $225, non-member is $359. After that, the costs go up periodically to $299 member and $399 non-member.
Membership requirements: IFWTWA is an International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, membership is by application, membership fees are $105 to $255 USD.

Programming: IFWTWA 2025 is a great opportunity for professional development and networking with each other and sponsors during the conference. In addition, pre- and post-trips as well as activities during the conference.

Who is this event for: Media, creators, and industry.

Inclusions: Not clearly listed, assuming event access and opportunity to apply for FAMs.

FAM/press trip options: Pre-conference FAM trips are available by application, last year there were 7 multi-day trips offered.

The post Which North American travel conferences should you attend in 2025 appeared first on Paths to Travel.

In the blogger world, passive income is a hot topic and for those who manage to figure it out, it can become a steady stream of cashflow. One of the biggest sources of passive income is affiliate marketing. In the simplest terms, affiliate marketing is how bloggers earn commission on bookings and purchases made through their site (at no cost to the reader).

The … well, let’s call it classic affiliate marketing model requires you to create a custom link for each hotel property you are looking to earn commission on. Some affiliate networks make it easier to create custom links with browser plugins, others build WordPress widgets. Once linked, that post, or rather that property link can earn referral income hands-off, finally making that passive income actually passive. But sometimes those links break or vendors move between affiliate agencies making all of your links suddenly invalid. And suddenly, all of those tedious hands-on tasks boomerang back. Now you need to find all of the broken links before Google figures out you have them and punishes you with some weird … shadowban.

Already being a member of a few affiliate networks I was hesitant to try Stay22 but enough people I trust brought it up independently that one day I pulled the plug (or I suppose plugged in?) and set up my account in roughly 7 minutes before running out to dinner. When I came back to my desk the next morning I saw dollars on my dashboard. So here we are now, let’s get into it.

How is Stay22 different?

Stay22 is headquartered in Montréal but the platform is available globally and open to everyone, there is no minimum traffic requirement. 

Getting started with Stay22 is easy. After registering your site you simply drop in a piece of code in your site header, make sure it’s connected and your work here is done. All hotel links for Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, VRBO, TripAdvisor, Trivago, and Kayak (aka suppliers) are automatically converted by the script and eligible for earnings.

The possibility of these earnings is then amplified with ‘Let Me Allez’ (LMA), Stay22’s AI solution to the future of affiliate marketing.

Note: Take advantage of my referral code, KATERYNATOPOL, to earn an extra $100 once you reach 100 confirmed bookings. 

Key features of Let Me Allez:

1. Once the reader clicks on your LMA link they are not only shown the connected property but other personalized options which increases conversions by an average of 10.6%.
2. Let Me Allez’s AI booking agent, lovingly named Nova, offers those travellers who illustrate clear intent in a destination a collection of best-match properties before they leave. Stay22’s team saw an increase in bookings by up to 50% with this feature.
3. The platform automatically determines the reader’s geolocation and converts all of those .ca links to .com or .co.uk and so on so you don’t miss out on commissions (Optimized Redirect). Same goes for the language and currency the site visitor sees. This is a small but essential piece because with many travel affiliate networks, you have to create separate links per geography. 
4. LMA also fixes the supplier’s broken links and 404 pages (more on that here). For example, if an Expedia link you originally added goes poof! LMA will automatically repair it. If the page no longer exists LMA will redirect the user to the search results page for similar accommodations in the same location.
5. You can also manually create LMA links or even QR codes and add them to your secondary channels, like newsletters and social posts. 

Booking analytics & Why they matter  

Your Stay22 dashboard offers a ton of data. From page loads to views, number of clicks and interactions to actual bookings data. This is a snapshot of your overall performance. You can see which site the booking was made on, what its status is (confirmed or pending), and even how many nights the booking was for. 

The even more valuable piece of data is which blog post the booking was made on and in which location. You can customize what data you see, export it and filter it to gather specific booking information (ie. sort by date, or location) to spot trends. The Page Analytics tab learns over time making it easier to see what posts have the highest conversion rate. Now you can tailor your recommendations by location and booking platform to optimize your earnings.

Write about events? Use Maps

Maps is actually where it all started for Stay22. This feature learns from your visitors’ activities and offers them live accommodation recommendations based on specific dates. This feature is of course best suited for event-specific articles, like music festivals or carnivals. Stay22 interactive booking map offers live, visual price comparisons in 220+ countries.

On getting paid

The split commission rate is 30%, which is comparatively high. Your commission is ready for payout 7 days after the guest checks out from the property. Stay22 will load your payment in before they get paid from the supplier and you can request a monthly payout once the minimum threshold amount is met. The minimum payout for PayPal, ACH or e-check is US$100.00, higher for wire transfers. Thereafter it takes 30 days for your payment to come through, which believe it or not is actually not bad at all.

And a quick note on support

Stay22 support is handled through an Intercom chat bubble on the platform and is manned by real people, not bots. They might not get back to you right away, but they will, in my experience within a few hours. 

* * *

It is worth noting that Stay22’s team learned quickly that what they wanted to do was build tools to support the travel blogging community. And as such they make their presence known at travel conferences (ie. WITS, TBEX, TravelCon), local travel events, and educational webinars.

The post Making passive income with Stay22: What is it and how it works appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Compass Rose Lodge in many ways is a reflection of that. This custom-built 15-room hotel is owned by the Hyde family – Jeff, Bonnie, and their sons Dakota and River. This land used to be a major trading post and the summer hunting grounds for the Shoshone tribes. This particular building was originally a schoolhouse. The Hyde family wanted to keep a lot of the heritage intact and acknowledge the agricultural roots of the community which led them to build a haystack tower. For a while, they could not decide on the best functional use for the tower but eventually, Dakota pitched the astronomy tower which is now a major attraction in the region.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This hotel stay was hosted as a part of the Ogden Valley WITS FAM trip; they did not review or approve this story. 

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

The architecture and design of the lodge are very intentional. Wood and metal decor detailing are everywhere, industrial and ski-themed decor touches are seen throughout the space and inside the rooms. The common area has a fireplace and a few comfortable sitting areas including a slightly enclosed spot in the tower. There are blankets, rugs, and adventure books stacked on the shelves setting up that homey cottage feel. The exterior has a few benches, an open circle fire pit, and two tipis which you can rent (more on that below).

Inside the Suite 

Each room is a bit unique when it comes to decor and layout. The large bathroom has a custom-made industrial metal vanity and a comfortable shower. A white sliding barn door is a really fun touch. The 15 rooms include suites with king beds, double-queen bunks (4 beds total), and an accessible Queen room. I had the pleasure of staying in Compass King 7 which shares a corner wall with the observatory tower. This additional wood panelling adds lovely character to the space. I had enough space for all my things, a place to sit and work, and a large TV to be lazy in front of. This was a cosy, comfortable stay and I could’ve easily spent a few days here, exploring the region. 

Dining & Coffee

The corner of the hotel is a local coffee shop, First Lift Coffee. It’s a fairly small space with a street side door, popular for takeout. The sitting area is are two tables designed around a ski lift bench, on track with the rest of the hotel theme. Your stay at the Compass Rose Lodge includes a complimentary breakfast (warm croissant, sausage, egg and cheese) from First Lift Coffee. At the cafe, you can also purchase other items, including alcoholic beverages to enjoy in the lounge. 

On the property you will notice two large Tipis, acknowledging the strong Native American heritage of the region. Historically, “Huntsville Square was one of the traditional gathering places for tribes to trade with trappers and early settlers of the area” so these tipis are honouring the tradition of gathering. Guests can rent them in increments of two hours daily after 4 PM. 

The tipis have slightly different decor and are both equipped with sitting space, an area to dine, and heating for those cold evenings. Our group dined in the Chasing Horses tipi and it was a really comfortable, unique experience.  The hotel team handles the water, set up, and clean up of the tipi; you can bring in your own food.

On-site observatory 

The custom-built onsite Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) is open to the public and guests for Starwalk Tours hosted by the Hyde family. On a clear night, you can see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s Galilean Moons, galaxies, nebulae, and globular clusters. The 16” telescope is from the same family as Hubble and James Web with a prime scope which weighs roughly 80lb. The dome opens and rotates for optimal viewing experience. Jeff and Dakota assembled the telescope from nuts and bolts by hand and have been improving on this set-up since the opening, adding a smaller, more portable telescope to their collection. 

What to do nearby

Staying in this area offers a range of outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, pickleball and golfing. The hotel is located close to a few restaurants and Huntsville Park (driving), but the closest walking spot is The Shooting Star Saloon. It’s the oldest working bar on this side of the Mississippi with a fun, casual vibe. The decor is loose and casual, with paper money taped to the wall, there is also a jukebox and a pool table. They only serve beer and the locals told us you should ask for Star Burger if food challenges are your thing. 

Compass Rose Lodge
Starting at $279 USD for King 
198 S 7400 E, Huntsville, UT 84317, United States
Book directly on compassroselodge.com or your favourite booking website: Expedia | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post See a different side of Utah from Compass Rose Lodge, Ogden appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
One of the stays was hosted by Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, which did not review or approve the story.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City

Elegant luxury hotel located in the heart of Salt Lake City Downtown, a ten-minute walk from Temple Square. The 15-story building is chic and elegantly decorated with historic lines and details. I had the pleasure of staying in the King Suite on the top floor with a view of the mountains. 

The room is bright and airy with subtle decor and bright touches like pillows, art, and the orange velvet chair. I really liked the three-tier lighting on the bedsides, switch on one for late-night ambience, or all three for reading. The bathroom is floor-to-ceiling tile with a range of shower heads, a pretty spa-like experience. Each room has a bath towel, and a yoga mat, and can be accessorized with live plants on demand. 

The lobby has a range of sitting options, all similar comfortable, and bright, generally accessorized with live plants. There is a fireplace and a range of games that I’ve noticed guests really do take advantage of. Ground-floor restaurant Bambara, led by Executive Chef Patrick LeBeau has a healthy selection of small plates and hearty mains. Bambara also serves breakfast and brunch. Pre-dinner cocktails or a nightcap are better suited for The Vault, where the dimly lit atmosphere of a cocktail bar sets the mood perfectly.

* * *

Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Salt Lake City
15 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $234 USD per Queen
Book directly on monaco-saltlakecity.com or with your favorite travel website: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com | Don’t forget to get those IHG points.

Land acknowledgement:
This land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad of the Indigenous peoples of Utah.

Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek

Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek sits directly across from the Salt Palace Convention Center, a short walk away from Temple Square, and other city attractions and notable architecture. Similarly to the Kimpton, the rooms are light and spacious. Higher-floor suites have a great view of the mountains and down the city streets. The King room has quite a bit of space to work, a few decorative mirrors, a sitting area, and a comfortable bed. Some of these rooms are adjoining. 

The ground floor restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. The menu has some great salads and seafood selections in addition to the American classics. There is also a Starbucks in the building. The shared area is separated into a few mixed table-sitting corners. This hotel has quite a few conference rooms which I did get to see during the summit I attended. They come in a range of sizes, completed with stage decorations, and with full meal service.

* * *

Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek, Salt Lake City
75 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $189 USD per Queen
Book directly on mattiot.com or with your favourite travel website: Expedia | booking.com |  TripAdvisor | Hotels.com | Don’t forget to collect your Marriot Convoy Points.

The Little America Hotel

This hotel is about 10min walk from the Downtown and directly on the Trax line (local transit) which is free within the Downtown boundaries of SLC so you can easily get to any city attractions. The Little America is in fact, not little, but named so because compared to the Grand America next door it does look quite modest. 

The rooms are spread out across a few buildings, some are motel-style, and some are interior suites. The first night I stayed in the Motel Courtside One King Bed. It is a standard motel-style room with a fridge, a large bed, and all the typical amenities. This room has a bathtub. My second stay was at the Garden King Suite. This room is so large I had to step out and double-check my reservations to make sure it was mine. The full-size suite has a king bed, a full-size bar, lots of cabinets, a sitting area, a large desk, and a small balcony. There is a bathroom vanity and a three-piece bathroom with a shower.

The hotel entrance is quite impressive, grand furnishings, a fireplace, shiny chandeliers, and other impressive details call immediate attention. There are a few shops a restaurant and a bar in the building, both are quite bright, in my opinion, but I do love a dimly lit space. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool enclosed by a fence and some blooming trees, I’ve seen quite a few families with kids take advantage of it.

* * *

The Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City
500 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $163 per Queen
Book directly on saltlake.littleamerica.com or with your favourite travel website: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Garden King Suite above and Motel Courtside One King Bed below.

The post Where to stay in Salt Lake City, Utah appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The first thing to note is the conference does change year to year depending on the sponsor destination. However, from what I’ve seen and heard at #WITSUtah, it is only getting better. 

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.  

Professional & Personal Connections 

Some of the women I’ve met in Mexico City, some of them I’ve met online, and connecting with them throughout this week was really fun.  One thing I heard from the event participants constantly is that their favourite part of the summit is meeting other women and learning from each other. Friendships are made fast in these environments and they come with longevity tied to community.

The second aspect is all the professional connections you are able to make with destination representatives, travel businesses, and other incredibly successful women. You can also book mentor meetings with creators and writers of your choice to learn 1-on-1. Some of the connections I made during the virtual visits back during the dark days have actually led to collaborations (see Québec Maritimes for example). This year we had an active media marketplace of travel industry vendors who took 1-on-1 meetings with creators. Having attended a few meetings I cannot wait to see what grows out of these relationships.

The Conference

The conference itself is 3 days of talks and group activities. There is a separate stream for beginners where aspiring creators and bloggers can learn from the industry’s best. The rest of the talks ranged from learning to inspiring and everything in between. We talked about financial stability, dove into taxes, went in-depth on the difficult topics about travel, ethics, and diversity, learned how to be better writers, and better photographers, and how to turn all those no’s into yes’s. 

This year the destination partners, Visit Utah and Park City, chose to spend one of the days in Park City where the entire group of (400+) attendees got to select activities in the region and then came together for a massive celebration dinner. It was a spectacular event hosted by Empire Canyon Lodge high up in the snowy Utah mountains. 

All the Fun Celebrations & Opportunities to Create

We had a Gala for the Bessie Awards, we had an opening party, we had beers on the rooftop, group meals and excursions, and chose to hang out with one another after official events. For the opening party this year the group was bussed out to the Natural History Museum of Utah for cocktails, food, and live music. Parts of the museum were open for exploration as well. With opportunities like these, the summit offers a lot of room for fun and photography and all of us left Utah with plenty of reels, images, and stories to tell. I have a few posts and many stories and still much more to share.

FAM trips & Day Trips

The summit is attended by travelers, travel creators, business owners, and members of destination marketing groups. All WITS attendees are invited to participate in a range of day trips and excursions. These are offered on a first-come basis, no need to be a creator, though you might be inspired to become one. There were walking tours, hiking tours, skiing tours, sake and whisky tasting tours, active tours, and chocolate-making activities, and some attendees even drove out to the Salt Flats for a photoshoot! 

The creators are invited to apply for a range of overnight FAM trips (familiarization trips). Those accepted, join other creators on small guided group tours fully financed by the destination. I was able to participate in two trips, one before and one after the summit. These trips were themed and expertly guided. We saw a lot of the state, tasted amazing food, stayed in exciting hotels, and connected with other creators.

As mentioned, the FAM trips and excursions take place before and after the summit, so the event is not just 3 days. My trip inclusive of all excursions was 10 days. That of course, was also my choice. 

Above: tasking with Tsuki Sake, a woman-run Salt Lake City sake company.
Below: tour, tasting, and lunch at High West Distillery, was so happy to do this one! Learned a lot about their production method and the hearty lunch.

Opportunities to Win

Personal wins are of course plenty but you can also win tangible gifts. The 2024 summit had 3 contests: 

• Salt Lake City airport social media challenge where the winner got a free Creator Ticket to WITS 2025 ($444 value) + a swag goodie bag from SLC International Airport.
• Park City scavenger hunt the winner of which wins a free trip to Park City.
• Sponsor prize from Influencer Kit that included a $250 Amazon Gift Card, a free ticket to WITS 2025, a lifetime Wanderful Creator Membership, and a lifetime InfluenceKit Grow. It was a raffle and I won, which honestly I am very excited about!

A Few Tips & Considerations:

1. Book your hotel rooms in advance and take advantage of the host hotel rate, it was quite significant. If you change your mind the rooms are typically refundable until quite close to the event date. 
2. Book flights ahead of time, and if you can book flex in case you need to change the dates.
3. FAM trips get announced about two months before so the above pre-planning is important if you are trying to save money on travel.
4. Stay on top of the tours and excursions schedule, they can book up fast.
5. Check the media marketplace listings a few times, they are not all added at once. 
6. Add an extra day or two to explore the host city on your own time.
7. Join the Wanderful network in the meantime to continue learning and networking throughout the year. 

WITS 2025 will be held in Downtown NYC from May 16th to 18th, get more info and tickets at witsummit.com/downtownnyc.

The post What’s it like to attend WITS, Travel Creator Summit appeared first on Paths to Travel.

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It has now been two years and there have been many fun chats, travel events, and learning opportunities. As a member you have access to an active online community, hosting network, job listings, a wide range of resources, and in-person events, both educational and just for fun. But best of all, you become connected to hundreds of women around the world.

With my own travel plans having kind of exploded this year (between Quip and this blog) I have not been able to attend the spring conferences and parties but I made plans for November well in advance. Last week a group of us gathered in Mexico City for a global meetup, travelers and creators alike. 

It is not your typical group trip, you are free to explore on your own and make your own plans. A few of the activities were organized by the local chapter lead, thank you Pam. Pam showed us her favourite parts of Mexico City and shared thought starters for where we can go on our own. A few people already knew each other from past events, a few groups formed, but overall we were fluid and that fluidity is nice. You can choose to go solo, join others, or put your plans out to the group. It’s a fun way to see a new place while sharing tips, meeting people, and letting the city guide you along the way.

Our five days in Mexico City flew by way too fast but we had a great time. I am certain I will see some of the lovely ladies again, if not in my home town then at another Wanderful event. 

Learn more about the two types of memberships Wanderful offers here and maybe we will meet soon

And here’s how it went: Mexico City in pictures 

Día de Muertos is a huge, week-long celebration in Mexico City. I missed most of it but did catch the last day of the installations at the Zócalo square, the main square in the historic center. Here a wide circle of traditionally dressed Catrinas was standing tall representing each region of Mexico. Each Catrina was accompanied by an Ofrenda (an altar) that people could get close to for a deeper personal connection.

Mexico City ofrenda was representative of a Lucho Libre rink, one of the runner setups in the square. As a group we also got to go to a Lucho Libre fight this weekend, it was a very energetic, fun experience!

On the outskirts of the Zócalo square were a few groups of traditionally dressed performers from Chichimecas, Aztecas, and Mexicas. They were dancing and offering spirit cleanses to everyone in need of a spiritual cleanse. 

The ofrendas are present everywhere around the city and beyond – in city squares, churches, our hostel, and of course people’s homes. 

 One of the optional day excursions was a visit to Teotihuacan. During the visit we learned about ancient civilizations, climbed pyramids, and walked the Avenue of the Dead. Must-visit I would say.

A local vendor gave us a demonstration of how all these amazing bright colours were made with natural ingredients. Just look at how bright they are, and they last for centuries!

And on an early morning Sunday, we ventured out to Xochimilco where we cruised the canal on traditional trajineras. Our group went out early morning to avoid the crowds while enjoying a lovely lunch made by Picnixhic. 

Most of our group stayed in Selina Downtown Mexico City, a well-known hostel chain. This was my first time staying in a hostel and while I did learn hostels are not for me I had a great time because I was in great company. 

The post Building a traveling sisterhood in Mexico City appeared first on Paths to Travel.