World's Largest Travel Journalist Convention

To be Held in Manchester, England October 1-14,

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. October 14, 2008

AUGUST 11, 2007. The world's largest annual gathering of professional travel journalists will be held in Manchester, England, Oct. 1-14, 2007 when the American Travel Writers (SATW) gathers for its 52nd annual convention.

With more than 1,200 travel writers, photographers, broadcasters and associate members, SATW is the largest travel journalist organization in the world. Over 500 SATW members and guests are expected to attend the meeting in Manchester.

"Even after two trips to Manchester in the last two years to scout out dining and touring options, I'm eager to return. It's an architectural treasure chest," says Laurie D. Borman, president of SATW. "There are restaurants in former cotton merchant warehouses, pubs in half-timbered buildings, and our opening event will be in the neo-Gothic Manchester Town Hall. Anyone who hasn't visited recently will be amazed at all the modern buildings rising in this city. We're so pleased to have our convention in such a growing and thriving metropolis."

The core convention lasts four days, October 5-9, and includes professional development sessions, business meetings and story gathering opportunities in Manchester and the surrounding region.

The keynote speaker will be Bill Bryson, acclaimed author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and scientific subjects. He and his family have lived in the United States and England and now live near Wymondham, Norfolk, England.

While in Manchester, SATW members will have an opportunity to visit, write about and photograph such places as:

---|Tatton Park and its stately homes and gardens

---|Little Moreton Hall, one of the finest and best-known black-and-white timber framed buildings in England

---|Beeston Castle

---|the Tiffany glass collection at the Haworth Art Gallery

---|the Lowry and Imperial War Museum North

---|nearby cities of Liverpool, York, Chester and Blackpool

Before and after the core convention, up to two dozen pre- and post-trips will be offered, allowing small groups of travel writers and photographers to experience every aspect of northern England with the intention of producing newspaper and magazine articles as well as shooting photography that appears all over the world.

SATW members will have the opportunity to explore the Lake District, learn about the literary legacy of England's North Country and home to Wordsworth, Dickens, Potter and Kipling, view the great art and architecture of northern England, travel to the Isle of Man, and sample the culinary delights of England's north country.

"Manchester is a wonderful city for story and photo opportunities and exposes the north of England to many North Americans who be visiting the area for the first time," explained Marcia Levin, convention chairman. "We have been planning this convention for approximately three years and look forward to renewing friendships, taking part in outstanding professional development sessions and visits from some surprise guests."

The SATW convention sites bid process is an arduous one. Only destinations with the greatest potential for story and photo opportunities are even considered and the chosen sites have proven themselves to be places of tremendous interest to today's traveler.

In the past, SATW has met in such exotic locals as Chile, Thailand, Israel, Australia, India, Switzerland, Wales and Bermuda. Closer to home, it has met in Las Vegas, Orlando, Banff, Canada, and Hawaii.

"SATW members have a proven record of generating stories and photos as a result of a convention. The SATW 2005 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw nearly 90 journalists produce almost 200 articles, photographs, radio and TV broadcasts and Internet postings over a two-year period," explained Laura Daily, president-elect of SATW.

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry.

For more information on the Society of American Travel Writers, visit www.satw.org.