Travel Blogger Elevator 2012 – Interview With Michele Aggiato

Found tweeting @mytravelmoneyuk

On the 18th of October,  MyTravelMoney.co.uk will be heading out to Genoa as media partners of the Travel Blogger Elevator 2012. This is an important partnership for us. As a growing brand in the UK, it  presents a marvellous opportunity to connect & build important one on one relationships with the best of the travel writing community. Whilst our core offering is finding UK travellers the best deals on travel money, we see our wider marketing approach as ‘investing in relationships.’ Connecting with key travel influencers is at the core of our social brand building. We hope our trip to Genoa will stand as the perfect platform to do so.

We took the opportunity to interview Michele Aggiato – Managing Partner of the Travel Blogger Elevator 2012. Below are some of the best bits.

Everything started as an opportunity to share experience and ideas about travel writing and new media relations. With the elevator pitch sessions we didn’t thought much of pitching a blog project to brands or sponsors, but rather to put the blogger in a stress situation where a sharp focus and a professional approach is needed. After a smaller edition we had in Rome, Genova will also be the first time involving an international audience. And that means bringing to Italy proficiency, knowledge and experience from abroad which doesn’t exist yet within the Italian speaking community. Said that, TBE12 is 100% Italian because after Rome it’s an other very fascinating city and region hosting the upcoming edition: Genova and the Liguria.

What are the goals of the conference?

The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of know-how, experience, ideas and trends about travel and destination writing in Italy. TBE also wants to become a strategic communication and conversation opportunity for the hosting destination which will continue to be Italian.

Who are the ‘a list’  speakers coming along?

Well I would say all speakers are “A – list” but I’m particularly proud of the girl power from New York with Kirsten Alana, Kelley Ferro and Mary Morris and some of the top social media gurus from Italy Luca Conti, Gianluca Diegoli and Paolo Valenti.

What makes the difference between a mediocre and a very successful travel blogger?

Passion and travel experiences first, than know-how and the talent for telling stories. However, success is relative, depending from what the blogger wants to achieve.

What makes Genova a special host city for the conference?

Genova is a city between light and shadow, between magnificence and degrade, stocked between mountains and the see. A city full of contrasts. That makes it fascinating and perfect for avid travelers like the travel bloggers. Genova is also a convention city with a very powerful convention organization, the Convention Bureau Genova. Together with the Regional Tourist Board InLiguria they made it possible hosting the Travel Blogger Elevator.

What is the best place you have visited and why?

Let’s have a try: Amorgos where I discovered the freedom of jumping naked from the cliffs into the blu water, Madrid and Andalusia where I felt in love with Spain, Loano in Liguria, Borgo Iano and Elba Island in Tuscany where I spent the best family holiday with my wife and kids. But I also loved riding horse with the Navajos in Arizona, biking in the Beskydy Mountains, snorkeling in Marettimo, one of the Aegadian Islands and sailing on the Ijsselmeer in the Netherlands.

What is the worst place you have visited?

El Arenal on Mallorca. Didn’t like it.

Genoa or Genova? Whats the difference!

Genoa it’s the English name for Genova, but also the name of a professional Italian football and cricket club founded by Englishmen as a British sporting club abroad. For the conference we’ve chosen the Italian name of the city.

 What’s next after Genova?

I will go on holiday

How do you normally buy your travel money?

I withdraw the local currency with my bank card when I’m there. Most expensive solution but I’m very lazy.

We wish Michele and the whole team good luck! It promises to be a fantastic event & we can’t wait to get out to Genoa.

About MyTravelMoney.co.uk

MyTravelMoney.co.uk is the UK’s leading travel money comparison site. Travel money companies compete in a live marketplace to win your business.

About Travel Blogger Elevator 2012.

The Italian travel blogger conference that aims to facilitate the exchange of know-how, experience, ideas and trends about travel and destination blogging in Italy. Travel Blogger Elevator also wants to become a strategic communication and conversation opportunity for Italian destinations helping stakeholders in Italy networking with the local and international blog sphere.