January in New York has its own rhythm—fast, cold, electric—but when TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM) arrives, the energy shifts. Suddenly it feels a little like summer camp for travel journalists: reunions, hugs, excited hellos, and that unmistakable buzz of being back together.
I’ve been coming to IMM for nearly a decade, and every return feels both familiar and new. It’s a reunion of people who genuinely care about travel, storytelling, and each other—connections built meeting by meeting, year after year. IMM isn’t just about what’s on the schedule; it’s about the relationships that quietly shape careers over time.
Walking into the Javits Center this January felt like coming back—with perspective. This year marked my return after missing the past two IMM gatherings—for very good reasons. In 2023, I attended just before heading out on book tour for BRAVE-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty—a journey that has since grown into 12 awards and conversations around the world.
Since then came something else I had dreamed about for years: reaching my final continent. Traveling to Antarctica with Quark Expeditions—a connection first sparked years earlier in New York—completed all seven continents for me. It was a full-circle moment, especially remembering that I first met the Quark team in NYC at the Travel & Adventure Show, proof of how often these meetings quietly plant the seeds for life-changing experiences.
Like so many in this industry, I also remember the year IMM went virtual during COVID—a reminder that while formats can change, community endures. Being back in person now underscored that truth.
With 24 back-to-back meetings, the day moved quickly—and meaningfully. Conversations ranged from emerging story ideas to destinations reconnecting with journalists they’ve known for years. IMM’s format—prescheduled meetings paired with open networking—creates a rare balance of structure and spontaneity. You arrive prepared, but you leave surprised.
The scale of the gathering was unmistakable. A lunch for more than a thousand attendees. Conversations unfolding between tables, mid-meeting handshakes turning into laughter, introductions leading to unexpected overlaps. And later, the conversations continued into the evening, because the real work of this industry often happens between the scheduled moments.
That spirit carried beautifully into one of the highlights of the week: celebrating the launch of Season 9 of Places to Love with Samantha Brown. Often called the “Met Gala of the travel industry,” the event was stylish, joyful, and deeply fitting.
For 25 years, Samantha Brown has traveled the world with warmth, curiosity, and a genuine interest in what connects us. Season 9 reflects that heart, completing her journey along historic Route 66—through New Mexico, Arizona, and California—while also taking viewers to Europe, including Bologna and Modena, where tradition and innovation live side by side. It’s travel storytelling that values people as much as place.
Celebrating that new season with fellow journalists, publicists, and longtime colleagues felt like a natural extension of IMM itself: relationships, stories, and shared purpose, gathered in one room. The joy, laughter, and sparkle in the air were impossible to miss—a true celebration of the work we do and the people we do it with.
Celebrate the kickoff of Season 9 of Places to Love with Samantha Brown
The week ended the way New York often does for me—with family. A Broadway night with my sister, a shared meal, laughter, and the simple joy of being together in a city that always feels alive. It was a reminder that travel, at its best, isn’t just about where we go for work—it’s about who we share it with.
Looking back, so much of my career traces its roots to gatherings like IMM. Many of the 50 experiences featured in BRAVE-ish began exactly this way: a meeting, a conversation, an introduction that turned into a bucket-list trip, a story, or an unexpected yes.
That momentum continues. Since those early IMM conversations came my Ireland travel television special for The Jet Set—a 24-minute episode seen by more than 554 million viewers and recognized with three awards—along with countless stories, podcast episodes, and on-location reporting around the world.
None of it happened in isolation. This work is built on relationships, and IMM is where so many of those connections are sparked—and where they continue to grow.
January in New York. Destinations meeting the media. Old friends, new conversations, and the quiet power of showing up again. And yes—the sparkle, the celebration, the joy of creating and sharing these experiences? That is what makes it all magical.
Some things don’t need reinvention. They just need returning to.
Travel Brands with the Media
TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM) is the leading global networking event connecting the travel industry with editors, journalists, broadcasters, and content creators. Celebrating its 14th year in 2026, IMM is the unmissable annual event for travel media and PR professionals to connect and nurture relationships.
Prescheduled meetings between exhibitors and media are IMM’s cornerstone. At IMM, you can pitch a year’s worth of stories, FAM trips, and features in a day. Attendees also love the show for unrivaled relationship-building and networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you to Javits Center, NYC, in January!
Outstanding Networking Opportunities
From sponsored lunches to cocktail functions, IMM North America includes over 7.5 hours of open networking across two days for exhibitors and media to connect, socialize, and build lasting relationships.
In 2023, I went to IMM North America TravMedia’s Leading Media Networking Event. I had so many exceptional meetings I had to make TWO VIDEOS: Part 1 and Part 2
TravMedia IMM NYC 2023: Part TWO
I loved the PLACES TO LOVE Season 6 party in NYC with Samantha Brown! Places to Love is about seeking the little-known spots and haunts where innovators and disruptors create a brand new travel experience. In the sixth season, Samantha explores the incredible Belfast and Antrim Coast, the breathtaking Inside Passage of Alaska, chilly Madison, Wisconsin, and much more…
I spoke at the NYC Travel and Adventure Show in 2023 (and in Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles too!)
TravMedia International Media Marketplace NYC 2020
Please see my article about our day at TravMedia SUMMIT 2020 and my day at New York Times Travel Show 2020!
Here are my videos from International Media Marketplace and the New York Times Travel Show 2019:
IMM 2019: What happens at IMM in NYC?
NYTTS 2019: Join me to explore the NEW YORK TIMES TRAVEL SHOW 2019
