Amanda Phillips shares the experience of being at one of the leading
independent travel shows...
When
I visited the ITW show a couple of years ago I never imagined that I
would one day have my own stand at the event. The Latin American
Challenge team were thrilled to be involved in ITW. We spent three
long days talking to the public about our expedition (many of whom
thought we were a travel company offering tours of Latin America, which
has given us inspiration for a business venture when we return!).
Some people showed interest in the Choco-Andean Rainforest Corridor
Project at Maquipicuna, Ecuador as a way of spending part of a gap year,
thus generating interest in the work of Rainforest Concern. We
were astounded by the number of people who approached us due to our
fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, either because they
themselves, or a relation or friend had been diagnosed with the illness.
The
contribution we made to the charities by being at ITW cannot be
quantified, but we know that our efforts have gone some way to raising
awareness.
For those of you
who visited us at ITW and wanted to sponsor LAC, we have now created an
on-line sponsor form: please use it. Those of you who showed
interest in our charity evening, please email
us for details (see below).
Our
experience at ITW proved invaluable in terms of the contact we
made with other exhibitors. Thanks to all those people who
offered help and advice, especially Peter Eltringham (Rough
Guides) for his fascinating stories of Mexico, Guatemala and
Belize, Michael Day (Footprint Handbooks) for telling us where not
to go in Brazil, Ron from Dragoman Overseas Journeys for showing
us their route in South America, Ian Jackson, editor of Indie
Traveller for recognising our potential stories and Sean
Keener - email man! - (BootsnAll.com) for his enthusiasm
about our venture. Thanks to Charlotte Bowskill at ITW for making
it possible
You can contact
Amanda at: amanda@LatinAmericanChallenge.org
