TBEX – 9 Tips for a First Timer

Last updated: 15 July 2023

Your first TBEX is a bit like your wedding day. You see a lot of familiar faces, meet new ones and spend the whole time on your feet in a semi inebriated blur.  The following TBEX tips will help address the confusion and often conflicting advice you receive as a TBEX first timer.

My first TBEX was in 2015, Russ and I had the utterly brilliant idea of driving from London to Madrid with a little stop in Costa Brava for TBEX Europe. I learnt quite a number of lessons from my first TBEX, which I hope you’ll find helpful on your next trip to TBEX. 

[lwptoc]

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you, we may earn a small commission. This helps keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ. We sincerely thank you for your support.

1. Take business cards

It seems like a basic tip but I was surprised by the number of bloggers I met for the first time who didn’t bring business cards, or by the end of the conference had run out. I highly recommend you take the time to have them professionally printed. Remember, business cards are an extension of you and your brand, the impression they give is worth the expense. Take a minimum of 150 cards to ensure you don’t run out.

After trying out a few suppliers, we now use Moo for our business cards. With quality stock, easy design interface and quick delivery it’s perfect for TBEX.

2. Wear your lanyard

You’ll be given a lanyard upon registration at the conference. Wear it to every event and function so people can remember you and not those awkward questions of ‘what was your name again?’

3. Don’t go too hard too quick

The opening party and endless networking is exhausting for even the most experienced of bloggers. Based on what I saw during the my time, I recommend you pace yourself, attend as many events and functions as you can but don’t get so drunk on the first night that you can’t get up the next day.

4. Take Breaks

I recommend breaks throughout the conference, just a little time to yourself especially if you’re an introvert. There are lots of new faces and names to process which can easily become overwhelming and can feel like you’re burning out. You’ll likely be exhausted and need some “me” time. So just take it as you need it.

5. Interact

Try to schedule opportunities to meet familiar faces. The majority of us know one another from the virtual world of Facebook groups or Twitter chats, but if you have the opportunity to meet these people in the flesh then do it.

6. Mingle

If you’re shy or attending alone, consider using point 5 to get some courage so you don’t feel like a complete loner. Then use that fearlessness (if you need it) to mingle with new faces, industry and bloggers alike. We’re all there to network and learn, so try to embrace that by meeting new people too.

7. Pre-BEX tours

Pre-BEX trips are typically one to two day familiarisation (FAM) trips sponsored by the host city. Mostly acting as intro taster tours to the city/region. They’re generally easier to register for as there seems to be less of a selection process (unlike Post-BEX tours, see below).

8. Post-BEX tours

After every TBEX there are sponsored FAM trips organised by the local tourism board(s). These FAM trips can range from one or four days in length, are generally diverse as the range of bloggers at TBEX and some are focused towards specific niche (adventure, food, family etc). Trips are all inclusive with transport, accommodation and experiences all being comped so no expense is incurred by the bloggers. There’s a catch though. While they’re included in your TBEX ticket, you have to register for these tours well in advance. Several months before TBEX, the available trips are released and you as a blogger nominate your tour preferences. The actual sponsors will choose their attendees from that list. You may not get your first or second preference. If you’re new, you may not be chosen at all.

Unfortunately bloggers quite often don’t find out which trip they’re on until very late which can impact on flights and accommodation. Consider booking flexible flights and accommodation early to beat the rush.

It is possible to get a pre-BEX tour and a post-BEX tour, or just one or neither. They’re not compulsory and my first TBEX I didn’t know they existed so missed out all together.

9. Join TBEX specific Facebook Groups and Twitter Lists

There’s always an official (closed) Facebook group which is worth joining. You’ll need to be registered for the conference to join.  It’s a great source of information or where you can post questions to organisers and other bloggers. Twitter lists are an easy way of seeing tweets from other attendees, usually one or two bloggers will create a Twitter list for the event. 

TL;DR

While it seems really scary at first, TBEX and other travel blogging conferences are a great way to meet other bloggers and gain some valuable experience.  I’ll be representing Roaming Required at TBEX in Stockholm, so if you’d like to meet up leave me a comment below.

Need ideas for a date night in London? Here’s 37 of them