Some tips and advice for media on how to prepare for Meet the Media
Taking place on Monday, February 9th 2026, Meet the Media is a one-day one-day networking event for travel trade and media.
This unique event will connect travel media with a selection of worldwide travel suppliers including airlines, hoteliers, tourist boards and tour operators.
If you are a member of the media and are registered for the event – well done!
We want to make sure you put your best foot forward on the day, so with that in mind, here are a few tips on how to prepare for Meet the Media.
Login and update your profile
Yes, it seems obvious but please make sure you have logged into the online appointment system – don’t leave it until the last minute! 2025 saw over 1000 appointments made between media and trade.
If you have attended Meet the Media before, your profile may be set up already. However, you should still log in and make sure you have the most up to date information.
If you can’t find your login details, or are having issues logging in, then email colm@travelmedia.ie ASAP.
Check your meeting requests
When you login to your profile, check your meeting requests. Accept the ones you want, decline the ones you don’t. Make sure to check your waitlist too. Meeting requests will expire after 24 hours.
Don’t sell – editorial conversations only
Please don’t include any sales pitches in your meetings. Conversations should be editorial only. If appropriate and requested, advertising, sponsorship or rate card details can be shared via email afterwards. If you pitch advertising or try to sell in any way it will be reported, asked to leave immediately and you will be excluded from future events.
Meetings are not interviews
Your meetings should be used to find out more about a supplier, discuss future collaborations, press trips etc. Should you wish to use a quote from a supplier then please ask them during the meeting if they are ok with this. Alternatively, you can arrange interviews post-event.
Social interest
Have you got all your meetings arranged? Great! Now get onto every social media platform out there and follow the companies that you will be meeting with.
Don’t forget to engage with us across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. If you’re talking about Meet the Media online, make sure to use our hashtags. #TMevents #MTM26.
Do your research
Again, once those precious meetings are confirmed, it’s time to get researching. Make sure you know who you’re meeting with!
Connect on LinkedIn, follow social media accounts, look at the company website, sign up to their newsletter, read their most recent blogs and find out their most recent news.
This will serve you well on the day and will show that you are organised and professional.
This is not a sales pitch. Conversations had during meetings are editorial only. Anyone who tries sales pitching will be asked to leave the event.
Supplier sheet
On the day of the event we will give a sheet to you which contains information on each of the suppliers taking part in the event. This sheet is for you only. Please do not share it with anyone else, or share it anywhere online.
Don’t be late and don’t go over.
Just don’t. It won’t look good.
We are also running on strict 10 minute appointments so if you miss your appointment, you’ve missed your chance! Appointments end automatically after 10 minutes so you will not get any extra time if you are late or if your meeting goes over. There are 30 meeting slots available per person. You don’t have to use them all.
Outside of meetings
If you have gaps between meetings, feel free to set up at one of work stations where good Wi-Fi will allow you to stay on top of emails and any other work commitments you may have.
There will be tea, coffee, and water available throughout the day also.
Timings:
8:30am – Registration desk opens
9:00am – Talk
9:40am – Talk: Panel Discussion on Travel Content Creation with Juan Martinez, Rory King, and Éadaoin Fitzmaurice
10:20am – Talk: Keynote – Mark Little – The Future of Travel Media
11:10am – Morning session starts, 10-minute appointments (x10), 1-minute turnaround
1:00pm – Lunch
1:40pm – Afternoon session starts, 10-minute appointments (x12), 1-minute turnaround
3:50pm – Afternoon teas/coffees served
4:10pm – Evening session starts, 10-minute appointments(x8), 1-minute turnaround
5:30pm – Drinks served – beer, red & white wine, soft drinks, water
5:45pm – Travel Media Awards 2026
6:40pm – First shuttle bus to after party
7:00pm – After party til late, invite only. Sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board
7:10pm – Second shuttle bus to after party
Please take all your meetings on our platform. Please do not take meetings off platform.
Sell yourself
This is your time to sell yourself. Do so by making sure you have the following:
- A media pack. This should have all of your relevant stats i.e. readership, circulation, site visits, listenership, viewers, social media numbers etc. You can share your screen during the video meeting, or send this onto a supplier as a follow up.
- Prepare an intro in advance so you’re not stuck for words!
- Want to go on a press trip or work with a supplier somehow? Have a proposal ready for them.
Dress to impress
Our dedicated event photographer, Raf, will be at Meet the Media taking headshots for Meet the Media attendees – and it’s free of charge! So make sure to look your best so you can update your LinkedIn profile with a snazzy new photo.
2025 Suppliers
- Austria Tourism
- Emerald Star
- Tropical Sky
- Deep South USA
- Jamaica Tourist Board
- Philadelphia CVB
- New Jersey
- Kissimmee
- Savannah and Hilton Head
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange)
- Newbridge Silverware
- Museum of Style Icons @Newbridge Silverware
- Into Kildare
- Le Voyage a Nantes
- Visit Cascais, Portugal
- Algarve Tourism, Portugal
- Maderia, Portugal
- Visit Portugal
- Visit Benidorm
- Visit Orlando
- Destination DC
- Universal Destinations & Experiences
- Atout France
- Touraine Loire Valley, France
- Cotentin, France
- Normandy Tourism, France
- made.com
- Turisme Costa Daurada
- Torroella de Montgrí and l’Estartit Tourist Board
- Malta Tourism Authority
- Visit Florida
- Tenerife Tourism Corporation
- Visit St. Pete-Clearwater
- CaminoWays.com
- Stena Line
- Croatian National Tourist Office
- Polish National Tourist Office
- Catalan Tourist Board
- Ireland’s Blue Book
- Switzerland Tourism
- Visit Costa del Sol
- Spanish Tourism Office Dublin
- Tunisian National Tourist Office
- Travel Nevada
- State of Washington Tourism/Port of Seattle
- Loveholidays
- Visit Greater Palm Springs
- Travel Oregon
- LA Tourism
- Visit County Durham and S&DR200 Festival (Stockton and Darlington Railway)
- Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Watch the Meet the Media 2026 video!
MTM 26 After Party sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board
As always, Meet the Media will be followed by the now legendary after party. And 2026 promises to be a good one thanks to our sponsors, the Jamaica Tourist Board. Expect rhythm, rum, reggae and real good vibes as we bring a taste of island living to Dublin. The after party is open to all registered attendees of Meet the Media. Gain entry by hanging on to your event lanyard.
We will run two shuttle buses between the Clayton Burlington Road and the after party venue, leaving at 6:40 and 7:10 respectively.
Sunday Social
Our Meet the Media Sunday Social takes place on Sunday, February 8th, the day before Meet the Media. Registered attendees have the option to join two complimentary activities:
- Walking tour of Dublin City Centre with famed Dublin historian, Donal Fallon. Full details here.
- Day tour to Wicklow and Kilkenny with Wild Rover Tours. Full details here.
Both tours will end at Grogan’s, one of Dublin’s most famous and popular pubs. Email colm@travelmedia.ie for more details on how to sign up.
And finally, please do your best to shout about the event online! We want to share some positive news about travel and support the suppliers that are taking part in the event this year. When posting about the event, please use #MTM2026
Got questions about Meet the Media? Email colm@travelmedia.ie