Compost Studios

The big news in the blogosphere in February was the report that the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) was providing 25 top American bloggers with all-expense paid trips to Amsterdam, which include airfare, transportation passes, and a five-day stay at a five-star hotel. While the bloggers had to participate in one interview with Holland.com, the NBTC’s Web site, they were not required to write posts about the trip on their blogs.

The bloggers were required, however, to post NBTC ads on their site for one month as well as a link a disclosing the nature of the travel offer they received for one year.

Is this a deal or what?

And to think I have been writing travel copy on my blog for free since last August. Where was I when the all-expense paid trips were being given out?

Maybe I was riding a bus stuck behind a herd of cyclists in Tervuren or standing in the dairy section of the grocery store trying to discern the differences among the multiple varieties of yogurt displayed. I could have been riding a Metro train in the wrong direction or on the phone with the plumber begging for more hot water. Perhaps I was chasing my umbrella down the street on a miserably windy day or shopping for rubber boots. My days are so varied and action-packed, it’s hard to say what scintillating activity may have kept me from grabbing the attention of the NBTC.

All I know is that while I missed the boat on the Amsterdam opportunity (or shall I say the train or plane), I don’t want to be overlooked again.

While the blogosphere is buzzing with debate over whether the American bloggers should have accepted the trips or not, I can tell you it’s not an issue I would lose sleep over. No, if someone offers me a first-class trip and premium accommodations, the last thing I’m going to ask myself is, “Should I go?” The first words out of my mouth will be “Where? When?”

Let the record show I’d be more than happy to pack my bags and my laptop and take my writing on the road. The line between journalists and bloggers may be blurring, but I don’t think anyone comes to V-Grrrl in the Middle and expects anything other than the opinion du jour. Give me some fresh experiences in a new setting (ahem, five-star hotels do sound grand) and I’ll deliver some polished prose (especially if my room has a fabulous tub).

While I can’t promise glowing reviews, I can guarantee authentic, straight from the mother keyboard, original V-Grrrl copy, delivered with a virtual smile. Sure, you can’t predict precisely what I’ll post, but having worked in public relations for close to 15 years, I can tell you I have a tendency to see the best in things. (Except the Eiffel Tower, of course. I was less than impressed with it, but the rest of Paris was lovely—really!)

All I need to do now to collect some free trips to European cities is to get the word out that I’m a blogger for hire! Maybe I could post something like a hybrid professional-personal ad. How’s this for catchy?

One smart chick
Who writes for kicks,
Would be happy
To write for trips.
V-Grrrl’s readers
May be world leaders.
Conference planners
Understand her.
Marketing types
Love what she writes.
So make her day
In a first-class way.
Ring her bells
With fine hotels.
Add her to
Your VIP list:
The traveling blogger
Who shouldn’t be missed.

February 16, 2006