(GREATER PALM SPRINGS, CA) Today, Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) launched its inaugural “Meet the Mentors” program, which pairs aspiring travel writers looking to jump-start their careers with accomplished media established in the industry. Through this special program, VGPS will provide selected participants with memorable travel experiences in the destination, mentorship from real-world travel journalists, and the opportunity for attendees to get their work published. The selected media mentors have written for top travel publications including Travel + Leisure, Travel Noire, Modern Luxury, and more.
Now through June 16, Visit Greater Palm Springs invites junior journalists from around the United States to submit an application for the opportunity to participate in the program, which will be hosted in Greater Palm Springs this September. Following the deadline, a panel of judges from VGPS will select a handful of awardees to participate in this year’s mentorship program. The successful candidates will be notified by June 23.
“Through our Meet the Mentors Program, we aim to inspire future travel writers, guiding them towards unlocking their creative potential while discovering incredible career opportunities in the travel and tourism industry,” said Colleen Pace, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for Visit Greater Palm Springs. “We strive to empower the next generation of storytellers to weave the magic of travel and tourism through their words, sharing the captivating stories of Greater Palm Springs."
Once selected, mentees will be paired up with an experienced travel journalist who will serve as their mentor during a customized trip to Greater Palm Springs this fall to learn the ins and outs of travel journalism, from how to ask journalistic questions to tips on how to pitch an editor while exploring the nine desert cities that comprise the destination. Each duo will be given a personalized itinerary that focuses on different topics in Greater Palm Springs, ranging from key experiences such as wellness and outdoor adventure to sustainability, diversity, and inclusion across the region. Following the trip, the participants will have the opportunity to write an article on their experience that will be published on the Visit Greater Palm Springs website.
To apply for the “Meet the Mentors” program, interested parties can visit TravelMentorsGPS.com and submit by June 5. Applications are open to all backgrounds and abilities. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States.
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ABOUT VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS
Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) is the official destination marketing organization for the nine-city Southern California oasis of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella. Founded in 1989 with a mission to positively affect the destination’ tourism economy and quality of life for its residents, VGPS provides sales, marketing and PR, and destination development activities to grow visitation from potential leisure travelers and event, meeting, and convention group markets.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Ostrove
MMGY NJF
Joyce Kiehl
Visit Greater Palm Springs
