FOOD TRUCKS & JAPANESE IZAKAYA: COLUMBUS, OHIO! PRSA TRAVEL & TOURISM CONFERENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO SPEECH.
I fly around so much that it’s hard to predict where I end up. Last month, I was in… Columbus, Ohio.
PRSA Travel and Tourism Conference invited me to give a speech and participate in a discussion about travel video and social media. It was an honor to be recognized by industry professionals, and to take part in a major convention. Plus, I tasted some of the best ice cream in my life!
I wore a blue “sinking ships” dress gifted by Sourpuss (get this exact same style here).
I spoke about “Lights, Camera, Video: Travel News Online and Mobile — the Latest Ideas.” It’s great to see how travel and PR professionals are now interested in (and supporting!) new media.
In addition to panels and speeches (the keynote was animal expert Jack Hanna), there was an Elvis impersonator and live Memphis ducks.
My name card is pretty epic.
Also on my panel: Josey Miller (travel writer and “Good Day New York” contributor), Scott Fais (special projects reporter, Bay News 9 & Central Florida News 13) and Susan Farewell, (editor-in-chief of FarewellTravels.com).
My Scottish Fold cat on the big screen. My closing message to the audience was: “Always remember, cats rule the internet!”
After, Columbus Tourism treated us to a mixer at Franklin Park Conservatory. There’s an energetic foodie scene here, especially from the local food trucks and carts.
Jeni’s Ice Cream is legendary for a reason. The wildberry lavender was heaven.
My Luxy Loli blinged-out iPhone case got tons of attention here.
After, I joined Columbus Food Adventures for yakitori at FreshStreet.
V-fingers for the insanely tasty grill. Thanks to all the sweet people who came out to meet me, and to PRSA and Columbus for the warm hospitality. I’d love to come back!
PS: PR Newswire interviewed me about “content marketing” and new media. Hopefully, it sounds like I know what I’m talking about…
Watch my interview above and on YouTube (I invite you to subscribe, so you won’t miss out on the Berlin and Hawaii travel videos).
Are you a fan of food trucks? Yakitori? What’s hot in your local food scene?
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MAUI, HAWAII SOCIAL MEDIA PRESS TRIP: WAILEA BEACHES, LAHAINA BANYAN TREE, HAWAIIAN SAILING CANOE & SUSHI.
“Still my favorite person in this whole wide world
Is the woman who can understand every word
And when she speaks to me she makes me see the whole world
As my favorite place: Hawaii.”
– The Strokes
And that’s a feeling I understand, after a week in Maui. The Convention Visitor’s Bureau generously invited me on a social media press trip.
My filmmakers and I made travel videos about the culture, fashion and food, especially when influenced by Japan. Here’s a visual overview of my Maui journey, with much more to come.
On the first day, we rode on a traditional and eco-friendly Hawaiian sailing canoe.
The Captain and First Mate mesmerized us with tales of Hawaii’s history, while we lounged on the sails.
Photo of my filmmaker Melissa and me, by Jason Travels (a fellow travel blogger on the press trip). I’m wearing a Hyoma top from Hong Kong that Sebastiano gave me.
We’re not the snorkeling types, but we dipped our toes in the ocean and attempted a hula dance.
The beach at Wailea. The black cat is by Blablahospital; I stole it from Seba.
Words and photos fail to describe a Maui sunset.
After dark, I could stare at the constellations for hours.
The Banyan Tree in Lahaina, planted in 1873. My filmmaker hugged it — wouldn’t you?
The branches come down and take root, forming one of the largest banyans in the US.
Since we made travel videos about Japan-influenced food, we got to eat like kings at Japengo (Hyatt Regency Maui). I’m salivating at the grilled mahi-mahi and black coconut forbidden rice, and world-class sushi and sashimi.
Hamachi with lychee bubbles made using molecular gastronomy, an elegant Korean seafood pancake, coconut creme brule and acai cheesecake. After the meal, my filmmaker groaned, “I’m about to give birth to a food baby!”
I’m obsessed with fresh local fish. While in Maui, I dined on butterfish, mahi-mahi, and mong chong. At the top-rated Nick’s Fishmarket, I tried flaming strawberries and snapper. Highly recommended.
I visited Honolulu when I was about 13 years old, and I’d say Maui is more my style. It’s smaller and laid-back, yet there’s enough on the island to keep you engaged. I felt the genuine warmth of the locals, everywhere I stopped. As The Strokes put it,
“Still my favorite attitude in this world so far
Is the friendly spirit of an iron heart
Like the way folks are in this most special place
I don’t care what happens, I’m taking a plane.”
Coming up: flowers in my hair, and ahi tuna on a stick! If you’d like to see previews of my Hawaii journey, add me on Instagram (lacarmina) and Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube, as I’ll be posting videos from the trip.
Have you been to Maui, or anywhere in Hawaii? What were your favorite memories?
PS: Thanks to Beauty Bender for interviewing me about my makeup and skincare routine. My tips for staying young: “Sleep a lot (I can do 12-14 hours), have daily fish oil and take time to relax. Those are the secrets of my Buddha-like Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow!”
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LA CARMINA
