Update: Due to the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the coronavirus—because there is too much uncertainty, both from a public health and safety perspective, and from a tourism/destination perspective (what will actually be open)—we have had to come to the difficult decision to postpone Bloghouse indefinitely. Bloghouse Buffalo has been cancelled. Please sign up for the email list to be notified of future events.
Announcing: Bloghouse Buffalo!
We’re heading to Buffalo, New York for the next Bloghouse!
Looking for a unique travel blogging conference in 2020? Sometimes the larger conferences, with hundreds of people, are just too big. It can be a bit stressful and overwhelming to meet people and really make meaningful connections.
Maybe you’d prefer something a little smaller and more intimate? That’s Bloghouse.
It’s more retreat than conference. It’s more inclusive than intimidating. And it’s a place where you will meet every attendee and become friends!
Next spring will mark our 10th BlogHouse! Over the last several years, Bloghouse has become the small travel blogging retreat that so many travel bloggers want to attend.
Another important thing that sets Bloghouse apart is it one of the most transparent and inclusive events for travel bloggers. There’s no us vs. them mentality. We are all in this together and only want to lift each other up!
Top: Bloghouse Memphis 2018; Bottom: Bloghouse Scottsdale 2019
Each year, we receive wonderful feedback from our attendees who say that they not only learn a lot and come away with tangible takeaways, but they also create lasting connections and feel like part of a family.
“Bloghouse is by far the best investment that I’ve made to date for my blog and taking it to the next level. From the expert advice and content to the personal attention and networking with fellow bloggers, it exceeded my expectations and has really inspired me. I cannot say enough good things about this workshop and the people involved.”
The last few Bloghouses were held in Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Scottsdale.
Downtown Buffalo. Credit: Paget Films
What is BlogHouse?
Bloghouse is a mostly all-inclusive three-day retreat/conference. Participants attend workshops, panels, networking, masterminds, and valuable one-on-one mentoring in a small group environment from experienced mentors. We also have some unique surprises, outings, activities, and opportunities for all participants!
“I had high hopes for Bloghouse and the conference delivered. For more than a year, I’d been working hard to take my blog to the next level but I needed some help. Bloghouse’s personalized approach to building a conference meant my questions were addressed. I left the conference with an action plan that I’m excited to launch.”
We cover a large variety of topics including search engine optimization (SEO), pitching, working with public relations and brands, monetization, campaigns and press trips, writing, photography, social media, WordPress tips, and more.
This is a low-stress (yet jam-packed), sincere environment which always results in long to-do lists and new friendships!
Bloghouse is for you if:
- You are ready to take your blog to the next level.
- You take blogging seriously and treat it professionally.
- You want to make blogging more of a career.
- You are ready to put in the work!
- You tend to get more out of small work environments rather than huge conferences.
We pride ourselves on our openness, transparency, and a no-judgement atmosphere.
Our bloggers have gone on to become some of today’s top travel bloggers. Many have increased their followings ten-fold and won blogging and writing awards such as the National Geographic Traveller Annual Travel Writing Competition and Saveur Magazine’s Top Travel Blog.
“If you’re a travel blogger looking to take your blogging to the next level, then Bloghouse is a must. The small-group environment meant that I actually got to ask specific questions and get advice that I can now implement. The mentors were incredibly generous with their time, and I feel that I’ve made a group of friends for life!”
Photo credit: Ed Healy
Bloghouse Details
- When:
Thursday May 21 – Sunday May 24, 2020; POSTPONED TO: May 13-16, 2021 - Where: Buffalo, New York at the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center
- Fee: Regular Rate: $597
- When:
This fee covers all workshops/training, all meals and drinks, and several other fun activities (see below).
Accommodation is a media rate of $99 + tax/night at our venue, the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center. This rate will be extended to two days before and two days after the event!
What’s Included
- 3 days and 3 nights conference
- All meals and drinks
- All workshops, training and coaching by mentors and guest speakers
- Welcome cocktail reception sponsored by Visit Buffalo Niagara
- Visit Buffalo Niagara sponsored evening reception
- Customized Buffalo lunch + tour
- Possible Pre/post FAM tours
- Goodie bags full of fun swag!
- Lifetime membership in our exclusive, private Bloghouse group
- …and more!
**Requirements for Applicants
We intentionally keep Bloghouse a small and intimate environment with typically 20 attendees maximum. All attendees are hand-picked. Slots are limited so please apply now and tell us why you make a perfect candidate!
We are looking for advanced BEGINNER (not brand new) to INTERMEDIATE bloggers who want to up their game. Bloggers who take this seriously and want to make more of a career out of blogging and take their blog to the next level.
- Your blog must be at least 6 months old.
- Your blog must be current and consistently updated.
- You must have a Facebook page for your blog and Twitter and Instagram accounts, all of which are active.
- Your blog must be in English.
- You will be required to promote #BloghouseBuffalo and partners on social media channels (mainly Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) plus write at least one blog post about your time in Buffalo in some capacity. By applying, you are agreeing to this.
“The relationships I got from BlogHouse far exceeded my expectations. I came expecting workshops, but instead I left with a family.”
APPLY HERE
About Buffalo
Photo credit: Paget Films
Buffalo is in the midst of am amazing comeback. In just the last five years, it’s undergone a massive reboot. The waterfront has been completely revived into an amazing front yard. Young entrepreneurs have moved back home to start new businesses. It’s an affordable town in which to experiment and create. And new boutique hotels and farm-to-table restaurants have popped up all over New York’s second largest city.
See how beautiful Buffalo is!
RiverWorks in Buffalo. Photo: Lisa Lubin
The entire Buffalo waterfront has been revitalized. Locals and visitors come down to what’s known as Canalside to listen to music, walk on the boardwalk, go boating, kayaking, water-biking and listen to live music.
Neglected neighborhoods are being rejuvenated with micro breweries like Resurgence Brewing and Big Ditch Brewing and indie coffee shops which are taking over old, vacant warehouses and attracting not only customers, but new neighbors.
Kayaking on the Buffalo River. Photo: KC Kratt
Riverworks. Photo: Joe Cascio
During the Bloghouse weekend in Buffalo, you will be extremely surprised with how much beauty and charm this once industrial town has to offer. And it’s super friendly to boot!
Buffalo Proper. Photo: Lisa Lubin
Read more about Buffalo’s bars and restaurants here.
Big Ditch Brewery. Photo: Lisa Lubin
Buffalo’s Resurgence Brewery. Photo: Lisa Lubin
The Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center
Buffalo is well known as a center to some classic American architecture. Buildings can be found here designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and H.H. Richardson. Our home for Bloghouse is the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center part of the National Historic Landmark Richardson Olmsted Campus. The building, designed by Richardson, was once an insane asylum! And the beautiful grounds (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) have been meticulously restored.
Hotel Henry Urban Resort. Photo: Lisa Lubin
There are 88 guest rooms and suites and uncommon public spaces carved out of the unique character of the original building layout. The hotel is surrounded by a charming neighborhood, galleries and nearby parks.
Hotel Henry’s 100 Acres. Photo: Kim Smith
For more Bloghouse info, return to the main Bloghouse page.
Mentors and Guest Speakers
Lisa Lubin
Lisa Lubin is an established travel/food writer and photographer, three-time Emmy®-award winning TV producer, video consultant, and travel industry expert. After more than a decade in broadcast television she took a sabbatical and traveled around the world for two years. She’s been blogging at LLworldtour.com since 2006. Her writing and photography has been published by American Way, Hemispheres, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, West Jet Magazine, Sheridan Road, Smithsonian, Malibu Times, Scandinavian Traveler, Luxury Las Vegas Magazine, Business Insider, and American Express. Her book, The Ultimate Travel Tips: Essential Advice for Your Adventures, is available on Amazon. Lisa also owns LLmedia, a video consulting and production business and has recently launched her new flagship Video Production Course.
Amanda Williams
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business, a travel blog that aims to inspire people to fit more travel and adventure into the lifestyle they already have. Since starting her blog in 2010, Amanda has traveled to more than 50 countries on six continents from her home base in Ohio, and has been featured by major publications and websites like AFAR, The Huffington Post, and USA Today Travel. In 2018, A Dangerous Business won the Silver Award for Best Travel Blog in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, hosted by SATW.
Theresa Goodrich
Theresa L. Goodrich is an Emmy-winning author and content creator with a penchant for storytelling and a keen eye. She’s the founder and publisher of The Local Tourist and author of the Two Lane Gems book series. Theresa has appeared in several Chicago media, including Crain’s Chicago, the Chicago Tribune, Chicagoist, WGN, WLUP, and WCIU. She was one of the founding bloggers of ChicagoNow, was the Chicago Expert for Answers.com, and is a contributor to 1000TravelTips.com. She’s also spoken on marketing, motivation, and entrepreneurship at several panels and conferences and was a featured speaker at the 2019 San Diego Travel & Adventure Show. When she’s not writing or on the road, she’s cooking and planning her next adventure.
Leyla Alyanak
Leyla Giray Alyanak is a former foreign correspondent and diplomat. She began her news career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, eventually freelancing for newspapers and magazines around the world. She has been a vocal advocate for HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health issues for the UN, where she still writes about human rights. Leyla launched Women on the Road in 2007, one of the first online resources for solo female travel. She has visited nearly 100 countries – a foodie at heart, there’s no limit how far she’ll travel for a great meal.
Caroline Eubanks
Caroline Eubanks is an Atlanta-based writer and author of the award-winning guidebook This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States, published by Globe Pequot Press. Her work has been published by Afar, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, USA Today, and Lonely Planet. She got her start blogging at her personal site, Caroline in the City, and interning at a newspaper.
She also owns the website, also called This Is My South, which is an online travel guide to the Southeast, focusing on offbeat attractions, incredible food, and overall culture. It was named the “Best Travel Blog in 2019” by the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas Awards and she was named by Southern Living as one of the Southern Travel Bloggers to Follow.
Brian Hayden
Brian Hayden has served as Visit Buffalo Niagara’s communications manager since 2014. He is VBN’s point person for visiting travel media, and has helped coordinate more than 200 press trips for visiting journalists and influencers to showcase the ongoing transformation and resurgence of his hometown. Hayden’s efforts have helped secure media coverage about Buffalo in hundreds of outlets, from The Wall Street Journal and the Sunday Times of London to The Associated Press, Lonely Planet and AFAR. Hayden is a 2010 graduate of Syracuse University and a 2015 recipient of Destination International’s “30 Under 30” Award.
If you have any questions please contact: Lisa@LLmedia.co
For more Bloghouse info, return to the main Bloghouse page.
Please follow along and share at hashtag: #BloghouseBuffalo.
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