Media Press Trip - Food and Travel Magazine to Langkawi with Tourism Malaysia

ATW Travel Marketing orchestrated an impactful media press trip for Food & Travel Magazine, arranging for renowned UK food and drink journalist, Ben McCormack, and photographer Mark Parren Taylor to explore Langkawi, Malaysia. 

The resulting 14-page in-depth destination review in Food & Travel Magazine, promises impactful coverage, delving into Langkawi's culinary delights, travel experiences, and cultural nuances. This editorial endeavour offers readers a captivating journey beneath the surface of the destination. This coveted editorial opportunity typically involves significant budget considerations. Leveraging our strong rapport with the editor, ATW secured this feature on a purely editorial basis.

ATW Travel Marketing meticulously crafted a comprehensive itinerary for the press trip, collaborating seamlessly with numerous esteemed hotel partners to ensure their enthusiastic involvement. Additionally, exclusive 'behind-the-scenes' culinary experiences were curated, unveiling hidden local gems and flavours, enriching the tapestry of authentic encounters for the esteemed guests and, ultimately, for the readers of Food & Travel Magazine.

Please note this report details Ben's social media. This is additional coverage which was not part of the agreement, so it was fantastic to see him also sharing his trip on his social media. The key resulting coverage will be the 10-page destination review. ATW following up with the editor to confirm publication date, which will potentially be Summer 2024. 

Food & Travel Magazine is hailed as the world's leading gastronomic travel title with a remarkable 25-year heritage. It continues to captivate readers with its unparalleled exploration of culinary landscapes and global destinations. Food & Travel Magazine stands as a beacon of culinary and travel inspiration.

With an award-winning history, the magazine's rich content transports readers on a captivating culinary voyage with every issue. Through the lens of expert writers, photographers, and editors, Food & Travel Magazine delves into the heart of diverse culinary cultures, uncovering hidden gems and sharing insider tips along the way.

With a monthly circulation figure exceeding 150,000 copies  distributed globally and a UK circulation of 31,000, Food & Travel Magazine is a trusted companion for culinary enthusiasts and intrepid travellers alike. Its pages resonate with the shared love for good food, great adventures, and the universal language of culinary exploration. UK readership stands at 8,000, and the magazine is published 10 times a year, featuring full colour and glossy publication.

This press trip took place from Thursday 1st February to Saturday 10th February 2024.

Throughout this stay Ben and Mark stayed at four hotels/resorts, ate at many local restaurants and took part in numerous culinary activities. 

The main focus of this trip was for Ben and Mark to gain content for the 10-page in-depth destination review for Food & Travel Magazine. Social media was not part of the coverage agreement however Ben was posting engaging grid posts and stories throughout his trip which is additional coverage for Malaysia.

Ben McCormack has 20,800 Instagram followers:

Ben posted seven grid posts with images from his trip. He tagged the restaurants or hotels in both the posts and within the captions whilst also location tagging. He used many hashtags, several referencing Malaysia/Langkawi.

Grid posts:

Ben posted four stories throughout his trip. An image showing the fresh catch of the day, a shot from a night market, his fishing trip and an aerial shot from the plane. Ben Location tagged showing the location of each of these activities.

The resulting 14-page destination review was published in the April issue of Food and Travel. The impactful, coverage of Langkawi's culinary delights, travel experiences, and cultural nuances also featured beautiful, vibrant photography. It includes information on ‘Where to Stay’ crediting the hotel partners involved, and a section on ‘Where to Eat’. Tourism Malaysia is credited in Travel Information and at the end of the piece.

In conclusion, the media press trip featuring Ben McCormack and photographer Mark Parren Taylor from Food & Travel Magazine was a resounding success. The visit to Langkawi, Malaysia, exemplified the magazine's dedication to providing engaging culinary and travel content. Facilitated through ATW’s strong rapport with the magazine's editor, the trip was secured on an entirely editorial basis, despite significant budget considerations.

Through meticulous planning and collaboration with esteemed hotel partners, ATW Travel Marketing ensured an enriching experience for McCormack, Taylor, and ultimately, the magazine's readers. The curated itinerary unveiled hidden local gems and flavours, offering authentic encounters that resonate with the essence of culinary exploration.

Overall, the press trip showcased the harmonious collaboration between ATW Travel Marketing, Food & Travel Magazine, and Tourism Malaysia, highlighting the lively allure of Langkawi as a destination. It stands as a testament to the power of editorial collaboration in inspiring and informing culinary enthusiasts and intrepid travellers worldwide.