Meet Cristina, Toronto’s Chapter Leader

This week in our Leader of the Pack series, we meet Cristina, chapter leader of Toronto Travel Massive, part of the Travel Massive global team and travel blogger.

Cristina quit her job in TV journalism to travel the world, volunteer and write about it. Today, Cristina shares with us her tips and stories about how her experiences have been at Travel Massive meet ups.

How did you first get involved with Travel Massive?

I started attending meetups in 2012 when I was looking for ways to improve as a travel blogger. I instantly fell in love with the social events, and how supportive other members were – I couldn’t believe there was a community out there doing what I wanted to do and helping each other to do it! I started organizing events shortly after, mainly because the co-founders before me had given me so much in terms of improving my knowledge and craft in the industry that I wanted to give back to the community as much as I received from it. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences – I love hearing when someone has made a new connection or created a partnership as a result of a Travel Massive meetup.

What motivates you to be part of Travel Massive?

The genuineness of the community. I am always trying to improve my skills in blogging, digital media and marketing in travel so I find that surrounding myself with like-minded people and with those who share similar interests helps me in my profession. I found Travel Massive to be the first community I’ve been a part of that is truly non-competitive – people genuinely want to support and help each other excel in the industry.

Who attends your events?

We’ve always had a strong attendance of travel bloggers and brands at our meetups since we first started in 2010. We’ve been fortunate to be hosted by big names in travel like Intrepid Travel, Expedia, G Adventures, Google Canada, Olympus, India Tourism, Germany Tourism and Visit Great Britain. Now, we’re finding amazing growth among travel-tech startups too!

Do you do anything unique at your meet-ups?

Before we kick off each meetup we hold a short open mic. It’s a chance to invite the community to take the floor and give a 20-second elevator pitch – to introduce who they are, what they do, share something they need help with or tell us about the latest project they are working on. The idea came from a fellow community member Jason at Tour Guys. It’s been really successful – people use it to connect with other people in the room and maybe even find a new partnership.

How has Travel Massive helped you professionally?

I’ve built important contacts with tourism boards and travel brands which I would’ve never met if I didn’t attend Travel Massive meetups. I once won $500 from Travelocity at a Toronto event they hosted. I used the money to book my first volunteer trip with an NGO in Haiti – which I learned about through another Travel Massive member in Washington. I teamed up with Not Just Tourists in our community to carry medical supplies to a clinic in need in Port-au-Prince. My trip and its success really encompassed Travel Massive in so many ways!

Do you have a past event that was your favourite?

In July 2012 we celebrated our 2nd anniversary. The event was hosted by Intrepid Travel which gave away a trip to Vietnam. The official winner of the trip was Meredith but she decided to give the trip to Tammy instead. You can read about how it all unfolded on our blog. It was one of the most memorable moments in our community that showed us how amazing this community really is.

What is your best advice to a newcomer who wants to attend a Travel Massive event for the first time?

Some communities are close-knit with regulars who attend each month and may already have relationships formed but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to meet a new face! Don’t be shy and put yourself out there.

• Mix and mingle and introduce yourself into different conversations.
• Introduce yourself to the organizer and ask them to help you make your first connection.
• Help others and you’ll find they will want to help you too.
• Bring business cards!

Leader of the Pack is a monthly series that profiles the organizers and leaders of Travel Massive chapters around the world. You can get in touch with Cristina via Travel Massive, Facebook or Twitter.