CREATOR
For creators who want to take their content (whether it be written, photo, video, or anything else) to the next level.

INDUSTRY
Deep dives into the current state of the travel and tourism industry, with a particular emphasis on how influencer marketing can combat a lack of much-needed diversity.

TRENDS
For creators and industry representatives who are at the forefront of change and interested in the future of travel, and in particular highlights new and emerging insights within tourism worldwide.

BUSINESS
For the empire-builders and go-getters who want to excel in their professional careers.

SKILLS
Opportunities for participants to come away with hard skills and knowledge that can be applied to their work immediately.

BEGINNER BOOTCAMP
Beginner Bootcamp sessions are an extra pre-conference block of programming. Sessions are taught by expert creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs and are specifically designed for attendees who are new to digital content creation and interested in developing their careers.

• Beginner or 101 sessions (unless proposing a Beginner Bootcamp session). All proposals should be at intermediate or advanced levels.

• Sessions promoting your organization, company, brand, or blog (unless you are interested in purchasing a sponsorship). In order to ensure our session content remains unbiased, most breakout session slots are reserved for creators and independent entrepreneurs to teach hard skills, not promote their own work. Travel brand representatives must sponsor the event in order to present a session.

• Sessions focused on inspiring others to travel, personal travel stories, or sharing tips for how to travel (either generally, to a specific destination, or focusing on a certain type of travel). The only exception here are sessions that discuss how certain travel trends impact the tourism industry.

• Sessions involving life coaching or wellness skills (unless with a focus on travel industry trends). We may occasionally offer early morning interactive wellness sessions. These kinds of proposals are accepted on an extremely limited basis.

You will be asked to agree to the following:

• To be available to present your session during WITS.

• Not to solicit business or advertise products or services during your session without prior consent.

• Not to substitute a presentation topic or any other speaker for your session without prior written approval.

• That you maintain the legal ownership or right to distribute any materials handed out during your session.

• Not to make any negative comments about WITS sponsors or their products or services in conjunction with the summit in a public forum.

• That WITS has permission to use and/or reproduce your image for promotional and other purposes.

• That WITS has permission to distribute a (watermarked) copy of your presentation to our attendees.

In exchange for the following:

• $200 USD for solo session presenters or $100 USD each for two co-session presenters. Sessions or panels with three or more presenters are not offered payment. In order to ensure equity among all speakers, payment amounts are non-negotiable.

• Complimentary registration to WITS, including access to all other sessions (excluding Beginner Bootcamp, unless speaking at it), parties, happy hours, Media Marketplace, and tours and trips.

• Accommodations for two nights in our host city. Local presenters may be offered payment in lieu of accommodations. This option is not guaranteed and will be offered on a case-by-case basis.

• Individualized social media promotion and opportunities to partner for social media collabs.

• Additional moneymaking opportunities (including offering paid mentor sessions to attendees and/or selling items in our store).

• An invitation to an exclusive VIP networking event with other influencer and industry presenters as well as high-level sponsors.

Who can submit a proposal?

We accept proposals from anyone of any life experience and gender, but we strongly prefer to take on sessions led by experienced content creators, influencers, and industry members.

What makes a standout proposal?

Keep the WITS community in mind when crafting your proposal, and propose sessions that leave attendees with motivation, new knowledge, and actionable insights. Include at least three key lessons attendees can expect to learn in your session. We encourage you to think about your proposal not just as a session, but as an opportunity to educate, inspire, and empower the WITS community. Attendees come to WITS to learn. Teach and let your creativity and innovative ideas shine through.

Should panelists or co-presenters each submit a separate proposal?

No, please submit only one proposal for any panels or co-presented sessions. However, you MUST have confirmation from your co-presenters and include their contact information AND photo links/bios as well as your own in order for your session to be considered. Proposals missing these components will be automatically rejected.

Can I email you to get constructive criticism or suggestions on how to develop/improve my proposal before submitting it?

No, sorry. We get dozens of these requests each year and just can’t reply to them all. If we think your proposal has potential but we do not want to accept it as is, we may contact you to accept it with tweaks. To get feedback on your proposal, you can reach out to the past and future attendees and presenters in our Facebook Group. Our team reads posts in this group, and we are usually quick to respond. This is also where our community lives. We strive to serve their needs, and if we see that they are responding positively to your proposal, we will be more likely to accept it.

Can I propose a keynote?

No, sorry. When we host keynotes, they’re by invitation only. We do not host keynotes at every event.

Can I email or DM you my proposal?

No, sorry. We need you to fill out the appropriate form on this page, even if we know you and even if you’ve presented at WITS before. Email proposals will be ignored.

Can I submit multiple proposals?

Yes! Please submit each individual proposal through the appropriate form on this page.

What happens after I submit a proposal? When will I hear back about my session?

Proposals are reviewed by the WITS team and sometimes by outside advisors. We rate each one and select those which receive the highest marks, though we occasionally do not accept certain proposals with high marks if we have already accepted another of a similar nature. You can expect to receive a decision on whether or not your proposal has been accepted about three months prior to the event, give or take. We will email you even if your proposal has not been accepted. We do not respond to email inquiries on the status of submitted proposals.

I missed the deadline! Can I email my proposal to you?

No, sorry. Try again next year!

I’ve presented at WITS before. Do I have to submit a proposal? Can I present the same session again?

Yes, you have to submit a proposal even if you’ve presented at WITS before. No, you cannot present the same session two years in a row. We offer new and relevant sessions at our events each year. What was relevant last year may not apply this year. That said, if you have updated your presentation, you are welcome to propose it again two years after you initially presented it (so if you presented it in 2023, you may propose it again for 2025). Please propose your session through the form on this page, even if you have already presented it at WITS.