TBEX – 9 Tips for a First Timer

Last updated: 15 July 2023

Your first TBEX is a bit like your wedding day. You see a lot of familiar faces, meet new ones and spend the whole time on your feet in a semi inebriated blur.  The following TBEX tips will help address the confusion and often conflicting advice you receive as a TBEX first timer.

My first TBEX was in 2015, Russ and I had the utterly brilliant idea of driving from London to Madrid with a little stop in Costa Brava for TBEX Europe. I learnt quite a number of lessons from my first TBEX, which I hope you’ll find helpful on your next trip to TBEX. 

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you, we may earn a small commission. This helps keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ. We sincerely thank you for your support.


1. Take business cards

It seems like a basic tip but I was surprised by the number of bloggers I met for the first time who didn’t bring business cards, or by the end of the conference had run out. I highly recommend you take the time to have them professionally printed. Remember, business cards are an extension of you and your brand, the impression they give is worth the expense. Take a minimum of 150 cards to ensure you don’t run out.

After trying out a few suppliers, we now use Moo for our business cards. With quality stock, easy design interface and quick delivery it’s perfect for TBEX.


2. Wear your lanyard

You’ll be given a lanyard upon registration at the conference. Wear it to every event and function so people can remember you and not those awkward questions of ‘what was your name again?’


3. Don’t go too hard too quick

The opening party and endless networking is exhausting for even the most experienced of bloggers. Based on what I saw during the my time, I recommend you pace yourself, attend as many events and functions as you can but don’t get so drunk on the first night that you can’t get up the next day.

TBEX 15 - Costa Brava


4. Take Breaks

I recommend breaks throughout the conference, just a little time to yourself especially if you’re an introvert. There are lots of new faces and names to process which can easily become overwhelming and can feel like you’re burning out. You’ll likely be exhausted and need some “me” time. So just take it as you need it.


5. Interact

Try to schedule opportunities to meet familiar faces. The majority of us know one another from the virtual world of Facebook groups or Twitter chats, but if you have the opportunity to meet these people in the flesh then do it.

Party people


6. Mingle

If you’re shy or attending alone, consider using point 5 to get some courage so you don’t feel like a complete loner. Then use that fearlessness (if you need it) to mingle with new faces, industry and bloggers alike. We’re all there to network and learn, so try to embrace that by meeting new people too.


7. Pre-BEX tours

Pre-BEX trips are typically one to two day familiarisation (FAM) trips sponsored by the host city. Mostly acting as intro taster tours to the city/region. They’re generally easier to register for as there seems to be less of a selection process (unlike Post-BEX tours, see below).


8. Post-BEX tours

After every TBEX there are sponsored FAM trips organised by the local tourism board(s). These FAM trips can range from one or four days in length, are generally diverse as the range of bloggers at TBEX and some are focused towards specific niche (adventure, food, family etc). Trips are all inclusive with transport, accommodation and experiences all being comped so no expense is incurred by the bloggers. There’s a catch though. While they’re included in your TBEX ticket, you have to register for these tours well in advance. Several months before TBEX, the available trips are released and you as a blogger nominate your tour preferences. The actual sponsors will choose their attendees from that list. You may not get your first or second preference. If you’re new, you may not be chosen at all.

Unfortunately bloggers quite often don’t find out which trip they’re on until very late which can impact on flights and accommodation. Consider booking flexible flights and accommodation early to beat the rush.

It is possible to get a pre-BEX tour and a post-BEX tour, or just one or neither. They’re not compulsory and my first TBEX I didn’t know they existed so missed out all together.

Social media tree for TBEX


9. Join TBEX specific Facebook Groups and Twitter Lists

There’s always an official (closed) Facebook group which is worth joining. You’ll need to be registered for the conference to join.  It’s a great source of information or where you can post questions to organisers and other bloggers. Twitter lists are an easy way of seeing tweets from other attendees, usually one or two bloggers will create a Twitter list for the event. 


TL;DR

While it seems really scary at first, TBEX and other travel blogging conferences are a great way to meet other bloggers and gain some valuable experience.  I’ll be representing Roaming Required at TBEX in Stockholm, so if you’d like to meet up leave me a comment below.

Like it? Pin it! TBEX tips


Need ideas for a date night in London? Here’s 37 of themroaming-required-things-to-do-in-london

Roma was raised on the white sandy beaches of Australia's East Coast, and she has called London home since 2012. With an adventurous spirit, a love of regional travel and anything food related, Roma looks to encourage working professionals to follow their dreams to travel the world one adventure and short break at a time. Don't let a full-time career stop you from seeing the world. Come roam with us!

Some of the links used on Roaming Required are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase then may earn a small commission, at absolutely no additional cost to you. This helps keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ and the content being created. We sincerely thank you for your support.

Comments (14)

  1. Thanks for this post! I am an introvert and will be attending my first TBEX in Manila next month. Nervous and have no idea where to start. But I joined one PreBEX Fam trip so hopefully that could get me to open up more and enjoy it . Got my business cards ready too. about 200 cards, that should be OK, noh? Again, thanks for this!

    1. Congrats Carla on taking the first step. It’s totally ok to be an introvert at these events. Believe it or not, there are A LOT of attendees that identify as introverts so you won’t be alone. Take it one step at a time, meet at least one new person every day and you’re well on your way to some great relationships. The FAM trip will help ease you into it as they’re usually not huge groups (20 max usually). Yes, 200 business cards should be enough. Enjoy TBEX!

  2. Hi Roma! I’d love to meet up and talk travel 🙂 It’s my first TBEX and I’m super psyched about it! Thanks for sharing these tips 🙂 Hoping we can meet up when we’re there. Cheers! Heather

    1. Heather, that’s wonderful news that you’re able to make it to your first TBEX. Just started following your IG account too. See you in Stockholm from the 13th!

  3. Thanks for the tips! I’ll be attending my 1st T-Bex event in Stockholm and I’m looking forward to meeting you guys and all the other awesome bloggers out there 🙂 Can’t wait!

    1. Excellent news! Attending your first TBEX is a big leap in the right direciton. I’ll be there so perhaps we can meet up for a face-to-face hello. Were you able to secure a FAM trip?

    1. Thanks really great news Kate. I know it’s not a comprehensive list of all things TBEX, but it’s a good place to start.

      I’ll be at TBEX so perhaps we can meet up for a face-to-face hello.

    1. It’s worth considering attending Laura, there’s three TBEX around the globe every year so perhaps you can time it with a trip to one of those destinations.

  4. I am wondering if I should go to one of these. Do you think they are really beneficial? Thanks! Great, informative article.

    1. The conferences are large and very full on. It can easily become overwhelming. There are smaller conferences which might be less daunting for first timers, but I do believe you should go and see for yourself.

    1. Looks like you’re UK based Jacqui. Perhaps Traverse is a good conference to start with, and it’s domestic. After each TBEX the next host city is announced for the year after so fingers crossed it will be UK based in 2017.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *