←→From the Travesphere: Mark of Upgrade: Travel Better

Posted Monday, June 4th, 2007 · Permalink

In the third installment of my From the Travepshere interview series, I’ve been lucky enough to talk to Mark Ashley of Upgrade: Travel Better, who organized the Travvies, the first-ever dedicated travel blog awards. Based loosely on the Webbies, the Travvies recognizes a selection of travel blogs but also, and in my opinion more importantly, lends a little publicity to all nominated blogs. Good stuff.

This site was just a little too late in the game for last years Travvies, but who knows about next year? Check out the above link for last years winners. Despite me being late to the game, I did get most of my travel blog contacts via the Travvies

Besides all that, Mark also runs his fantastic blog. It’s consistent, great quality, and interesting to read. I hope everyone checks out his site and subscribes to his feed. This is what he said in my question-rich interview.

When did you first become interested in traveling?

I suppose it was as a kid. I got my first passport at one year of age, when my parents took me to visit relatives overseas. (My passport photo was apparently quite a drama. I’m much better now, I promise.) I’ve been traveling ever since. I’ve was once a backpacker, but not anymore. The Westin Gene has kicked in.

What do you like most about traveling?

All the cliche’d reasons. Seeing new places, experiencing new things, tasting new foods… I’m also a sucker for flying. Despite the fact that air travel isn’t as fun as it used to be, I still enjoy it, especially takeoffs and landings. The little boy in me comes out.

What are a few of your favorite places you’ve traveled through?

I enjoy city vacations, nature trips, and the occasional beach/resort . The most recent “wow” trip was a 2+ week trip to New Zealand, going from kayaking in nearly Caribbean blue waters to seeing glaciers up close, all within a 3 hour drive. Hiking through Alaska was great. Fiji, Russia, Anguilla, the American Southwest, the list goes on.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Too many places to choose! I’ve never been to Australia, and would love to spend some time down there, exploring both the cities and the nature. Diving the Great Barrier Reef is on the agenda. But I need to learn to dive first. I’d like to hit the Maldives before they’re gone. Argentina is on the list, and hopefully soon. Too many places to choose, I tell you.

Do you have any favorite travel equipment you would recommend?

Ziploc bags of various shapes and sizes. But you know, I’m not really a gear-oriented traveler. It depends on the trip, of course, and what kind of travel it is.

Do you have an essential Mark’s tip?

Research! And print copies of everything. Be prepared to break out the legal mumbo-jumbo when you fight for your rights.

Let’s talk about your blog. What inspired you to start blogging?

My good friend Tyler Colman, who blogs about wine at Dr. Vino, gets most of the credit (or blame). I’ve always been the go-to guy for travel advice, in my family, in my circle of friends, and at work. So I started putting some of the frequent questions I was getting from friends and colleagues on the blog. But I started really having fun with it, commenting on the travel news I was already following, and becoming more interactive, with readers sending in tips, questions, and comments.

What makes Upgrade: Travel Better different from other travel blogs?

The blog is more or less process-driven, not destination-driven, and I’m pro-consumer all the way. I could have written a travelogue of my vacation in Texas last month, but I don’t think that’s my strength. Sure, I could point out some cool stuff that we experienced, but others are a lot better at giving color to a destination for a person who’s never been there. So I focus on what I perceive as my own strengths, which are more about the mechanics of travel.

I try not to focus just one sector, such as airlines, or hotels, or whatever, and instead try to cover the range of travel experiences that are out there, from both the business and leisure perspectives. Sometimes the posts may get into a rut – a bunch of posts in a row about jetBlue for example – but it’s my goal to keep it diversified. You won’t find many posts about cruises, though. I know little about them, and don’t have a big interest in them, either.

What have been some of the challenges for your blog?

Trying to avoid posting-ruts, like I mentioned earlier. I’m always flattered by the number the people who actually take time out of their day to read what I wrote. I don’t take that for granted, and want to make it interesting and useful. That’s the biggest challenge. That, and making sure that there’s enough time in the day to make a worthwhile post.

How do you see the travesphere changing?

First of all, hats off to you for inventing the word “travesphere.” (Does that include the world of travel blogs alone, or the entire networked world of travel information?)

(Thanks! I consider it like blogosphere, but then for traveling. In other words, the world of travel blogs.)

Either way, I honestly have no idea. You can’t predict what the next disruptive technology will be, you just have to be adaptive when it comes around. The world is obviously more and more real-time, and there are more entrants every day, whether they’re producers or consumers of information. For producers, you have to keep busy to remain fresh, up to date, and interesting.

What’s next for Upgrade: Travel Better?

I’m making incremental changes, and introducing new features gradually. I’ve started a flickr group last week, to encourage people to include their travel images for use on the site. (Hasn’t actually been announced yet… until now!)

I’ll be compiling a list of travel promo codes and offers, too, so people can stop by the site to find ways to save money when they book their trips. That will be a permalink on every page, once it’s running. Other stuff, too, but you’ll have to read the site .

I certainly do! In any case, let’s talk Travvies 2007. Where did you get the idea for the Travvies?

It emerged from discussions with non-travel blogging friends. The big travel blog awards, such as the Bloggies, didn’t have a category for travel. That’s understandable, since there are a thousand niches, but I felt that travel deserved some recognition. Around the same time, other blog niches were starting up awards, too, so I just went ahead and organized it. Someone had to get the ball rolling, so why not me?

Did you expect it to be such a success?

Honestly, no! I was very excited by the broad enthusiasm, on the part of readers, bloggers, journalists, and of course the judges, who so graciously donated their time and efforts. And thanks again to everyone for participating!

Some people weren’t happy with all the results. Do you care to comment?

Two points: First, you can’t please everyone. Some people objected to the categories, some people objected to the short timeframe, some people objected to the very existence of the awards. So it goes. I’m taking criticisms and feedback into account for next year, and am still open to ideas, since next year’s awards are many months away… But the positive feedback far, far, far outpaced the negative comments. I am very happy with people’s reactions, and I’m happy that the Travvies got the word out for so many great blogs.

Back to controversy… The results led to some sniping in the comments, too. The “controversy” surrounded some blogs’ winning their categories after lobbying for votes on their sites, and in other places, such as Facebook. Obviously, some bloggers were more aggressive in lobbying for votes. But that’s politics, I’m afraid. I assure you that there were measures in place to sift out multiple votes and ballot-box stuffing, but some blogs clearly campaigned while others didn’t. And campaigning is “legal.” I had some qualms about starting the awards in the first place, but I think the exposure that all the nominees got is the key.

How did you choose the judges?

I looked for judges who were respected for their writing, analysis of the travel business, or contributions to the world of travel and/or blogging. It was a great mix of people, and I was delighted to have so many great judges participating. Thanks to the judges, again!

So the Travvies will be a yearly thing. Have you thought about the changes you’d like to have for next year?

Next year, I foresee a few changes, but the. One will be the introduction of a separate category for professional blogs, e.g., blogs that are published on the sites of magazines and newspapers. But the “pro” vs. “amateur” category is a much harder line to draw than you’d think. For example, there officially-sanctioned blogs on magazine sites; blogs that pay their writers per post; blogs written by professional journalists, but on their own site; etc., etc. I thought about implementing a distinction like this earlier, and had some great discussions with several people before we launched, but I didn’t do it. Next year, we’ll have a pro-am distinction, somehow.

And once again thanks, Timen, for inviting me to join you here!

Well it was my pleasure! Thanks for your insights!

Filed under Interviews.