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Southern Travelers Explore Conference

Southern Travelers Explore Conference

Southern Travelers Explore Conference (#STE) is a unique event created by Melody Pittman and Taylor Hardy, mom/daughter and co-founders of Travel the South blog.

#STE brings together bloggers, content creators, influencers, CVBs/DMOs, and brands from all over for a weekend full of learning sessions, small group discussions, and networking opportunities. A Sunday marketplace concludes the conference.

At #STE, we believe in inclusivity and collaboration in the travel industry, that there is room for everyone to excel. Our conference is designed to be welcoming, relaxed, and focused on creating a supportive community for all attendees.

Join us and be a part of our #STE Family!

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Photos by Veronicajune Photography.

Save the date for our next stop in Oconee County, South Carolina, on March 7-9th, 2025. Keep an eye out for #STEOconeeCoSC to stay up to date, or follow our #STE FB page.

Blogger/content creator tickets sold out in a record five hours, but we still have room for CVBs and brands. For destination or brand tickets or sponsorship inquiries, please email us.

Southern Travelers Explore Conference has been in:

  • Thomasville, Georgia (#STEThomasville 2020)
  • Tupelo, Mississippi (#STETupelo 2021)
  • Huntsville, Alabama (#STEHuntsville 2022)
  • Irving, Texas (#STEIrving 2023)
  • Gulf Shores, Alabama (#STEAlabamaBeaches 2024)
  • We have also hosted small retreats, such as in Johnson City, Tennessee (#STEJohnsonCity 2021). Stay tuned for more of these in the future.
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#STEAlabamaBeaches Recap

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach rolled out the red carpet for our attendees with beachside lodging, conference space, and unforgettable activities. It was our biggest conference yet, but it still felt intimate and family-like.

Highlights

  • Seafood Boil on the Gulf Coast: Fresh, delicious, and perfectly beachy.
  • Sandcastle Building: Thanks to Sandcastle University, we crafted custom sand creations.
  • Live Music and Excellent Dine-Around Options.
  • Fun Evening at Flora-Bama: A world-famous spot that never disappoints.

Alabama Beaches, a long-time Southern Travelers Explore partner, welcomed us with open arms. We loved introducing some newbies to this gem, and they fell in love instantly. One attendee even said it was one of the best days of her life—that says it all.

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Posts from #STEAlabamaBeaches

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#STEIrving Recap

The entire city of Irving and its officials welcomed #STE with open arms for the most incredible weekend. The adorable Texican Court was the perfect setting as we discussed adding YouTube to our portfolios, TikTok and Reels, repurposing content, cashing in beyond writing, and affiliate marketing.

Highlights

  • Customizing our very own Stetson hats
  • Adding personalized locks to Irving’s Love Lock Bridge
  • Surprise gondola cruises on Lake Carolyn (all of which were gifts from Visit Irving!)
  • Our first unofficial Bonus afternoon educational sessions
  • Professional headshots by Veronicajune Photography (a gift from Melody & Taylor)

Visit Irving is a longtime tourism board friend and has attended and sponsored two previous #STE Conferences. We were thrilled for the opportunity to showcase their spectacular city and work with a team that has supported our #STE endeavor since the start.

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Posts From #STEIrving

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#STEHuntsville Recap

The 3rd #STE Conference brought together attendees from 21 different states to the heart of “The Rocket City,” Huntsville, Alabama. The brand-new 106 Jefferson Hotel served as our host hotel and meeting venue, and the staff went above and beyond to impress our guests, even delivering specially crafted food and beverage presentations to their rooms each evening.

Over the weekend, we dove into topics like CVB/blogger relations, how CVBs vet writers, and collaborating with brands. It was a weekend filled with learning, networking, and exploration.

Highlights

  • Opening Event at U.S. Space & Rocket Center: Tours led by Emeritus Docents under the iconic Saturn V rocket.
  • Brunch at 106 Jefferson’s Baker & Able Rooftop Bar: A bountiful brunch with stunning city views.
  • Dine-Around Event: An evening at Huntsville’s trendy Campus 805 and Stovehouse venues.

Huntsville is another long time tourism board friend and previous Southern Travelers Explore Conference attendee. As a CVB that really “gets” tourism, Huntsville was a fantastic partner and really helped take our conference to the next level.

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Posts From #STEHuntsville

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#STEJohnsonCity Recap

The first Southern Travelers Explore Retreat was a joyful weekend brimming with creativity and camaraderie. Hosted at the charming AAA Four Diamond Carnegie Hotel & Spa in Johnson City, Tennessee, it was a celebration of one-skill set programming with a focus on photography.

Attendees immersed themselves in eight engaging photography sessions, capturing the essence of beautiful destinations through their lenses.

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Highlights

  • Opening Event: We kicked off with a blast at the brand new Tennessee Hills Brewstillery. The atmosphere was electric!
  • Local Tour: A delightful visit to Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, took us back in time with its rich history, quaint charm, and a memorable guided tour.
  • Windsor Speakeasy: The retreat wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the popular Windsor Speakeasy, where the ambiance transported us to another era

Posts From #STEJohnsonCity

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#STETupelo Recap

The 2nd Southern Travelers Explore Conference rolled into Tupelo, Mississippi, just after the 2021 winter storm that brought the entire state to a standstill. Despite the icy challenges and closed businesses, our resilient attendees made the most of it.

We dived into engaging discussions on video creation, Pinterest strategies, SEO optimization, and tax preparation for bloggers. The hybrid setup allowed us to connect in-person and over Zoom, making the experience accessible and enriching for everyone.

Highlights

  • Meaningful Discussions about video creation, Pinterest strategies, SEO optimization, and tax preparation.
  • Hybrid Experience with sessions both in-person and over Zoom.
  • Building Connections that turned our group into a #STE Family.
  • Resilience & Adaptability shown by our attendees despite the adverse conditions.

The biggest takeaway from #STETupelo? We’re in this business for you, our community. We became an extended family that year, and were thrilled to see most of our attendees return for the next year’s conference.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And that’s exactly what we did!

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Posts From #STETupelo

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#STEThomasville Recap

Our inaugural Southern Travelers Explore conference in Thomasville, Georgia, was an absolute dream! Just two weeks before the world shut down, 25 of us gathered in what Melody calls the “quintessential Southern town,” thanks to Bonnie from the Thomasville Visitors Center for making it happen.

South Eden Plantation was our charming base, where we dove into insightful sessions on podcasting, monetizing blogs, email marketing, and standing out in the digital crowd. A special highlight was hearing from Patricia Schultz, the captivating author behind the #1 New York Times bestseller, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die—Melody’s travel inspiration!

Highlights

  • Dining in Showboat Theater: Enjoyed meals in the historic venue where Gone with the Wind had its first viewing.
  • Taste of Thomasville Food Tour: Savored local flavors on an unforgettable culinary adventure.
  • The Big Oak: Captured memories under one of the largest Southern Live Oak trees east of the Mississippi.

Thanks to everyone who made our first conference so special. Here’s to many more adventures together!

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Posts From #STEThomasville

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