I just got the latest Journeywoman newsletter – Evelyn Hannon started it 22 years ago when people thought it was daft to be offering women only trips and before the internet really took off. Now the industry is meeting the need with hundreds of women only trips.
I build the Women Travel NZ site in 2000 – and Women Travel the World in 2006 with blogs and facebook to follow.
Here are Evelyn’s memories:
This, for me, is a ‘sweet celebration’ issue. September marks the beginning of our 22nd year of publishing this newsletter. In the days leading up to the Fall of 1994, I invited my special girlfriend out to lunch and handed her the first 20-page sample copy of Journeywoman. ‘Read,’ I said. And for the next 30 minutes she read and I waited nervously for her reaction. When she was done, she looked up and simply said, ‘I love it.’ That was all I needed to hear. With her assurance that my idea was not totally hair-brained, I burst into tears of relief. Looking back I remember that restaurant meeting as the one where Journeyman was officially born.
Much has changed since 1994. Besides my hair being grayer and my backpacks becoming progressively smaller, I’ve watched first-hand the growth of the women’s travel market.
From being a teeny niche stream we now lead the pack in tourism numbers. Back then major tour operators scoffed at the concept of female-centered tour itineraries. Today’s modern corporations are wisely doing their best to attract our attention and to answer our particular travel needs.
To you in the industry I say, ‘kudos’ for helping us to travel safely and well. And to everybody in our JW Network who has supported Journeywoman with your travel tips, advice and recommendations, I say, ‘I could never have done it without all of you.’ Happy 22nd Anniversary!
Happy 22nd Anniversary Journeywoman!
