Travel Weekly is the travel industry's leading trade publication. We serve an audience of travel professionals across North America and around the globe with news, analysis and research with a weekly print publication and round-the-clock posts on our website, TravelWeekly.com. Our portfolio of multimedia products also includes The Folo by Travel Weekly and Trade Secrets podcasts; video and social media posts; and the Travel Industry Survey. Travel Weekly is owned by Northstar Travel Group.

Who is Travel Weekly's audience?

Travel Weekly is based in the U.S. and has a national and global trade readership across every segment of the travel industry: cruise, hotels, airline, tour operations, retail agencies, corporate travel and more. 

Does Travel Weekly work with freelance writers?

Much of Travel Weekly's news content is produced by our in-house editorial team of reporters. Because we have a full-time team of reporters, we typically do not seek breaking news stories or briefs from freelance writers. However, we work with freelance contributors for select story types, including trend stories and in-destination features. 

To qualify as a freelance writer for Travel Weekly, writers must have recently been published in multiple outlets and be actively marketing their services to multiple publications. Due to potential conflicts of interest, we do not accept destination-feature pitches from active travel advisors or creators who are paid for content on the same topic as the pitch. As a result of updates in both federal law and California state law, Northstar is no longer able to hire California-based freelancers who specialize in certain categories, including writing/editing/reporting; if you are California-based, please contact us before you submit a pitch.

What types of stories Is Travel Weekly looking for?

1. Destination-specific coverage

Travel Weekly's audience of travel professionals are seeking intelligence on the destinations they sell. Destination-specific stories should go beyond the highlights that are typically found online and in consumer publications and should incorporate a trade angle. 

While we cover the globe, some places are covered more extensively than others. To get a better understanding of the destinations we cover, go to Travel Weekly.com > News & Featured Destinations, and refer to the destinations listed under the "Destinations" tab.

We will occasionally accept stories that are themed to a particular travel niche, including family/multigenerational, adventure, luxury, wellness or all-inclusive resorts. If your piece has a specific angle, please designate that in your pitch.

Examples:
Many passions to pursue in Slovenia
Quebec City's Old World charm delights young ones
Idaho: A hidden gem for skiers?

2. Firsthand, experiential reports on cruises, hotels, tours and destinations

Travel Weekly's audience is always looking for new and interesting products to sell or incorporate into their businesses. While we commission firsthand, immersive accounts of travel products and experiences, we are not looking for a personal travel essay.

These stories are written in first-person, they should ideally lead with a news hook, and the product -- the ship, hotel, tour or destination -- is the subject. What can you tell travel advisors that they couldn't get from a brochure or website?

To achieve this style: use specific anecdotes and sensory detail; write from a first-person point of view but avoid a play-by-play recounting of the trip. Instead, focus on the moments and details that distinguish this product from competitors, and always circle back to what an advisor should know when selling it.

Products in the story (hotels, tours, etc) must be commissionable for U.S. travel advisors, or the supplier must work with advisors in some way.

Examples:
Atlas builds loyal base on luxury, epic experiences 
Long winters, challenging skiing at Alyeska Resort
Wellness meets paradise at BodyHoliday in St. Lucia

3. News features or analysis

As a business-to-business publication, Travel Weekly is always on the lookout for news, business and travel trend pieces that introduce a new perspective or innovative angle. These articles are thoroughly researched and often include multiple sources, and they should not be on news topics or trends already covered by our reporting team. 

How do I submit a pitch?

Queries should be sent to Emma Weissmann, features editor, at [email protected]. Please submit a separate email for each pitch, with a subject line that clearly identifies the query as a pitch, and includes the story topic.

Your pitch should include:

• A story summary
• A clear hook: Why does this story matter right now, and to the Travel Weekly audience?
• Your relevant credentials and clips
• If you were hosted on a press trip (allowed), and your travel dates (either past or upcoming).

How does Travel Weekly evaluate pitches?

Our editors consider the following:

• Freshness and relevance: Is the idea original? Has Travel Weekly covered this recently?
• News hook: Why now? Is there a ship launching, was a hotel recently renovated, is there an emerging travel trend (and can we quantify it?)
• Advisor value: What does a travel professional gain from reading this? Does it help them sell, advise or run their business better?
• Breadth of sourcing: Does the pitch suggest access to credible, on-the-record industry sources?

My pitch has been accepted. What should I keep in mind while writing?

Travel Weekly is a journalistic, business-to-business publication. We expect rigorous, accurate, professionally reported work -- even when writing in first-person.

Style and tone: Stories should have a professional, journalistic tone. AP style is preferred for news and trends pieces. Feature writing may be more narrative, but not experimental. Proofread and fact-check thoroughly before submission.

Sourcing requirements: Advisor quotes are strongly encouraged across all story types -- our readers trust the perspectives of their peers.

Accuracy: All information, including product names, personal names and titles, prices, web addresses, hours of operation, etc. -- must be verified by the writer before submission. The writer is responsible for the accuracy of all submitted content.

Photography: Please indicate at the time of submission whether you can provide images or obtain them from a supplier or tourism board. We accept both original photography and supplied images, and ask for about 4-6 high-resolution images. Images should have some direct connection to the copy, that the captions should make that connection clear. We do not pay extra for photography. Writers are responsible for securing all necessary permissions.

Notes: 

• We do not accept stories that have been published elsewhere, in whole or in part, nor may any part of your writing be lifted from any websites or promotional materials.
• Writers who are also publicists may not submit stories about their paid clients.
• Response times vary. Please be patient, as we receive a large volume of pitches. 

What is your policy on AI use?

Travel Weekly expects all freelance submissions to be entirely original, human-authored work. AI may not be used to write, ghostwrite or substantially draft submitted copy. Your writing must reflect your own expertise, reporting and voice. We are less likely to accept your pitch if we strongly believe it has been drafted with AI. 

How and when will I get paid?

Freelancer rates depend on the length of the assignment. Your assigning editor will confirm all details of the assignment, including word count, rate, photo requirements and deadline, via email ahead of your submission.  

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This page was last updated: April 2026