Visit Greater Palm Springs Pairs Aspiring Travel Writers With Industry Mentors
Nina Ruggiero of Travel + Leisure is one of the professionals who will mentor the next wave of travel talent
(Via Visit Greater Palm Springs)
Location: Greater Palm Springs
Perfect For: The next class of travel writers looking for a mentor-led journalism experience.
There’s no shortage of aspiring journalists looking to break into the professional travel industries, motivated by visions of jet setting to cover a new exotic locale every week. And while the reality of being a travel writer may not be quite so glamorous, a new opportunity is giving the next generation of storytellers a mentorship opportunity that can help kick-start their career.
This month, Visit Greater Palm Springs hosts the first Meet The Mentors program, which pairs travel writers in training with industry professionals who will provide guidance on assignment in Greater Palm Springs.
(Joyce Kiehl)
“It's a mentor-mentee relationship that's going to allow them to engage with each other in a real press trip situation, spending 24-7 together for a weekend,” explains Joyce Kiehl, Director of Communications at Visit Greater Palm Springs.
(Via Visit Greater Palm Springs)
The trip won’t focus solely on the glamorized version of Palm Springs frequently seen on social media (retro motels and influencers lounging by the pool), but instead will allow attendees to pursue a deeper and more meaningful experience.
“We're really focused on a couple of pillars that we have, which is diversity and sustainability. Really showcasing the destination beyond what people know of greater Palm Springs,” Kiehl reveals. “So really showcasing some of our LGBTQ+ community, our Black business owners that a lot of folks don't know about. And on the sustainability realm, it's really going beyond just sustainability environmental, but also kind of looking at social economic and cultural…exposure for (Palm Springs locals).”
“When (Gen Z is) planning their trips, they're no longer just reading the article about the sexiest pools in Palm Springs. They want to know, what's the sustainable tour company that I can use, or, which Hotel is BIPOC owned.” - Nina Ruggiero
One industry professional participating in the program is Nina Ruggiero, Digital Editorial Director at Travel + Leisure and co-founder of the Be A Travel Writer course, which offers education to those looking to pursue a career in travel journalism.
(Nina Ruggiero)
“I've been in the reporter's shoes myself when I traveled. Nowadays, I almost always still am,” Ruggiero explains of her perspective as a mentor on the trip. “So I know kind of how to be on the ground, looking for a unique angle, finding the right personalities and kind of local experts to interview…to really get to the heart of a place.
“And then how to craft that experience into a story that's actually serviceable to readers, whether they're already planning to visit Greater Palm Springs, or they just kind of need the inspiration to add it to their list. And then when I'm not actually out recording, which more often I'm not, one of the biggest parts of my job day to day when I'm at my desk is fielding pitches and crafting story lineups for editorial packages. Maybe they're destination themed, maybe they're themed on types of travel, like sustainable travel or adventure travel, and working with writers to fine tune the angle of the story and turn it into something that readers are going to be interested in. So I think that's really something that I can help (junior journalists with).”
“There's families and there's a lot of strong arts and culture artists community here (in Greater Palm Springs). So there's a lot of hidden gems that we think that people need to discover. And it's a great way to kind of showcase the diversity within the community by bringing travel journalists out to experience that.” - Joyce Kiehl
Hear more from both Ruggiero and Kiehl on this episode of A HOTEL PODCAST. Kiehl speaks on the origins and objectives of the Meet The Mentors concept, and shares insights into the reality of Greater Palm Springs beyond the Instagram aesthetic. Ruggiero explains the benefit of developing a niche as a travel journalist, and reveals the types of teachings and takeaways available in her Be A Travel Writer course.
Find more via Visit Greater Palm Springs, Meet The Mentors, and Be A Travel Writer. And subscribe for more from A Hotel Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
(Via Visit Greater Palm Springs)