Freelance Writer FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Contributing to TravelAge West

Who are we? TravelAge West (TAW) is a travel trade publication serving an audience of modern, business-savvy travel advisors (formerly known as travel agents) who are always on the hunt for the latest travel trends, industry insights, destination news, practical selling tips and firsthand accounts of the latest travel products and experiences.

TAW powers a monthly print publication, www.TravelAgeWest.com, the Humans of Travel and Trade Secrets podcasts, the Western Agents' Votes of Excellence (WAVE) Awards  and the award-winning Future Leaders in Travel Retreat. It is owned by Northstar Travel Group.

Who Is TravelAge West’s Audience?

Our audience is travel advisors (formerly called travel agents). TAW is a trade magazine, not a consumer magazine; therefore, our stories must both entertain our advisor readers and provide them with practical business information. Our readers are interested in facts and details that they can put to immediate use, such as new tools, business strategies and new travel products.

Our readers make a living selling travel. They are already savvy regarding most destinations and travel experiences. They are looking to us for an edge — trustworthy reviews on new/updated products, insight into emerging trends and business topics, and information they can’t get from promotional materials. They want help in guiding the vacation experience for their clients, not for themselves. (Take out the word “you” throughout a story and replace it with “the client” to get an idea of the difference.)

Does TravelAge West Work With Freelance Writers?

Much of the writing featured in TravelAge West is done by in-house editors and writers. However, we also work with freelancers. 

Freelancers: You are expected to carefully read the guidelines below in order to adhere to TravelAge West’s quality, style and tone. Failure to produce an article that meets TAW publishing standards will result in requests for edits/re-writes. Initial payment is inclusive of one round of edits.

What Type of Story Is TravelAge West Looking For?

There are four kinds of ideal TAW stories: Career growth/professional development articles, travel trend articles, travel guides and firsthand reviews (more on each type below).

Career Growth/Professional Development/Travel Industry Articles

Many modern-day travel advisors are small business owners who are always on the lookout for innovative ways to improve their businesses. Professional development articles offer practical advice or tools that these entrepreneurs can use to improve their career.

This type of story answers: "What do travel advisors need to know now to do their job better?" We also look for profiles of exemplary travel advisors who are doing something unique in their business, and deep dives on trends/news that are affecting the advisor community.

Editor’s Tip: We are most interested in these types of stories — and are most likely to accept these pitches.

Examples of previously published professional development articles include:
Is Unprofessionalism in Travel Advising on the Rise? These Advisors Say ‘Yes.’
This Cruise Expert Reached $3 Million in Annual Sales Using TikTok
These Travel Advisors Give Their Clients Gifts — Here’s What They Wrap Up and Why
10 ChatGPT Prompts Every Travel Advisor Should Use
ASTA Legislative Day Attendees Fight for the Flight Refund Fairness Act and Seats on Travel-Related Committees

A Deeper Look at the Latest Travel Trends

Trend pieces often incorporate the use of data, surveys and travel industry interviews to take a closer look at an emerging trend in travel. These trends may relate to a small subset of the industry or the wider community, and/or may be correlated to a larger economic or geopolitical event.

Examples of previously published trend articles include:
River Cruises Are Attracting a New Group of Travelers — And Their Travel Agents
Where to Travel Now: Alternatives to Crowded, Pricey Hot Spots
When Bigger Is Better: Mexico’s Largest Hotels Know How to Wow
Indigenous Travel: How to Book Respectful, Responsible Experiences

Firsthand Reviews of Cruises, Hotels and Tours

Reviews use an immersive, narrative-driven approach to deliver key information about the product while also telling an engaging story through unique anecdotes and details. Travel advisor readers should come away from a TravelAge West review feeling like they were experiencing the tour/hotel/cruise alongside you, learning details from your experience that they can share with their clients.

Travel advisors are travel experts. They have access to all the same promotional materials and websites as you, but they can’t personally experience everything — that’s where these reviews come in. You were there, and your review should make that obvious. What more can you add to their knowledge of this product?

In order to achieve this style, incorporate personal anecdotes and sensory details. Use of first-person perspective is encouraged; however, writers should avoid giving a diary-like, or play-by-play recounting of their trip. The focus should be the product — not the writer, and what makes the product new or newsworthy. Some questions to consider: 

• What moments stood out to you? 
• Were there any interactions or experiences that particularly impressed you, or added character to your stay? 
• How can you show, rather than tell?

If you'd like more inspiration, our website has many reviews that showcase this narrative approach that blends information with storytelling.

Editor’s Tip: Most of our freelance pitches are for first-person reviews. These are the hardest to get accepted.

Examples of previously published reviews include:
Review: The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Review: Antarctica Onboard Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle
Review: Touring Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands With Exoticca

City, Region or Neighborhood Guides, and Other Types of Themed Destination Content

TAW aims to bring new destinations and new ideas to readers. Our stories should always be looking ahead to places, products and trends that are on the horizon, as well as finding unusual or off-the-beaten-path angles on well-touristed destinations and products.

Articles about destinations should focus on the best way a visitor can see and experience that place, either through a comprehensive travel guide, by focusing on what's new and noteworthy, or by viewing it through a certain lens (i.e. food, art, culture, history, etc.) We cover cities and countries around the world, whether they are hidden gems, emerging locales or classic destinations. However, we have specific e-newsletters dedicated to Mexico, Hawaii, Europe and the Caribbean. We tend to prefer international destination pitches over domestic pitches.

Examples of previously published destination guides include:
How to Choose the Right Thai Island
3 Bangkok Day Trips You Don’t Want to Miss
Montenegro Travel Guide: What to Do in Europe's Best-Kept Secret

How Do I Submit a Pitch?

Queries should be detailed and emailed to Ken Shapiro, Editorial Director, at kshapiro@travelagewest.com and Mindy Poder, Edior-in-Chief, at mpoder@travelagewest.com. Please send separate emails for each query, with subject lines that clearly state the story topic.

Due to the large number of queries that the magazine receives, a response might take some time. Once an editor accepts a story idea, the writer will receive instructions about what is expected of the final assignment.

We do not accept stories that have been published elsewhere. If we discover that passages — or your entire story — have appeared in other outlets, on supplier websites or in other writers’ pieces, we will not work with you again. If you are also a publicist, we will not accept a story about one of your paid clients.

How Does TravelAge West Evaluate Pitches?

These are some of the factors that TAW editors use to evaluate pitches:
- Is the idea fresh and original? Does it convey a sense of exploration? Has TAW covered this recently in print or online?

- The news hook: Why do you want to write about this now? (Ex: Is this cruise ship new? Did this hotel just open, or undergo a massive renovation?)

- What useful information will the travel advisor get out of this story? Does the piece provide the information needed to sell a destination or product? Does it contain practical tips that travel agents will be able to use in their businesses? Are we telling our readers something new or that they need to better understand?

Editor's Note: We do not feature products or suppliers that do not work with travel agents.

- Does the story convey the experience of being in this destination? Does it have details and insights that can only be acquired from firsthand experience and that can’t be found in a guidebook or website?

- What type of client would be right for this destination or product? What else is offered at this destination? (For example: If it is famous for diving, is it also great for families?)

- Will it be possible to get high-resolution photography to accompany the story? (Professional photography from hotels/cruise lines/etc. is fine; we don’t require or pay extra for original photography.)

- Has the writer interviewed any agents or travel suppliers who can provide business insight? Are there quotes or research included in the story that help highlight the destination or product?

My Pitch Has Been Accepted. What Should I Keep in Mind While Writing?

At TAW, we put a premium on high-energy writing. Even though TAW is a trade magazine, we feel our stories should be as engaging as anything in a consumer magazine. Before beginning an assignment, we expect our writers to ask themselves: “What’s the best way to tell this story?”

If editorial expectations have not been met, our editors will request that the writer re-work/edit the submitted article. Payment is inclusive of one round of edits.

We expect that all writers carefully review the guidelines and sample stories provided to match the tone and style of a TravelAge West story.

All TAW stories, including first-person stories, should have a professional and journalistic tone (no experimental prose). Please carefully proofread, fact-check and edit your story before sending it in. Research data and interviews are mandatory inclusions for cover stories and trend pieces. Quotes can also be included in narrative stories when applicable. Stories must be accurate in fact and in inference, with all information presented in a fair manner. Personal observations may be included, but writers should be able to support any challenge to their comments. All information, including product names, personal names and titles, web addresses, fees and so on, must be fact-checked by the writer before submission. The writer will be responsible for the accuracy of all information provided to TAW.

What Is Your Policy on AI Use?

We sometimes use AI to rewrite press releases that are relevant to our travel advisor audience, so our editors can focus on high-quality, first-person reporting. All AI-generated news briefs are marked as such, and all are curated, fact-checked and reviewed by a TAW editor.

AI is not a substitute for original, high-quality journalism. We expect all freelancers to submit entirely original work, free from interference or authorship by AI platforms. Simply put, your writing must be fact-checked, reflect your own expertise and use your voice.

Does TAW Have a Policy About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?

Our goal at TravelAge West is to provide a platform for and amplify a diverse number of voices within the travel industry, and we are asking our freelance writers to help us in this mission. Please try to incorporate interviews with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) sources whenever possible.

If you are someone who regularly contributes to TravelAge West, please also avoid using the same sources (including travel advisors) for multiple stories.

How Do I Submit My Story?

Please send your story as a Word Doc to your assigning editor. Writers should either have photos they can provide to TAW or be able to obtain photos from a supplier.

TAW accepts both original photography and supplier images, but we do not pay extra for photos.

Photos and other images should be submitted as high-resolution (300 dpi, 5x7 inches) digital photos (EPS or JPEG format). Photos can be emailed directly to the assigning editor. Credit and caption information must be provided. Also, writers are responsible for obtaining all necessary permission for use of the materials.

How and When Will I Get Paid?

In most cases, TAW processes payment on publication. First-time writers must fill out and sign several documents. It is the writer’s responsibility to submit all forms promptly or risk delayed payments.

- Rate for a web story (500-800 words) and potentially one round of edits: $250 

- Rate for a print cover story (1,200-1,600 words) and potentially one round of edits: $600

Writers should submit their own invoice upon completion of the work. The Northstar Accounts Payable Department estimates six weeks processing for a first check. Writers are asked to allow at least four weeks before asking editors about payments.

Thank you! We look forward to working with you.

Note: This page was last updated on Dec. 19, 2024.