This post is for PR and tourism folk. We aren't hiring freelance writers just yet
But I have exciting news! As many of you may know, I'm editor of Caribbean Living, an upscale glossy magazine aimed at affluent travelers. The publishers are starting a new print/digital quarterly publication, premiering this spring, entitled Swanky Retreats, which will be international in scope with a similar demographic and lifestyle emphasis (dining, wine & spirits, spa, golf, luxury goods, fashion, et al). Our correspondents will also be very active on social media. I'll be Editor-in-Chief and I'm currently putting together an editorial calendar. Each issue will focus on a region, with roughly 70% of coverage devoted to that geographic theme (the rest will be sourced from around the globe). Spring will be Europe/U.K./Ireland, Summer Australasia, Fall North America, Winter Africa.
Our first issue debuts Spring 2016 and will focus on Europe/U.K./Ireland. I'm seeking press trips and ideas for coverage in January and February. I'm also looking ahead to the second issue (Asia, Australia/NZ, South Pacific).
I've included a link to the Caribbean Living advertising site where you can find the media kit, which mirrors our target readership for Swanky Retreats:http://www.caribbeanlivingmagazine.com/advertise/. We'll be piggy-backing initially off our CL subscription and distribution lists. The new magazine will be distributed at the same outlets. My bio also follows for your records.
Here's a rough sketch of the template I sent to contributors. Every issue will contain the following format (word counts are provisional and negotiable).
The Swank List. The byline, if any, here will be by The Editors. Everyone generates content. This is our version of New & Noteworthy. And it can be anything: a hip new hotel, restaurant, shop, designer, or product. The content is flexible: It could be all over the place, literally and figuratively, or focus on a theme, a wrap/roundup of the 10 hottest new cocktails or handbags...
Five "Letters from," each 500-1,000 words. Regardless of the issue's overall theme, there will always be A Letter from Europe, A Letter from Asia/South Pacific, A Letter from North America, A Letter from Africa, and A Letter from the Caribbean & Latin America. The content here can be flexible. It can be a roundup piece (5 hip new bistros) or focus specifically on a resort, a restaurant, a museum/gallery, a shop, an individual designer, or a product. Each issue will change the specific locale. So for example, the first Letter from Europe might be A Letter from London, the next might be A Letter from Rome, and so on. Or the first Asia letter could from Hong Kong, the next from Singapore, the next from Vientiane.
Swellegant Stays. 1,000-1,500 words. A rundown of hot places to stay by month (so issue 1 will be broken down into suggestions for April, May and June). These should ideally reflect the geographic theme for that issue.
The Spa Uncommon. 1,000-2,000 words. Much like its counterpart of the same name in Caribbean Living. Focusing on a destination spa. Ideally, not generic international (however sybaritic or stylish), but something that reflect its surroundings' unique heritage, either by incorporating local materials or traditions into the design or utilizing indigenous ingredients in the treatments. I'd like this to relate to the issue's overall theme.
Top Hole Golf. 750-1,500 words. Again like CL. Take the reader along on the course. Explain what makes it special. Talk about the clubhouse (and "19th" hole), and feel free to add a bit of info on suggested places to stay. Also ideally relates to issue theme.
Swanky Streets. 1,000-2,000 words. Focusing on a great shopping/dining street or neighborhood. Also ideally related to the theme.
Swanky Stores. 750-1,500 words. A profile of a really fabulous shop, brand, or designer. Again, try to stick to the geographical theme.
Swanky Sips. 1,000-2,000 words. Profiling an appellation, a spirits trail, etc. Again, should be follow the same geographic theme. Should contain a few specific recommendations (with SRPs). Here, too, if you're profiling a destination as opposed to a style of wine, feel free to include a sidebar on recommended places to stay/eat in the area.
In addition to the columns above, we'd like three features per issue, 1,500-3,000 words each. One will essentially be a destination piece. One will be Gastronomic Gallivants, discussing a unique cuisine/gastronomic culture, including descriptions of native dishes and restaurant recommendations. Third is a wild card; could be anything, from a second GG to a destination feature to a big roundup/wrap piece
I'm looking for dynamic ideas for coverage for our first issue and beyond, and would love to work with you! Many thanks in advance for your kind consideration and assistance!
Bestest,
Jordan
JORDAN SIMON BIO
Mr. Simon produced the International Ski Film Festival (1987-96) and directed plays Off-Broadway before defecting to journalism in 1987. He has served as contributing editor for TAXI & Sherman's Travel (print); travel editor (Hamptons International); food/wine editor (Mountain Sports & Living fka Snow Country, Ski Impact), and wine editor (Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Second Home, Hamptons). As J. Scott Stanton, he penned astrology columns for Hamptons, Atlanta H&L, Out Traveler, St. Louis H&L. He oversaw development of Wine Country International magazine as founding Editor-in-Chief of Wine Country Network. He is Editor of Caribbean Living, contributing editor Nikki Style, and Editor-in-Chief of the exciting new lifestyle and luxury print/digital magazine, Swanky Retreats, debuting Spring 2016.
Mr. Simon has contributed regularly to Diversion, Art & Antiques, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, USAir Magazine, Caribbean Travel & Life, Modern Bride, Priceline.com, Family Travel Times, Seattle H&L, Medical Economics, ShermansTravel.com, Out Traveler, Physicians Travel & Meeting Guide, Fodors.com, I&MI, and Interval
He's written for Cooking Light, Wine Enthusiast, Condé Nast Traveler, Sotheby's Domain, Town & Country, N.Y. Times Syndicate, Elle, Travel & Leisure, Los Angeles, Market Watch, Beverage Media, Backstage, American Way, Food Arts, AmEx Lifestyle & Travel for Physicians, TravelAge, Travel Agent, Cedar Living, Palm Beach magazine, et al.
He is the (original) author of Fodor's In Focus Cayman Islands, Frommer's Portable St. Maarten/Martin, Frommer's Irreverent Las Vegas, Fodor's Colorado, Fodor's Branson: The Official Travel & Souvenir Guide, the Gousha/USA Today Ski Atlas, Frommer's Irreverent U.S. Virgin Islands, and Frommer's Madrid & Barcelona By Night. He also co-authored with Mo and Jennifer Siegel The Celestial Seasonings Cookbook: Cooking with Tea (Park Lane), Astronumerology: Your Key to Empowerment Using Stars & Numbers (with Pam Bell; Avon Books), and Edge Atlanta (with Jeff Clark; Longstreet Press). He has acted as co-editor and/or contributor to many other books.
He has served as a judge for leading food & wine competitions, including the World's 50 Best for Restaurant Magazine (2006-13), the San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition, the Southwest Wine Festival, and many others; a wine educator (organizing corporate tastings for Viacom, Boston Latin School, Trinity School, Tuscan Square restaurants, et al); and a wine list consultant for such resorts as Ottley's and The Hermitage Plantation.
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