Travel Weekly has been publishing for over sixty years. The media landscape has shifted considerably during the brand’s tenure, yet the brand continues to publish print to this day. Current editor-in-chief Arnie Weissmann joined Travel Weekly at the dawn of the digital era and has shepherded the venerable publication through many changes yet.

For those looking to learn about this journey — certainly, those of us here at tnooz found the insights compelling — this podcast delivers. Also, in a rare appearance of two editors of industry publications, Arnie and Nick share some vital tips for those startups and communications professionals looking to get the organic attention of reporters.

Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann on Travel is Your Business

Show notes from our partner Mouth Media:

The most influential B2B news resources for the travel industry…

Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief of Travel Weekly, discusses the 60-year+ publication, embracing technology, and proper PR behavior with hosts Pavan Bahl and John Matson along with guest host Nick Vivion of tnooz, in the MouthMedia NetworkStudios powered by Sennheiser. (Weissmann’s profile)

Sixty years of experience, AOL and ATT, and print vs. digital

Weissmann discusses how Travel news offers the opportunity to be learning from experienced deep domain experts, the launch of more than 60 years ago to becoming one of the most influential resources in the travel industry, how Travel News has been online since 1997 and continues to be strong, big involvement with events, and how Weissmann likes to be a “player and coach”, in management and into interviews and writing.

How the movement of technology allowed Travel Weekly to grow and get a foot in the door with AOL, providing core destination content for AOL for years. ATT had them build a business travel website, Twitter chats result in more than 100 million impressions, why they haven’t been more committed to video, curation differences between print and digital, and the difference in storytelling real estate.

Brand strength, the recent rise of travel agents, and a PR pet peeve

How B2B media is a more sustainable business model, the significance of brand strength, loyalty, the impact of time poverty, how different publications look at specific angles of the industry, a focus on distribution that is mostly travel agents, a recent rise of travel agents, what’s old is new, and how those who embraced tech have survived. Respect for readers, uncovering stories, a disturbing trend, a PR pet peeve, and the horrible the phone call of “did you get my email?”.

How the subject line must grab you, and the relationship matters in getting a reply from an editor or publisher.

College dropout turns writer, rambling vs. traveling, and camping in a Dodge Dart

Personal questions cover Weissmann’s first significant story he wrote, being undirected, college coursing in Japanese tea ceremony, bowling, oil painting, organic gardening and more resulting in dropping out of college.

How saving money and travelling led to blossoming as a writer when not structured or pressured, an extensive camping trip in a Dodge Dart, rambling vs. traveling, camping in ten countries in Africa, working as a nanny in Cyprus, picking fruit in Israel, making choices to experience more instead of rushing, and where in the world would he have liked to grow up.

Gross National Happiness, when a guide makes all the difference, how the travel industry is fragile, and seeking a good story that is bigger than a company and progresses a narrative.