We had the good fortune of connecting with Travel Journalist Maggie Espinosa and we’ve shared our conversation below. Hi Maggie, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of? Since I began as a travel journalist twenty years ago, the industry has significantly transitioned. In the beginning, I predominately wrote for newspaper and magazines, peppered with radio interviews and television appearances. Now, everything has segued online — blogs, podcasts, and videos. Because of these changes, I’ve needed to create a personal website/blog to showcase my work, as well as continually curate content for my social media platforms. Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally? As I write this, the world is in the midst of a pandemic and unrest. All aspects of my travel brand — curating content about far flung destinations for readers, hosting guests at my San Diego Airbnb, purchasing foreign indigenous items to sell on my online store (Global Personal Shopper), etc. — are on hold. For now, along with my travel contemporaries, I’m treading water to see what steps the industry will take next. Because my demographics are women ages 45-65, I cater to those who may be more trepidatious about venturing abroad at the first sign of border openings. The challenge will be determining their comfort level and providing them with the needed information to travel comfortably. I’ve learned through my years in this profession, in order to survive one must learn and then pivot to stay relevant. What ever will become of the travel industry after COVID-19, I will adapt and move forward. If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to? I’m fortunate to live in San Diego,
We had the good fortune of connecting with Travel Journalist Maggie Espinosa and we’ve shared our conversation below. Hi Maggie, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of? Since I began as a travel journalist twenty years ago, the industry has significantly transitioned. In
Thank you SDVoyager for including me in your choice of San Diego's most inspiring stories! Extremely grateful and honored. In 2001, I ventured into my amazingly fun freelance travel journalism career and haven’t looked back. I had copywriting experience from years in the advertising field, so I segued those skills into producing content for destination articles. The SDVoyager publication asks pertinent questions about the road taken to get ahead in a particular field: Has it always been smooth? Nope. nada, non, it hasn't. But as with any career, there were learning curves along the way. There still are. But, my passion and tenacity to forge ahead get me to the next level. Today, with the loss of numerous newspapers and magazines, I’ve had to delve into digital and social media. Its ever-changing nature makes it a struggle to master. The constant content requires curating good daily posts and blog articles. It’s imperative I remain current in the travel industry, and online is where it’s at now. They ask how I think the travel industry will change over the next decade. I think within the next five years, the travel industry will be solely digital — videos, online content, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. This will demand another learning curve to stay relevant. But, algorithm-generated numbers allow me to better target my customers’ needs and deliver exactly what they want. To stay ahead of the curve, I went to graduate school at San Diego State University for a master’s in hospitality and tourism management. The provided tools are propelling me to project where the industry is going and how to keep in step. Here is the link to read more of the article: http://sdvoyager.com/interview/meet-maggie-espinosa-travelwithmaggie-com-san-diego/ Related Posts: San Diego Zoo Opens Wildlife Explores Basecamp 5 Places to Volunteer During a San Diego
Thank you SDVoyager for including me in your choice of San Diego’s most inspiring stories! Extremely grateful and honored. In 2001, I ventured into my amazingly fun freelance travel journalism career and haven’t looked back. I had copywriting experience from years in the advertising field, so I segued those skills into producing content for destination
