Arnie Weissmann
A year and a half ago, while having lunch with Jason Young, CEO of Travel Weekly parent company Northstar Travel Group, I told him I wanted to change my role within Northstar.
I wasn't proposing that I leave or retire, and I didn't want to make a change until the close of 2025.
Why? And why wait? And, to do what instead?
There's something about upcoming anniversaries that get one thinking. I'm now in my 25th year as editor in chief of Travel Weekly, it's the 40th anniversary of the first meetings to plan what was to become Weissmann Travel Reports (the destination information service that is now part of travel42) and it's (gulp) the 50th anniversary of my first-ever published article, an interview with Andy Warhol.
I've often heard people in the travel industry say, "I've got the best job in the world." If I've never said that out loud, it's only because I didn't want to jinx it. But I truly believe that decisions impacting the future should be made by those who will live with the consequences of those decisions (politicians, please take note!) and I recognize that it's time for Travel Weekly to be guided by those closer in age to the people who will be working in the travel industry for decades to come.
Nonetheless, I still want to make meaningful contributions to the travel industry. So, after further consideration and discussions with Jason, I decided that on Jan. 1 I will voluntarily relinquish my positions as editor in chief of Travel Weekly and executive vice president/editorial director for Northstar and begin a role that may be unique in business-to-business media: Explorer at large.
In my new role, I'll continue to work, in part, with the terrifically talented Travel Weekly editorial staff. I'll still write my From the Window Seat opinion column, but at a reduced frequency. You'll continue to see me at Travel Weekly and Northstar events and, additionally, I'll serve in an advisory role within Northstar.
I'll also continue to write articles for Travel Weekly, and perhaps for other Northstar titles. And while I have never expected anyone to have followed my byline all that closely, if they had, they'd have noticed I'm drawn to off-the-beaten track destinations, experiences that are on the adventurous side, gastronomy, people who conduct their lives and jobs in unusual ways and groups that make the world a better place via a travel-related platform.
It's my intention to continue to report on the people, places and organizations that interest me.
Being editor in chief of Travel Weekly has been a joy but has also been very time-consuming. Very. I'm hoping this new position will also allow me to spend more time with family and friends, make some more progress on the novel I'm three-fourths of the way through writing, indulge in my love of photography and get rid of some of the junk I've collected through the years..
Now, a few words about my successor as editor in chief. Many of you already know Johanna Jainchill from the various roles she has served in at Travel Weekly. She is currently news editor, working with beat reporters on stories, covering public policy and handling special projects, but has also previously been destinations editor as well as senior editor over the retail and cruise beats.
We hired her away from the New York Times, and her journalistic integrity and news judgement are beyond question. I've enjoyed working with her and watching her develop professionally over the past 19 years. It gives me great pleasure to know the publication is in very good hands.
Likewise, I'm very pleased to see Rebecca Tobin moving up from managing editor to director of editorial strategy and operations. You may know her from her previous role as cruise editor and her position on what was our early web team. Her dedication to maintaining the publication's operational excellence and high editorial standards have been a blessing for both me and our readers. She'll continue to play an important role in Travel Weekly's future.
I'm also pleased to see that Ken Shapiro has been promoted to senior vice president, content director of the Retail Group, which includes Travel Weekly. He is a longtime friend and respected colleague.
And finally, just in case you're wondering, all of the above is completely unrelated to the recent acquisition of Northstar by Japan Travel Bureau. The discussions about my new role began far before anyone could have known if or when Northstar would be acquired.