Name: Maria Pieri
Occupation: Editorial Director, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Editorial Director Maria Pieri has over 13 years experience in building and managing a thriving editorial team with a passion for travel and lifestyle. Launch editor for National Geographic Traveller (UK), Maria has managed the editorial and new media strategy, (launching the website) and continues to oversee the project. She is currently working on a new National Geographic Traveller Family special issue.
Website: www.natgeotraveller.co.uk
Why do you love to travel?
For the people, history, culture and the experience. And to gain perspective.
Who would be your ideal travel partner and why?
My children so they can experience what I experience!
What’s been your favourite destination this year and why?
Venice for living up to expectation: being glamorous and decadent in equal measure
Describe the most unusual situation you’ve found yourself in while travelling.
N/A
Name two up-and-coming destinations for 2012 and why.
Burma – Following pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stamp of approval and the general feeling of change in the political climate there, this is a country finally opening up again to tourism.
Northern Lights – as it’s the best time to see them since the past 50 years according to NASA. Very underrated for their culture and winter holidays. Head to Iceland or Finland.
If you could return to any country you’ve been to, what would it be and why?
Kenya to do the Lewa half-marathon – I was a spectator inadvertently on a visit there some time ago and there was a wonderful atmosphere. Where else do you have helicopters circling the route to ward off lions and elephants! Alternatively some kind of volunteer project there – again, as I had seen so many interesting projects working there.
Give us an overview of what you’ll be discussing at the TNT Sun And Snow Show:
National Geographic Traveller’s Top Ten Ideas for up and coming destinations for 2012 and the top trends influencing our travel plans. Why these should be on your most wanted list. From all corners of the globe we’ve pulled together our hot list for next year.
Who will find your talk relevant?
Anyone interested in where to go and what to see for 2012.
Where’s your favourite place in London?
Soho after dark… it always makes me feel ‘alive’ and part of something ‘big’.
Sum up the capital in five words:
Unrivalled, Edgy, Beautiful, Conflicted, Misunderstood
Name: Pat Riddell
Occupation: Editor, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Pat Riddell, Editor, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Pat Riddell has had more than 10 years’ experience in travel writing and editing, working across business, trade and consumer titles. Pat has also taken the role of community manager developing and managing a social media strategy.
Website: www.natgeotraveller.co.uk
Why do you love to travel?
I love to see and experience different cultures, landscapes, people, food, languages and wildlife – as well as escaping the rather more mudane realities of life at home.
Who would be your ideal travel partner and why?
My wife or any of my close friends – I’m not sure I’d want to share the intimate experience of travelling with anyone I didn’t know particularly well.
What’s been your favourite destination this year and why?
Tanzania – my first experience of sub-Saharan Africa and a truly spectacular country. Being on safari in the middle of the bush while over a hundred miles from civilisation is breathtaking.
Describe the most unusual situation you’ve found yourself in while travelling.
Watching the beatification of Mother Theresa in Rome on TV from a hotel bed in Kolkata while doubled up with stomach pain. A bizarre parallel universe of sorts…
Name two up-and-coming destinations for 2012 and why.
Burma – After pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest last year and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party’s decision to lift the boycott on tourism, this beautiful, untouched country should see plenty of new visitors.
Brazil – Ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, new air routes to Brazil should help satisfy the growing demand from travellers to visit this vast and varied country.
If you could return to any country you’ve been to, what would it be and why?
The US – having only been to cities on the east and west coasts there’s practically a whole continent waiting to be discovered.
Give us an overview of what you’ll be discussing at the TNT Sun And Snow Show:
National Geographic Traveller’s Top Ten Ideas for up and coming destinations for 2012 and the top trends influencing our travel plans. Why these should be on your most wanted list. From all corners of the globe we’ve pulled together our hot list for next year.
Who will find your talk relevant?
Hopefully, anyone interested in travelling and discovering new destinations.
Where’s your favourite place in London?
Anywhere by the River Thames, there’s a real sense of space and calm.
Sum up the capital in five words:
Inspiring, vibrant, addictive, vast, exhausting…
