Here's why you weren't included in my latest pitch call

And how to put your destination front and center

Feb 20, 2025

Hi friends,

Greetings from chilly New York City. I just got back from spending a week in Milwaukee (the pic above is the workstation I set up at my mom’s rehab center), and I’m getting ready to fly to Asia next week. I’ll be gone for a whole month, including a few days in Dubai, two weeks in Bhutan, and two weeks in Indonesia. Aside from Bhutan, I’m planning (and paying for) most of the trip myself so I can relax and enjoy traveling instead of stressing about finding coverage for everywhere I go.

I have two World Nomads articles due today, plus another National Geographic piece and two sponsored posts due next week. I also have several video consultations on the calendar before I leave (I have 3 more slots left next week; email me if you want to book one). Yet, instead of working on all that, I just spent an hour crafting an email to a dozen publicists (and going back and forth with a few afterward) about a huge opportunity I sent them this morning. Then I spent another hour (yes, hour!) writing this newsletter.

If you didn’t receive that special pitch call email this morning, read on to learn why.

Cassandra

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The Coveted Pitch Call

A top-tier publication included me in a pitch call for an upcoming Best List for which they’re soliciting pitches. Though I already have a few ideas in mind, I reached out to about a dozen publicists to invite them to pitch me ideas for consideration. These Best Lists in top-tier publications are highly coveted, which means that if I blast out the pitch call on my Substack, I’ll likely get hundreds, if not thousands, of pitches that I don’t have the time to sift through. I’m also not paid for any of the time it takes for me to review, craft, send, and follow-up on pitches, so it’s simply not worth my time to mass blast out calls like this.

My recent National Geographic wildflower hiking pitch call resulted in over a hundred pitches in my inbox within the first 24 hours. Previous pitch calls for TIME’s World’s Greatest Places have also yielded extraordinary responses. So, when my TIME editor reached out a few months ago seeking pitches, I only reached out to about a dozen publicists. I submitted a total of 7 pitches, and one was accepted. I’ll share it when it goes live. The piece paid a measly $125, and I spent about 5-6 hours trying to land the piece and then writing it. Imagine how low my hourly rate would have been had I also had to factor in sifting through hundreds of pitches. It’s simply not worth it financially.

Still, this private pitch call strategy for TIME was so much more manageable than my public pitch calls for National Geographic, AARP, Travel+Leisure, and other outlets (which often also yield hundreds of responses), so I went the private route again this morning. Here’s how I chose who to include.

How I Choose Who to Include in Private Pitch Calls

First off, I don’t have any blacklist of publicists I avoid including in a pitch call. But I do have a list of favorite publicists that I always include in private pitch calls. I also may add in a few new people for each private pitch call depending on the topic.

I’ve visited the destination.

Having first-person experience is always helpful. If I’ve been somewhere and know I love the destination, I may already have some ideas for how they could fit in. But even if I don’t, I’d love for the tourism board or publicist to help me find an angle to help a place I love shine.

I’ve met with the destination.

Even if I don’t have first-hand experience, live meetings and calls with destinations are so much more helpful in learning about their offerings than reading through a press release. I included one of my favorite tour operators in the pitch call, and they immediately told me about a specific destination in Spain that I think could be a good fit. Well, I happened to have met with Catalonia at IMM a few weeks ago, and something they told me resonated, so I reached out to them to help me fill out the tour operator pitch I’m working on.

You’re a perfect fit.

I don’t write a ton about cruising, so I almost never include cruise operators in my private pitch calls. This was my first time ever including this operator in a private pitch call, but through our previous communications (and my experience traveling with them), I had learned of a new itinerary they’ll be launching next year that I think is a perfect fit.

They send concise, targeted pitches.

If you haven’t gotten the point yet, sifting through pitches is highly time-consuming, so I’m very selective with the pitches I read. If you send me a bland, cookie-cutter press release, I’m not reading it. Even if you send me an original email about the destination, but it’s 5 long paragraphs, I’m also likely not reading it. I may skim it, but when you include a TON of information, the key information will get lost so you are way better off sending three stand-out sentences than 5 mediocre paragraphs.

They’ve joined my live Q&A calls.

Do you automatically get added to my private pitch call list because you’re a paid subscriber and join my Ask Me Anything calls? No, that’s not how this works, but there are some destinations and independent publicists out there who have literally been on every single Ask Me Anything call I’ve ever held. They prioritize making space for that face time with me, so I have learned a lot about their destination over the years. In fact, one of these destinations happens to be my winning World’s Greatest Places 2025 pitch for TIME magazine. I bet they consider joining all those calls TIME well spent. :)

Last Call for Private Consultations

Given my travel schedule, my next Ask Me Anything Live Q&A for paid subscribers won’t be for another two months. If you want to grab my ear before then, consider booking a private consultation. I have a few slots open next Monday and Tuesday, so contact me if you want to snag them.

Why Book a Private Consult?

I’ll actually respond. It’s shocking how many publicists (including some who I have never worked with before), ask to jump on a call to pick my brain about a new destination they’re trying to bring on board or to see what outlets may be interested in a product they’re repping. I’m not paid for this time and it takes me away from work that actually does pay, so I simply cannot accommodate these requests.
You can ask me anything. Want me to review your pitch strategy or learn which outlets are accepting what right now? Want a run-down on SEO or affiliate commission expectations at different outlets? Do you want to know about the nitty-gritty details editors require for product and destination pitches? We can discuss all that.
Our conversation remains private. Though I do offer Ask Me Anything group calls to paid subscribers, you might not want to discuss your particular pitch or media strategy in front of others and a private call will remain just that, private.
In-depth feedback. Want to know how I really felt about the product you sent me to test but that I never wrote about? I probably have a lot of opinions about it but I don’t have the time (or interest) to invest unpaid time crafting a detailed product review or talking about how and why certain features need improvement. I’m not part of your R&D team, so to get into all these details, you’ll need to book a consultation.

Interested in a private call? Let me know when you’d like to chat next week, for how long (30 or 60 minutes), if it’s just you or if there will be others from your media team, and I’ll send you a quote. I’m happy to do calls by phone or video. Email me at:

Wondering what others are saying about private calls they’ve booked with me? Here you go:

“Cassandra and I were able to cover so much in just 30 minutes. I got to ask questions about how various outlets she writes for function that I would have no other way of knowing about. She gave me great feedback on potential avenues for several of my clients, which helped me identify a few new angles and approaches to pursue that I never would have thought of on my own. Time and money well spent!”
- Jason Simms, Principal - Theirsay
“My coaching session with Cassandra was exceptional! She exceeded my expectations. I took about 2 pages of notes, and had about 7-key takeaways that I would never have thought of on my own. including where to pitch and new pitch angles. It was refreshing and insightful, so much so that I got about to pitching and heard back from The New York Times Travel section. I definitely recommend working with Cassandra, if you're looking to get more press. She's super smart and knows her stuff.”
- Elina Leclaire, Owner – Glampful Campground
"As someone who values authentic connections with writers, booking a one-on-one meeting with Cassandra was a no-brainer for me. Her undivided attention and immediate feedback were priceless. Our session was jam-packed. In just 30 minutes, we covered an array of topics from what editors are looking for and her preferences, to live pitching each of my clients, eliminating the need for numerous emails and potentially saving hours of our time for both of us. Her feedback and interests were so clear. What truly impressed me was walking away with three tangible story ideas/angles to pursue. I look forward to booking another session with Cassandra in the future."
- Rachel McCallister, Rachel McCallister Consulting

If interested, email me with the times that work for you next Monday and Tuesday.

cassandra@escapingny.com

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VARIOUS RECENT ARTICLES

Recent Articles

Thanks to those of you who helped me source products and quotes for these pieces. I’ve had a lot of roundups and reviews published recently and I don’t have the capacity to send personal updates but your brand or destination may be included below:

National Geographic: Why Slovenia is Europe’s Best Kept Secret for Hikers

National Geographic: Dreading a Long Layover? Here’s How to Turn it into a Second Vacation

Business Insider: Our Cruise Ship Left Without Us: Here’s How Quick Thinking and a Key Part of Our Booking Helped Us

Thrillist: Spilling the Tea on This Indian Ocean Paradise

CNN: The Best Bike Lights of 2024, Tried and Tested

Range Best (gorgeous print mag): Scotland Slowly - Why the Best Way to Explore this Rugged Country is by Water

Yahoo: FeatherSnap Scout Smart Bird Feeder Camera Review: An Intelligent, Addictive Addition to Your Backyard

Midwest Living: 11 Must-Visit State Parks According to Locals and Pros

AFAR: This Canadian Island is a Dream Destination Best Explored By Sea

Yahoo: 8 of Canada’s Best National Parks (which got 185,000 views!)

Hilton: Embrace the Season in These Worldwide Winter Wonderlands

Hilton: Paradise is Calling: Elevated Experiences in Waikiki