Seeking fancy fake Christmas trees

And contacts at Dyson, Bose, and more

Dec 09, 2024

Hi Friends,

Greetings from San Jose, Costa Rica! I got to my hotel around 11pm last night and am about to go meet up with a cycling guide who I expect to be hanging out with quite a bit this week.

I’m here researching a new Lonely Planet guidebook, which I’m absolutely thrilled about. I haven’t left the hotel yet so I have zero cool Costa Rica pics to share, so the pic above is from when I took my niece to see a Rudolph play in Milwaukee last week.

Though I’ll be slammed researching this book for the next month, I have a few small requests for other stories I have in the works (plus a reminder about the awesome IMM Power Hour I’m co-hosting next week).

Cassandra

RSVP Now: IMM Power Hour!

Are you heading to the International Media Marketplace (IMM) in New York in January? If so, you’ve got about 50 days before the travel industry’s biggest media event of the year. It’s such a big deal that I started receiving invitations to speak on panels, join dinners, attend after-party events, and schedule 1:1 in-person pitching and coaching consults back in September!

I’ve been attending IMM for five years and I want to help you get ready for the event, which can be fun and fruitful but also exhausting and time-consuming. If you’re making the trek out to the conference (and paying all that money to attend), why not ensure you’re getting the most out of it?

Join me and my friend and colleague, Joni Sweet for IMM Power Hour on Zoom at 1 P.M. (ET) on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

We’ll be covering:

How to get appointments with top-tier journalists
Best ways to prepare for and structure your appointments
What to do if you don't get scheduled to meet with writers on your A-list
How to handle a canceled appointment
Ideas for creating an exhibition table that stands out from the crowd
Do's and don'ts of swag and handouts
Practical tips to making it through the big day
Tips for hosting a pre- or post-IMM media event
Streamlining your follow-ups

+ any other questions you have about IMM!

RSVP Now!

I am THRILLED to be co-hosting with my friend and colleague, Joni Sweet, who is one of the most talented and successful journalists I know, with bylines everywhere from TIME and Travel Weekly to Frommers and Forbes. She’s one of the key people I always reconnect with in person at IMM. If you don’t already know her, you soon will, and you’ll appreciate hearing her unique perspective on networking, building relationships, and putting on media events at the IMM Power Hour.

We met back in 2018 when our mutual friend, Debbie Arcangeles, invited us to be guests on her podcast, “The Offbeat Life.” I was just starting my freelance career, kicking it off in a very non-traditional way by writing a cycling guidebook to Cuba, Cuba by Bike, before I had even landed any bylines in digital or print pubs. Joni served as a mentor for me in my early days and I can’t think of a better person to host this event with.

The fine print:

This event is exclusively for paid subscribers to *both* of our Substacks. We only charge $9/month, so you could subscribe for a month for only $18 and get to join this event at no additional cost. Plus, you’d then get access to our full archives, upcoming subscriber-only content, and live Ask Me Anything calls.

Don’t want to go through Substack? Email me to purchase a single ticket for $25, which might be a good option if your company will expense an event ticket but not a Substack subscription (discounts available for groups).

Either way, please note that a subscription or single ticket entitles one person to attend the event, so if you’d like to attend with your clients or colleagues, please get in touch with us to discuss a group rate, even if it’s just you and one other coworker.

Once you’ve upgraded your Substack subscription or purchased a one-off ticket, please fill out this RSVP form to get on the list! See you there!

Upgrade to Paid

CURRENT EDITORIAL NEEDS

1. Seeking reps from Dyson and Bose

I’m hoping to get in contact with whoever reps Dyson and Bose for a couple of articles I’m working on. If that’s you (or you know who it is), I’d love to hear from you.

Subject line: Dyson (or Bose)
Email: cassandra@escapingny.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday, December 13

2. Yahoo - Fancy Fake Christmas Trees

I'll be writing a roundup for Yahoo about fabulous and fake Christmas trees that will be on sale after the holidays. Please note that the emphasis of this piece is on getting a bargain on a high-end tree (above $800), not on trees that are already affordable to begin with. I may also be open to testing an especially great tree to feature in the piece.

Requirements: Must be a high-end artificial Christmas tree and it must be offering a substantial sale after Christmas.
Subject line: Fake Christmas Trees
Email: cassandra@escapingny.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday, December 13

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:

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

AARP: Four Pumpkin Patches to Celebrate Fall

AARP: Adaptive Equipment to Make Mealtime Easier for Caregivers

Sierra Club: Leaf-Peeping for Hikers