I’m Meera Dattani, a freelance travel and culture journalist for over 20 years and senior editor at Adventure.com which I helped re-launch in 2016. I’m also the former Chair and Events Director of the BGTW (British Guild of Travel Writers) 2020-2022.
Over the last few years, I’ve chaired, moderated and sat on many panels on a wide range of topics – from getting into travel journalism, pitching travel stories, diversity in travel writing and the travel industry, to decolonising travel, solo travel and sustainable tourism – for the likes of TravMedia IMM, Royal Geographical Society, Destinations Show, Jaipur Literature Festival at the British Library, British Guild of Travel Writers, Condé Nast Traveller Luxury Travel Fair, Women In Travel CIC, and Brand USA.
I’ve also enjoyed being a mentor on initiatives with Condé Nast Traveller, Intrepid Travel and Talking Travel Writing, and have judged travel writing awards for the Australian Society of Travel Writers and Women In Travel CIC.
As the former Chair and Events Director of the British Guild of Travel Writers (July 2020 to December 2022), I developed a comprehensive series of webinars for the Guild during the pandemic on topics in travel media, from pitching editors and getting a book published to decolonising travel writing and getting into travel podcasting.
Travel Writing Webinars: I set up Travel Writing Webinars in August 2023 with the aim of helping fellow travel journalists, writers and freelancers improve skills and learn from established editors, writers and professionals in the industry at an accessible price; the £6 is to cover tech, panellist fees, my time and other costs. I pay freelance/self-employed panellists £50 per webinar. For staff panellists, I donate £50 per webinar towards the excellent Talking Travel Writing mentorship scheme.
Hire me! As the proud owner of my own Zoom Webinars account, I am open to being commissioned to curate panels and organise and host webinars on travel media and industry topics.
If you have any questions, ideas or feedback, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I am a one-woman band, but I will get back to you as soon as I can.