I’m Meera Dattani, a freelance travel and culture journalist for over 20 years and executive 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 been a panelllist at many events 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, Women In Travel CIC, and Brand USA. I also hosted interviews/stages at the Adventure Travel Show in 2025.
I’ve also enjoyed being a mentor on initiatives with Talking Travel Writing, Intrepid Travel, Women in Journalism and Condé Nast Traveller. I’ve also judged travel writing and sustainable tourism awards for the likes of ASTW (Australian Society of Travel Writers), Travel Media Awards, TravMedia, OutThere 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 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 fee (or optional donations when the webinar is free) 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/host webinars on travel media and industry topics.
If you have any questions, ideas or feedback, please feel free to contact me at travelwritingwebinars@gmail.com. I am a one-woman band, but I will get back to you as soon as I can.