In Episode #18, we speak with Wendy Gillette, anchor for CBS News Radio, and correspondent, anchor and producer for CBS Newspath, which provides national and international stories to CBS television stations. In 2020, Wendy launched a new travel series, “Travel Tuesday,” for digital, broadcast and radio.
An avid traveler, Wendy has visited 60 countries and reported travel stories from the Maldives, Vietnam, the Seychelles, South Africa, Alaska and Iceland.
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Tune in to hear this globetrotting broadcast journalist on all things travel-related share her thoughts on:
1) How she balances her multiple roles, both on-air and behind the scenes, spanning both television and radio.
2) What she likes most about travel and why it is her calling to get more people to go out and experience the world.
3) How her new “Travel Tuesday” series came about.
4) Why getting back to nature via road trips, RV excursions and cabin rentals will remain popular forms of travel for the foreseeable future
5) Why flying by private jet is no longer just for the very wealthy.
6) Why story ideas for broadcast media have to be of interest to a general audience, rather than just those within the trade.
7) How newbies should get their feet wet with local broadcast media first, rather than start off with national outlets.
8) Why cultivating relationships with local broadcast media members is critical and how following them on social media and commenting on their work is a great way to open a line of communication that can ultimately lead to coverage.
Wendy also answers a listener question from Antonio Saldanha de Oliveira of Nimb Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the steps hotels should take to safely welcome international travelers once travel restrictions are lifted.
Connect with Wendy on IG at @wendygilletteny and via email at WGillette@cbs.com.
Follow “Hospitality Forward” Podcast hosts Hanna Lee at @hannaleeny, Michael Anstendig at @michaelanstendig and our agency @hannaleepr on IG.
In this week’s “HLC Innovation Report,” we feature:
#1: What We Are Reading This week - Our agency celebrates book authors we admire through our #AskTheAuthor series. This week, we are reading “Behind the Bar: 50 Cocktail Recipes from the World’s Most Iconic Hotels” by Alia Akkam. Check out @hlcbookmedia on Instagram for our full interview on how Alia and Hardie Grant Book brought her book to life (https://bit.ly/39OGjqm).
# 2: Who We Are Honoring This Week - Daniela Curiel, Engagement Manager of Pernod Ricard USA. Her inspiring motto is “Spend all your energy on what makes you extraordinary.” Each week, we celebrate pioneering women via our digital channels, so check out hannaleecommunications.com for over 250 women’s words of wisdom.
#3: What We Are Celebrating This Week - The Bathtub Whiskey Pop-Up in New York City by Bathtub Gin’s Dave Oz and Head Bartender Brendan Bartley. Starting this week, the two-month pop-up brings this beloved Chelsea speakeasy bar to the Financial District with whiskey-focused cocktails, Gin & Tonics and bacon & whiskey pairing flights. This cozy spot is definitely worth checking out (https://bathtubginnyc.com/).
#4: What Podcast We Are Listening to This Week - “A Hotel Life Live,” hosted by Ben Pundole. Ben recently interviewed Ian Schrager, the legendary hotelier behind The EDITION, the PUBLIC Hotel and other iconic brands. Amidst the pandemic, Ian shares his wise advice, “We have to look at this as an opportunity of a new beginning in everything.” Have a listen to Ian’s inspiring insights on the future of hospitality (https://bit.ly/3gtGFUL).
#5: Who Is Inspiring Us This Week - Tony Abou-Ganim, a master mixologist, book author and leading light of the cocktail renaissance. Tony is also the founder of The Helen David Relief Fund at the USBG National Charity Foundation that supports bartenders battling breast cancer. This fall, he led Team Negroni to cycle 4,000 miles and raised $50,000 for this worthy cause. Thanks, Tony, for your continued support of the industry and this meaningful initiative (https://bit.ly/3lRYbTJ).