Pitch Call: New assignments for NatGeo and more

From train travel to gift guides, I've got a bit of everything going on...

Nov 06, 2025

Hi friends,

Greetings from NYC, where it’s cold, rainy, and I’m complaining about the Christmas decorations going up way too early again (I took the pic above near a networking event I attended in Midtown yesterday).

What a week it’s been!

I landed four new assignments this morning, in addition to all the holiday gift guides I’m writing. I’m also burning the midnight oil planning a scavenger hunt charity bike ride this weekend (it’s our 10th anniversary, you can find more info here, and I’m still accepting prize donations).

I’m too busy to send a proper invitation to a special workshop series I’m co-hosting next month, so I’ll include another save-the-date notice, then get to the pitch call.

Have a great weekend, and please try to do something to help anyone struggling to get through the holidays, whether it's financially or emotionally.

Cassandra

Travel PR workshops in December

My good friend and superstar travel writer, Joni Sweet, and I are teaming up for two LIVE travel PR workshops in December, exclusively for paid subscribers. More details will be announced soon, but here’s a quick peek:

IMM Power Hour on Dec. 3, 1 p.m. ET: Learn how to make the most of the travel industry’s biggest conference of the year, International Media Marketplace. We ran this event last year, and it was such a success, we’re doing it again—live!
Workshop on Building Travel Media Relationships That Last on Dec. 11, 1 p.m. ET: Here, we’ll share actionable strategies for networking authentically, staying top of mind all year long, and becoming the kind of PR pro travel writers actually want to hear from. This would be especially great for anyone not going to IMM.

Upgrade Now!

CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS

1. Train travel - National Geographic

I’m working on a piece about how train travel can be a more relaxed (and sometimes, even faster) way to travel during the holidays. While there will be a tie-in to the recent flight delays and cancellations, I’ll also make the case for train travel during the holidays, independent of a government shutdown.

I want to hear from experts regarding:

Specific routes or regions that are the busiest, best, or worst for holiday train travel.
Tips on how to handle train travel during the holidays.
Non-Amtrak routes and trains that are transporting travelers during the holidays. NOTE: I am only looking for trains that get you from point A to point B, not nostalgic tourism trains to ride in your destination.

I AM NOT LOOKING FOR EVERY DESTINATION AMTRAK GOES TO

However, if you represent a city that is historically easier to reach by train (or, perhaps, one that always experiences tons of cancelled flights over the holidays while trains continue to run on time), that may be of interest.

To pitch me:

Subject line: Train Travel
Email: cassandra@escapingny.com
Pitch by: EOD Monday, Nov 17

2. Northern Wisconsin travel

I’m working on several pieces for Travel Wisconsin about winter activities in and around the northern Wisconsin town of Hayward (like their incredible Birkebeiner event). If you live or rep anything/one in the region, I’d love to hear from you!

To pitch me: