About me
Hi, I'm Mike, a London-based travel writer and photographer for major UK newspapers and magazines, including travel trade publications. My features have appeared in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Sun, Sunday Post, syndicated in Newsquest's papers and magazines, Travel Trade Gazette and many others.
The print titles I write for also have online versions and I occasionally write for a few well-known web-based publications as well. My titles touch a consumer audience of over three million adults, mainly in the ABC1 sectors.
I am also a professionally trained photographer and supply publications with hi-res images to illustrate my features.
The print titles I write for also have online versions and I occasionally write for a few well-known web-based publications as well. My titles touch a consumer audience of over three million adults, mainly in the ABC1 sectors.
I am also a professionally trained photographer and supply publications with hi-res images to illustrate my features.
Before travel
However my life wasn't always about travel. I had a successful career in consumer electronic services. I worked with people from MIT in Boston to launch the first artificial intelligence systems in the UK, it was used for personal financial planning.
I introduced home banking in Europe, worked with AT&T in the US on applications for the first smartphone (pictured left) and later pioneered smart TVs. In addition I helped MasterCard launch the first pre-paid debit cards, now often used in the travel industry.
When I started writing about travel I also worked for five years as a travel agent and cruise agent, arranging bespoke package holidays for individual clients. This gave me invaluable first-hand experience of the travel industry as a whole and the cruise industry in particular.
I introduced home banking in Europe, worked with AT&T in the US on applications for the first smartphone (pictured left) and later pioneered smart TVs. In addition I helped MasterCard launch the first pre-paid debit cards, now often used in the travel industry.
When I started writing about travel I also worked for five years as a travel agent and cruise agent, arranging bespoke package holidays for individual clients. This gave me invaluable first-hand experience of the travel industry as a whole and the cruise industry in particular.
Press Awards
It was an honour to win the Czech Tourism Press Award which was presented to me by the Embassy at the World Travel Market in London.
In addition, Czech Tourism told me that their cuttings agency had picked up 25 features from me as a result of one press trip. The problem is, I wonder what they are expecting from the next one!
I was also delighted to receive an award from the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan for my many features encouraging tourism to the country.
The award was presented in London by His Excellency Erlan Idrissov (right), UK Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan. My wife (also a journalist) and I were later asked to represent the UK on a multi-national cultural visit organised by their Foreign Ministry.
In addition, Czech Tourism told me that their cuttings agency had picked up 25 features from me as a result of one press trip. The problem is, I wonder what they are expecting from the next one!
I was also delighted to receive an award from the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan for my many features encouraging tourism to the country.
The award was presented in London by His Excellency Erlan Idrissov (right), UK Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan. My wife (also a journalist) and I were later asked to represent the UK on a multi-national cultural visit organised by their Foreign Ministry.
Commendations
I get a number of commissions for each trip, delivering substantial press coverage, much to the delight of PRs, hotels, cruise lines and tourist boards. As a result I have received many kind comments on the features I have written and the press coverage I have generated. Here are a few examples.
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Brilliant - thanks again. You win our most-prolific-commissions award for 2023!
Much appreciated DS - River cruise line PR |
Thanks again for the lovely write up. You may need to come back to St Lucia to cool off, heard it's a bit hot (40c) in London. Cheers
MD – St Lucia Hotel |
Ach, you did us more than proud, and we couldn't be more grateful for the wonderful coverage you delivered from the trip. It was a real pleasure working with you on this.
CD – Celebrity Caribbean Resort PR |
Wow – I can’t keep up with all the coverage you have shared from our Dublin trip!
FM – PR for Ireland |
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I’ll only have one word for this: AMAZING!! It definitely was a really good idea to invite you.
VS - French Regional Tourist Board |
Wow – thank you so much! This article and this whole page in the paper looks amazing! With those wonderful pictures! Thank you for your wonderful work.
CS – German Regional Tourist Board |
Thanks so much Mike! You really are the gift that keeps on giving.
MS – PR for Toronto |
This is great – the coverage you have achieved for us has been fantastic.
HH – Cruise line PR |
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Thanks Mike, I think you are now firmly sat in the airline Hall Of Fame!
SR - Airline Country Manager |
Thank you so much! You are a star!
JK – Macau Tourism Authority |
You've done so great promotion to my country. We highly appreciate.
BT – Senior VP, Kazakhstan |
Seriously?!! You are definitely the gift that keeps on giving!
LF - St Lucia Tourist Board PR manager |
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Thanks for the email and I just read the feature, very nice!
Thank you for the professional review. SS – CEO of US hotel group |
Thank you Mike! It's great. It just came through on our cuttings, attached here, but you can't see it in its full dps glory!
LF – Caribbean PR |
Thanks Mike – legend!
BF – Airport Facilities PR |
This is truly amazing to have THODW featured on so many publications in the UK through you.
NL – City of Dreams |
If you would like to contact me please email me on the address below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Mike
Best wishes,
Mike