Travel Editors' 2026 Predictions
Get ready to hear which destinations will be in vogue, what booking patterns we can expect, and what disruption the travel industry may continue to see this year from climate issues and political unrest in regions of the world.
Crucially for PRs, we will hear the topics our experts believe their editorial teams are most likely to cover in the year ahead.
Tune in as our panellists offer travel PR professionals their expert forecasts for 2026!
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Ben Parker
Deputy Head of Travel
Daily Mail
Ben has been writing about travel for over a decade, spending many years as a freelancer with bylines in The Economist, The i, Conde Nast Traveller, GQ, The New York Post and Tatler.
He spent a number of years working on The Telegraph’s travel desk, and was travel editor for online publication The Independent before joining the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday as deputy head of travel.
He has been shortlisted as travel writer of the year on numerous occasions and won the silver AITO Young Travel Writer of the Year award in 2021.
He has also edited two cookery books, and has a soft spot for his hometown in west Dorset.
Caroline McGuire
Head of Travel, Digital
The Sun
Caroline McGuire is in charge of The Sun’s online travel section, including the new Sun Club, digital commercial content and social media channels.
Laura Jackson
Deputy Head of Travel
The Times and The Sunday Times
Laura Jackson is the Deputy Head of Travel at The Times and Sunday Times. A writer and editor with two decades of experience on newspapers and magazines working both in print and online, she specialises in city breaks, solo travel and cruises.
Sophie Griffiths
Editor-in-Chief
TTG
Sophie Griffiths joined Travel Trade Gazette in March 2010 as a news reporter before working her way up to the position of editor in January 2017. She is also the founder of TTG LGBT – a network for LGBT people and allies within the travel industry – which champions diversity within the sector. Sophie was named Editor of the Year at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022. In January 2022 Sophie was named TTG’s first Chief Purpose Officer, and as of 2025 is now Editor-in-Chief.
Henry Hemming (Moderator)
Global Advisor
TravMedia
Henry’s an entrepreneur who’s about to hit a milestone 40 years in travel, his first day in travel PR dating back to June 1984. Following seven years as a travel writer he created a travel PR company that’s since evolved into a successful multi-sector agency.
He launched TravMedia UK in 2003, as a joint venture with the site’s CEO and founder Nick Wayland, helping to establish a leading UK and global community for travel journalists and PR professionals. In 2013, TravMedia UK launched IMM, which quickly became the premier global annual event for media to meet travel brands.
TravMedia’s sister company, News4Media, of which Henry is owner and CEO, runs Property4Media and Homes4Media, dedicated portals that connect media with brands and maximize PR campaign results for their subscribers.
Henry lives in East Sussex, is a keen photographer, nature lover and ardent Beatles fan (yeah, yeah, yeah).
