As editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, George Stone champions tourism that bridges cultural understanding and ecological preservation. His work consistently demonstrates:
"Stone’s leadership transformed travel journalism from escapism to engaged global citizenship." - World Tourism Organization, 2024
Key Recognition:
This annual franchise spotlights unsung heroes like María González, a Guatemalan guide training Indigenous women in ecotourism. Stone’s editorial approach combines demographic analysis (40% honorees from Global South) with narrative depth, using National Geographic’s signature photography to humanize data. The 2024 edition drove a 33% increase in reader-submitted stories about community-based tourism.
Stone’s investigative piece on Bhutan’s tourism tax model revealed unexpected outcomes: 72% of fees directly fund healthcare infrastructure. His team employed GIS mapping to show tourism revenue distribution patterns, setting a benchmark for data-driven travel journalism. The article influenced Palau’s revised ecotourism policies in 2023.
This cross-platform project documented vanishing traditions across 12 countries. Stone’s collaboration with UNESCO resulted in interactive tools allowing travelers to locate heritage sites using augmented reality. The piece’s viral success (4.2 million shares) demonstrated his ability to merge technology with traditional storytelling.
Stone prioritizes initiatives with measurable outcomes, like Costa Rica’s plastic-free tourism zones. Successful pitches quantify impact: "Our reef-safe sunscreen program reduced coral bleaching by 18%" outperforms vague eco-claims. Reference his 2022 series on circular economy models in Nordic hotels.
His coverage of Roma storyteller networks in Romania demonstrates interest in grassroots cultural preservation. Pitches should identify specific traditions at risk and local partners involved. Avoid superficial "cultural immersion" angles without depth.
Stone’s team uses heat maps to show tourism pressure points. Provide layered GIS data showing before/after impacts of conservation efforts. His award-winning Borneo deforestation piece originated from a researcher’s LiDAR dataset pitch.
Recent articles explore how Tokyo’s tourism revenue funds rural revitalization. Successful pitches demonstrate clear economic linkages between metropolitan visitors and peripheral communities.
Stone assigns photographers early in the editorial process. Include visual treatment ideas that align with his "Decisive Moment" photography column, which emphasizes human-environment interactions.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Travel, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
