Jeffries Blackerby is a travel and lifestyle journalist with a focus on luxury experiences, cultural storytelling, and real estate trends. Currently contributing to Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, he combines editorial rigor with a passion for immersive narratives. His work bridges high-end travel, architectural history, and lifestyle innovation, making him a sought-after voice for audiences seeking sophistication and depth.
Jeffries Blackerby is a seasoned journalist and editor whose career spans high-profile roles at leading publications, blending travel narratives with luxury lifestyle and real estate insights. With bylines in The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Departures, Blackerby has carved a niche in curating immersive stories that resonate with discerning audiences. His transition into real estate and content strategy further underscores his ability to navigate evolving media landscapes while maintaining editorial excellence.
Blackerby’s career began in the early 2000s as a senior editor at Departures, where he honed his expertise in luxury travel and cultural reporting. His tenure at the magazine, which caters to American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders, solidified his reputation for crafting narratives that blend sophistication with accessibility. In 2017, he ascended to editor-in-chief, steering the publication through a digital transformation while preserving its print legacy until its 2021 closure.
Post-Departures, Blackerby joined Travel + Leisure as executive editor, contributing to its Southeast Asia edition with pieces like "Saturday Night at the Sydney Opera House", which exemplifies his knack for weaving personal anecdotes with cultural commentary. Concurrently, he expanded into real estate, leveraging his editorial acumen as a brand consultant and agent with Houlihan Lawrence’s This Old Hudson team.
This evocative piece captures a performance by violinist Joshua Bell at the Sydney Opera House, juxtaposing the venue’s architectural grandeur with the emotional resonance of live music. Blackerby’s vivid descriptions—such as the “bright-pink seats” contrasting with attendees’ “glittery” attire—highlight his ability to transform a cultural event into a sensory experience. The article underscores his focus on luxury travel as a conduit for personal connection and memory-making.
Blackerby prioritizes stories that explore how luxury intersects with local traditions. For example, his Sydney Opera House article emphasizes the venue’s role in Australia’s cultural identity rather than merely reviewing the performance. Pitches should highlight unique angles, such as artisan collaborations in boutique hotels or sustainable practices in high-end tourism, backed by expert interviews and immersive fieldwork.
His real estate work with Houlihan Lawrence focuses on historic properties in the Hudson Valley, blending architectural history with modern design trends. Successful pitches might explore themes like adaptive reuse of heritage buildings or the impact of urban migration on rural real estate markets, supported by data from local agencies or testimonials from architects.
While specific awards are not detailed in available sources, Blackerby’s editorial leadership at Departures during its final print years earned recognition from peers like Graydon Carter, who praised his “massive curiosity.” His ability to sustain the magazine’s prestige amid industry upheaval reflects a commitment to quality that resonates in his freelance and real estate ventures.
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:
