Jim Byers is a Toronto-based travel writer contributing to Postmedia, Sun Media, and international outlets like the Houston Chronicle. With three decades of experience, he specializes in:
Successful pitches to Byers often include:
Byers’ career began at the Toronto Star, where he helmed North America’s largest travel section for five years. During this period, he pioneered coverage of Canada’s emerging ecotourism scene while balancing mainstream resort reporting. His transition to freelance writing in the late 2010s expanded his reach across international publications like the Dallas Morning News and The Australian, though Canadian perspectives remain central to his work.
This 2024 analysis dissected Air Canada’s strategic expansion into Southeast Asia through geopolitical and economic lenses. Byers juxtaposed aviation industry trends with firsthand accounts from Filipino-Canadian communities, creating a multidimensional view of the route’s cultural significance. The piece became a benchmark for transportation journalism, cited by Skift in their 2024 airline industry report.
A recurring column demonstrating Byers’ knack for value-focused storytelling. Each installment combines hard savings data with experiential insights – a March 2020 edition highlighting Halifax’s maritime heritage hotels during pandemic recovery became a template for destination marketing boards.
Showcasing his ability to refresh classic destinations, this 2023 piece recontextualized Williamsburg through boutique accommodations. Byers wove historical context into property reviews, notably analyzing how a beachfront hotel’s architecture echoed colonial-era shipbuilding techniques.
Byers frequently angles international travel stories through Canadian lenses. A successful 2024 pitch about Japanese onsens emphasized parallels to British Columbia’s hot spring revitalization projects. When proposing international destinations, include data on Canadian visitor trends or cross-cultural exchange opportunities.
His analysis of Air Canada’s Manila route focused on layover programs connecting OFW communities. Tech pitches should emphasize tangible impacts – for example, a recent story on airport AI highlighted time savings for families rather than algorithmic complexity.
The March 2020 deals column demonstrated his mastery of timing. Successful pitches align with Canada’s distinct travel seasons – think February ski resort tech upgrades or September back-to-school city guides.
Byers’ coverage of Prince Edward County’s wineries artfully intertwined terroir analysis with chef interviews. Food pitches should reveal destination character through dining – a recent Newfoundland foraging piece connected local ingredients to Viking settlement history.
While Byers reviews high-end properties, he prioritizes unique experiences over opulence. A rejected 2023 pitch about Dubai’s gold-plated hotels lacked his signature focus on authentic cultural engagement.
Received for his “Prairie Skies” series exploring Indigenous stargazing tours. The jury praised Byers’ collaborative approach with First Nations storytellers, setting new standards for ethical travel journalism.
His investigative piece on overtourism in Banff National Park was recognized for balancing environmental concerns with local economic needs. The NATJA panel noted its innovative use of trail camera data visualization.
Awarded to develop augmented reality walking tours for historical Canadian neighborhoods, blending Byers’ passion for tech and cultural preservation. The project launches fall 2025.
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:
