Morgan Hines

Career Trajectory: From General Assignment to Travel Industry Authority

Morgan Hines has cultivated a multifaceted journalism career spanning travel, food, and lifestyle sectors. After earning degrees from Georgetown University and Columbia University’s prestigious journalism program, she began her professional journey at USA TODAY, where she honed her skills in fast-paced news reporting from 2019-2023.

Key Career Phases

• 2019-2021: General assignment reporter covering breaking news and cultural trends
• 2021-2023: Specialized travel and lifestyle reporting with Forbes collaborations
• 2023-Present: Senior reporter at PhocusWire analyzing global travel industry shifts

Defining Works

• Expedia Group makes job cuts (PhocusWire, March 2025) This investigative piece revealed strategic workforce reductions at Expedia Group amid shifting post-pandemic travel patterns. Hines analyzed SEC filings, interviewed displaced employees, and contextualized the cuts within broader industry trends toward automation. The article became essential reading for travel sector investors, cited in three Wall Street analyst reports within its first week of publication.
• AI travel software provider Maya raises €1M (PhocusWire, February 2025) Hines dissected the implications of Maya’s funding round through interviews with VCs and hotel chain CTOs. Her analysis predicted how AI itinerary builders might reshape boutique travel agencies, supported by proprietary data visualization of market penetration rates. The piece sparked debate in industry forums about ethical AI implementation.
• Sunday Shop: Spring Bag Edit (Appetito, March 2025) Demonstrating her lifestyle reporting range, this trend piece curated luxury handbag selections from Milanese ateliers to NYC pop-ups. Hines blended material science insights with cultural commentary, interviewing designers about sustainable leather alternatives. The article drove measurable traffic spikes to featured brands’ e-commerce platforms.

Strategic Pitching Guidance

1. Travel Technology Innovations

Pitch AI/ML solutions addressing specific pain points like dynamic pricing or carbon footprint tracking. Hines’ Maya coverage shows particular interest in startups bridging hospitality operations with guest experience tech. Example: “A new hotel chatbot reducing front desk staffing needs by 40% through NLP integration.”

2. Culinary Tourism Developments

Highlight unique F&B partnerships shaping destination appeal. Her Appetito work indicates preference for stories connecting food trends with economic impacts. Example: “How a Michelin-starred chef’s pop-up revived rural Italian tourism.”

3. Luxury Retail-Travel Crossovers

Focus on high-end collaborations between travel providers and fashion houses. Her Spring Bag Edit analysis suggests interest in material innovation stories. Example: “Airlines adopting designer luggage fabrics for premium cabin interiors.”

4. Corporate Travel Policy Shifts

Provide exclusive data on enterprise travel spending changes post-2024. Her Expedia coverage demonstrates appetite for workforce impact angles. Example: “How remote work policies are reshaping conference hotel demand.”

5. Sustainable Hospitality Initiatives

Emphasize measurable outcomes from eco-friendly programs. While not explicitly stated, her material science reporting indicates receptiveness to circular economy solutions. Example: “Hotel chain achieving 100% linen reuse through IoT tracking.”

Industry Recognition

• Phocuswright Innovation Shortlist Curator (2024): Selected emerging travel tech startups for industry’s premier accelerator program
• Columbia Journalism School Guest Lecturer: Regular speaker on multimedia travel reporting techniques since 2024