MINDY PODER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, TRAVELAGE WEST, EXPLORER, FAMILY GETAWAYS

Mindy Poder is an award-winning travel journalist and editor with more than 13 years of experience in the travel industry. After editing books and creating curriculum related to travel journalism, Mindy joined TravelAge West as Assistant Editor and has since transitioned into the roles of Associate Editor, Senior Editor and, as of 2014, Executive Editor.

She most loves to write about wellness travel, up-and-coming destinations, adventure travel and luxury travel (it’s a hard life), and her assignments have taken her kayaking in a snowstorm in Antarctica, sailing on the first U.S. cruise to Cuba, meditating under the same tree as Buddha in India, solo road tripping through Namibia and so much more.

Her work has earned her more than 30 writing awards, including North American Travel Journalists Association’s grand honor of travel journalist of the year and Folio: magazine’s “30 under 30” working in media. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her husband and one-year-old daughter.

A few years ago, she daydreamed about the idea of a retreat for younger folks in travel to get to know one another in a gorgeous outdoor setting (ideally after hiking, practicing yoga and getting massages).

Even though spa treatments haven’t made the cut (yet!), she views being on the launch team of the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat as a career highlight and can’t wait to return this year to meet you.