meet our editors
Editorial Director/Publisher: Lorri Robbins
Lorri has been at Recommend for 12 years. Prior to that she worked at Hachette Filipacchi and American Media. A native of New York—she now lives in Miami Beach—Lorri started her career in the fashion industry. Lorri comes from a well-traveled family, particularly on the family yacht—where she fell in love with the eastern seaboard. As a child, Lorri dreamt of living in a hotel and that dream has been somewhat realized with her position at Recommend. On her bucket list of places she must visit while still able to walk, Australia, Austria and South Africa are at the top.
Where’s Lorri headed to next?
June: Cruise3Sixty conference in Vancouver
Contact Lorri at lorri@recommend.com
Editor-in-Chief: Paloma Villaverde de Rico
Paloma has worked in the media industry in South Florida for over 20 years. She has worked for various media outlets, including The Miami Herald, Aboard In-flight Magazines, Herald Custom Publishing, and Terra.com, and co-authored a Miami guidebook for Avalon Travel Publishing. She’s been with Recommend for more than 9 years and with her recent promotion to the editor-in-chief position, she’s excited to see more of the world and bring back news that travel agents can use.
Where’s Paloma headed to next?
June: Cruise3Sixty conference in Vancouver
June: Hawks Cay in the Florida Keys
August: Viking River Cruises on the Danube
Contact Paloma at paloma@recommend.com
Follow her @Paloma_RecMag
Associate Editor: Deserae E. del Campo
Prior to joining Recommend’s editorial team, Deserae had the chance to experience both sides of the communications industry in public relations and print journalism. Born in New York City and raised in Miami, Deserae began her career as a freelance writer for The Miami Herald’s Neighbors section before acquiring a staff writer position for Miami Today followed by a position with the glossy, local publication, Miami Monthly magazine. In 2008, Deserae decided to try her skills in PR and was welcomed at the boutique travel and tourism firm Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications where she stayed for close to three years, but now she’s back doing what she loves the most—reporting, writing, and traveling.
Where’s Deserae headed to next?
June: Vacation.com conference in Orlando
July: Alma Del Pacifico in Costa Rica
Contact Deserae at deserae@worthit.com
Latin America Editor: Carla Hunt
Presently Carla is an editor at Recommend magazine, covering Latin America in its monthly issues and special sections. Other media outlets during the past few years include FranceGuide, Elle, Car & Driver, Travel & Leisure (advertorial). Over the last 25 years, Carla’s work has appeared in such publications as National Geographic, Vogue, Diversion, Endless Vacations, American Airlines and British Airways in-flight magazines. During this time, she also held the position (for 20 years plus) of associate editor at Travel Weekly, covering Central & South America, the Middle East and Europe. Book publication work has included: South America (Birnbaum/Berlitz Guides), editor; contributor to Berlitz guides (Spain & Portugal), and Fodor’s South America. Carla is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.
Where’s Carla headed to next?
June: Nicaragua
Contact Carla at huntcarla@gmail.com
Asia/South Pacific Editor: Sergio Ortiz
Sergio began his journalism career immediately after college by working as a staff writer-photographer for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, then the second-largest newspaper in the city. He then served for two years in Vietnam as a combat correspondent with Stars & Stripes. Returning to the States, he worked for a variety of magazines and as an editor for the Associated Press. His work has appeared in many national and international publications. Sergio is a Contributing Editor and photographer for Recommend magazine. He lives in Malibu, California.
Where’s Sergio headed to next?
Contact Sergio at sergiortiz@mac.com
Caribbean Editor: Ed Wetschler
Ed Wetschler is part owner of Tripatini, a leading social network for travel, and a freelance writer who has contributed to The New York Times, Caribbean Travel & Life, Delta Sky, Frommers.com, various custom publications, and other prominent media outlets. He held the #2 spot for Caribbean Escapes and, before that, worked 20 years at Diversion, the travel-leisure magazine for physicians. There he served as executive editor and then editor-in-chief, expanding the publication’s coverage of the Caribbean and taking every opportunity to go there himself. His favorite island is whichever island he’s on right now.
Where’s Ed headed to next?
Contact Ed at ededits@yahoo.com
Follow him @EdWetschler
Web Editor/Florida Editor: Lane Nieset
Lane Nieset is a Florida native and Gator grad with a passion for writing, fashion and travel. She has worked in the fashion closets of national magazines like Town & Country and Women’s Health, and her writing has appeared in INsite magazine, The Riviera Times, and MyRecipes.com. Lane returned to Miami as the Web Editor/Florida Editor for Recommend magazine after spending a year living in the South of France and traveling around Europe.
Where’s Lane headed to next?
June: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Contact Lane at lane@worthit.com
Follow her @LaneMN
Contributing Editor: Vivian Holley
Vivian became a travel writer when she graduated from Georgia State University and went to work as the state’s tourism information officer, penning a weekly travel column. Currently, she is a Contributing Editor for Recommend magazine. As a freelance travel writer/editor, Vivian specializes in cruising and luxury travel, and reports on domestic and international destinations for magazines, newspapers, guidebooks, and the Internet. Vivian has received travel writing awards from Georgia, South Carolina, and twice from the 11-state Southeast Tourism Society. She is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the Southeast Tourism Society, and the Atlanta Press Club.
Where’s Vivian headed to next?
Contact Vivian at vholley@bellsouth.net
Ski Editor: Richard Schermer
A native of Miami, Florida, Richard found his passion for skiing in Innsbruck, Austria when he was studying abroad at the age of 21. Richard learned to ski with a ski instructor who didn’t speak English, which left him with two options: quickly become a good skier or die trying. Obviously, the latter didn’t suit him and he’s now an expert skier who enjoys skiing the most challenging and extreme mountainous terrain. Richard intends on returning to Austria to ski, but in the meantime prefers the mountains in Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. When not skiing, he likes to stay outdoors and try anything adventurous—from whitewater rafting in Central America to hiking anywhere there is a trail. It goes without saying that Richard is our resident thrill-seeker.
Where’s Richard headed to next?
Contributing Editor: Greg Oates
Just 16 years old alone by a watermelon stand on a quiet stretch of Mexican coastline, Greg Oates decided he wanted to write about the tropics. Over 150 trips later to the Caribbean, he still writes about palm trees and beaches, while expanding his horizons to Europe and beyond…. He is presently editor of Prevue, a Worth International Media Group magazine for the meetings and incentives market.
Contact Greg at greg@worthit.com