Meet our Editors
Laurel Herman is publisher/editorial director of Prevue. She has spent the last 39 years roaming the globe with the focused belief that sharing stories of different cultures and experiences is an integral way to foster world peace. It all started in 1972 while she was finishing her college education in London, when she had to opportunity to backpack throughout Europe. Laurel continued her love affair with travel by expanding Recommend Magazine to a worldwide destination brand when she became its publisher/editorial director in 1985. She then launched the Prevue brand in 2009, which has taken her to destinations like Egypt, India, Australia, France, Barcelona, Thailand, Italy and Israel, among others.
I would take a group to: India, The Berkshires, Barcelona, Napa/Sonoma Valley, Tuscany
Bucket list: The Himalayas, Argentina, Chile, Peru, New Zealand
Greg Oates is editor of Prevue, with over a dozen years experience covering the travel trade industry, including work with various meetings publications. Special areas of interest include sustainable travel, CSR, art, architecture and design. He has volunteered numerous times in Haiti, Mississippi and New Orleans, and sponsors two teenagers in the Dominican Republic.
I would take a group to: Nordic Europe, Zermatt, Paris/Provence, Madrid, Dubrovnik, South Africa, Miami, New Orleans, Vail, Vancouver, Riviera Maya/Nayarit, Dominican Republic, Buenos Aires, Tahiti
Bucket list: Rome, Monaco, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Kyoto
Monica Villar is assistant editor of Prevue and has her degree in journalism from Florida International University. She has written for various newspapers in South Florida but always enjoyed traveling and writing about foreign destinations. Special areas of interest include food/wine, the arts and fashion, and she teaches dance at various schools and studios in Miami.
I would take a group to: Savannah, Las Vegas, Barbados, Disney World
Bucket list: Napa Valley, Bora Bora, Tuscany, China
Contributing Writers
Dahlton Bennington, CMP/CMM brings nearly 20 years meeting and event experience as a contributing writer for Prevue. Dahlton is currently the director of meeting services for a $4 billion staffing/recruiting company, trustee of the Incentive Research Foundation, and board member of Site Florida. Passions include travel, CSR, and of course, food and wine!
I would take a group to: All over Europe!
Bucket list: Abu Dhabi, Greece, Australia, Alaska
Danielle Adams, CMP is president of the Florida/Caribbean Chapter of Green Meeting Industry Council, and spends most of her time advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry and beyond through workshops, presentations, and as an independent meeting planner and contributing writer for Prevue. Anwar Sadat was the keynote speaker at the first official event she planned while working for Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, sparking her interest in the global community. She is currently engaged in a 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga teacher training, and loving life!
I would take a group to: Stockholm, Montreal, Chattanooga
Bucket list: Machu Picchu, Greek Islands, the Maldives
Katherine Manfredi, CMM calls upon 20+ years event management experience to bring creativity with a dose of practicality to her features. Her dedication to advancing sustainable events, green meetings and CSR is expressed through her writing, presentations and training, as well as in her current event management role with a third party meetings and incentive company. She is a founding board member of the local Green Meeting Industry Council chapter, co-chair of the GMIC sustainable meetings conference 2012 & 2013, and actively supports MPI and sustainable event standards development. Katherine is presently earning an MBA in Sustainability.
I would take a group to: Maui, Europe, Whistler, Lake Louise/Banff, California Wine Country, Washington DC
Bucket list: The Orient Express, Pompeii, Fiji, New Zealand, Alaska
Tammy Thurmon, CMP brings nearly 20 years meeting and event experience as a contributing writer for Prevue. Thurmon is currently the Executive Director for the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA – think traditional IMAX theatres), and member of the Small Staff Association Committee for ASAE. An extensive traveler, Thurmon has visited all of the U.S. States and Canadian provinces, and she studied in Japan and Spain. Thurmon has planned meetings all over North America, Europe and Asia. Passions include family, travel, NFL Football, photography and scrapbooking, and food and wine!
I would take a group to: Washington DC, Seattle, Phoenix, Copenhagen
Bucket list: Albuquerque, Madison, Tunisia, Dubrovnik, Antarctica, The Arctic
John Anderson is a veteran travel writer and editor, with a focus on meetings industry issues and destinations. Besides his ongoing search for the perfectly executed cocktail, he reports on lifestyle and leisure activities, as well as music, film, art and architecture. He also covers destinations and sustainability issues in Northern California, where he currently resides.
I would take a group to: Vancouver, Coastal Croatia, Monterey
Bucket list: Vietnam, Istanbul, Kerala
Lydia Gregory has over 20 years of writing experience under her belt, most of it focused on the travel trade and tourism industry. This has given her free reign to indulge her love of Mexico (her specialty) and take full advantage of her bilingual and bicultural upbringing. In addition to her work as a freelance writer/editor, she also applies her considerable experience to the art of good-natured haggling in the mercado.
I would take a group to: Puerto Vallarta, Valle de Guadalupe (Mexico’s wine country), Morelia, Guadalajara
Bucket list: Italy, Greece, Spain, Cappadoccia, Australia
Karen Kuzsel is a career writer/editor who specializes in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings & events industries, focusing on food, wine, spas, destinations, venues, meetings & events. She is an active member and journalist for ISES and MPI.
I would take a group to: France, Northern California, New York City
Bucket list: Prague, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Spain
Alexis Quinlan is a freelance writer based in New York City. She has covered lifestyle, health, and travel for over a dozen years, and also teaches writing at Paterson University in New Jersey and elsewhere. She recently designed and ran writing workshops for veterans at the VA Hospital in Manhattan.
I would take a group to: Mexico City, Zurich, Palm Springs, anywhere in Texas
Bucket list: Copenhagen, Seattle, Petra
Dawna L. Robertson is a freelance travel writer who splits her residential stays between San Diego and Honolulu. With 20 years of globetrotting under her belt, she specializes in the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, South Pacific, Asia, the U.S. and Western Europe. Areas of interest include: incentive, sport, adventure, family, culture and romance travel. An avid marathon runner and photographer, Dawna is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.
I would take a group to: Hawaii, Queensland, Taiwan
Bucket List: Isle of Skye, Scotland; Vanua Levu, Fiji; Galapagos Islands