At the risk of being accused of blowing the company trumpet, I have another quick bit of news: namely, that I have had the good fortune of having been selected as a Conde Nast Top Traveller Specialist for 2013 – – with particular reference to Ethiopia.
This may not mean much to you, but here’s an interesting statistic: it’s tougher, so claim Conde Nast, ‘to earn a spot on the list than get into Harvard.’ Now, I’m not sure about this (a quick glance at my school grades would provide enough evidence for removing any probability of my ever attaining a place at Harvard), but the point’s well made: the Conde Nast selection process is rigorous, not taken lightly and means a great deal.
Obviously, being selected is wonderful for business. An endorsement from a publication with Conde Nast’s kudos is a no brainer when it comes to thinking about the level and quality of exposure it affords. Given that the new list was only made public in July, I’m yet to get to grips with exactly how this pans out, but I’m very much looking forward to the February Summit in North Carolina; and to seeing the results of following advice with regards to making use of Conde Nast’s various social media platforms – an area I most freely admit to knowing almost as well as I do the ins and outs of piloting a rocket to the moon.
However, more than this, the business related advantages of being a Top Traveller Specialist, I feel honoured to be invited into a group composed of the very people who have made the kind of travel we advocate possible. Pioneering and visionary, and hugely successful in their various fields, I can’t tell you how excited I am to be a part of a debate that will, I hope, help decide what it means to be a 21st century traveller.