Partnerships can be a useful way to expand what a publication can offer its readers, but they can also, handled carelessly, undermine the trust a publication depends on. We approach partnerships cautiously and with clear boundaries around editorial independence.
What we look for
Any organisation we work with needs to demonstrate a genuine understanding of considerate, well informed travel. We are far more interested in substance than in scale, and we would rather work with fewer partners who share our approach than many who do not.
Keeping editorial and commercial separate
Editorial decisions, including which destinations we cover and how we describe them, are made independently of any commercial relationship. We do not accept arrangements that would require us to write favourably about a place, route or organisation in exchange for support.
- Editorial independence maintained regardless of commercial ties
- Clear internal boundaries between editorial and partnership teams
- A preference for fewer, well aligned partnerships over many loose ones
- Transparency with readers where a page involves a partnership
- Regular review of existing partnerships against our standards
A partnership should never change what we would otherwise choose to say.
How partnerships take shape
In practice, partnerships tend to focus on areas such as shared research, distribution of our guidance, or collaboration on specific projects related to travel planning. We evaluate each proposal individually rather than following a fixed template.
We are open to hearing from organisations whose work genuinely complements ours, and we take the time to understand a potential partner's approach before entering into any agreement.
A cautious, considered approach
We would rather move slowly on partnerships and preserve the trust of our readers than move quickly and risk that trust for a short term gain.