Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a New York City-based journalist, editor, travel industry consultant and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and his work has appeared in media including Fodor’s, Forbes Travel Guide, Edge Media Network, Expedia, GayCities, Global Traveler, HuffPost, JWM Magazine, Kayak, the Miami Herald, Orbitz, Passport Magazine, Skift, Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travelocity, the New York Times bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and the inflight magazines of Aeromexico, American Airlines and Avianca.
Mark operates his own website, DepartureLevel.com and contributes regularly to multiple media outlets at Northstar Travel Media, North America’s largest travel trade publisher — including PhocusWire, Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, TravelPulse, Successful Meetings and Meetings & Conventions Magazine.
Mark has written and managed custom content for travel industry clients including the U.S. Travel Association, World Travel & Tourism Council and hotel brands including Hilton and IHG, and he’s spoken at conventions including the ASTA Global conference, the New York Travel Festival, the New York Times Travel Show, the Louisville Book Festival, the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, the World Romance Travel Conference and SAHIC: The South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference.