WELCOME

FROM THE EDITOR

In the spring of 1993, tourism colleague Maureen Miller and I sat down with a representative of WH Smith, then an essential gateway for magazine distribution throughout the UK, to propose a pioneering, new travel magazine. Initially under-impressed,

Ms WH Smith said she didn’t really understand what the magazine was about. Exasperated, I responded: “Well, essentially it’s about America!” “Essentially America – I like the title,” she said. “What a brilliant idea on your part,” Maureen responded … and in February, 1994 – 25 years ago – the first issue of Essentially America hit the UK news-stands.

Operating from a former warehouse in London’s then-scruffy Old Street area, we set sail with a small staff, a select group of talented freelance writers and, with our third issue, the help of USA-based advertising expert Larry Cohen, still part of our team.

As the number of UK visitors to North America steadily increased so did our profile and adventurous coverage. Then, in 2002, we were faced with major challenges. The 9/11 terrorism destruction of New York’s Twin Towers the year before had shaken confidence in the USA tourism market and, meanwhile, Maureen and her husband decided to move to New Zealand. A new lease on life – and a total restructuring – came with a new owner/ publisher, British-born, Texas-based tourism professional Simon Todd.

In 2012, Essentially America began to go out regularly with the Saturday London editions of the prestigious Daily Telegraph and in foreign-language versions to such countries as Germany, Mexico and China.

Now, otherwise subscription only, it is also distributed through selected airline lounges and gateways at Heathrow Airport. And, in March, 2018, even more expertise was added to our team when Chicago-based online publishing expert Tobias Zerr took over as our new owner/ publisher and immediately began updating and expanding our website coverage while continuing the strong tradition of the magazine.

Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy my ongoing role as the editor/editorial director of a magazine dedicated to travel to one of the world’s most-exciting and multifaceted countries – my native USA. So, please read on and enjoy this, our 25thanniversary issue of Essentially America.