About Us

Learn more about Conde Nast Traveller's editorial policies, testing guidelines, annual awards, and how to contact the team.

Who we are

Condé Nast Traveller is the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice on all things travel, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why our editors mine their network of experts and contributors so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world.

Since it was first published in 1987, Condé Nast Traveller has become a global authority on luxury travel. Today the brand is present across seven global markets (the eighth launches this September) and all major social media platforms, and is overseen by global editorial director Divia Thani. Thani launched the Indian edition of Condé Nast Traveller in 2010 and served as its editor-in-chief for a decade. She now oversees the brand globally and is based in London.

“Condé Nast Traveller is an opinionated voice on travel and culture, driving conversations around sustainability, inclusivity, and transformation, showcasing the local and authentic, and a force for real connection and change,” Thani says.

**The Condé Nast Traveller Global Advisory Board**

The Condé Nast Traveller Global Advisory Board is an embodiment and reflection of the brand’s global footprint and authority. We formed this committee of experts from diverse sectors of the industry, including tourism, hospitality, aviation, cruise, fashion and luxury, food and drink, wellness, and sustainability – and all corners of the world – to help steer our brand on the issues most pertinent to travel and our audiences.

“Condé Nast Traveller’s global advisory board represents the brand’s dynamic and international outlook,” Thani says. “Our board members are pioneers in their fields – from hospitality to aviation, destination marketing to lifestyle – and are some of the most exciting, successful, and innovative leaders in the travel industry in their parts of the world. By bringing them together, Condé Nast Traveller is creating a unique platform for sharing their insights and insider knowledge and, of course, their different perspectives.”

Pitching and commissioning process

Traveller is mindful about whom we select to write for us, seeking to feature a diverse range of writers with years of firsthand experience with a particular destination or subject to provide insightful, service-driven content. Our editors also work closely with writers, revising and refining drafts before finalising an article. For more information, see our guidelines on how to pitch to Condé Nast Traveller.

Articles may go through several layers of editing before publication to help ensure the quality of the work. Multiple sources are consulted whenever possible or necessary.

Reviews process

Your time is valuable, and here at Condé Nast Traveller, we want to help you make the most of each trip you take. As such, Traveller’s destination guides and product reviews are built on first-person experiences. We consider both luxury and affordable price points within our selection and test each recommendation to ensure our opinions are honest and informative. We update our pages regularly and aim to provide the most relevant versions of any product and usable shopping links to ensure a smooth user journey. Below, we've outlined how we approach reviewed content so you can better understand what it takes for a hotel, Airbnb, cruise ship, or product to be featured on the website.

How we review hotels

Every hotel we feature online has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property; notable exceptions to this process are Readers' Choice Award-winning hotels, which our community has nominated.

When choosing hotels to review, feature and recommend, our editors consider all price points, including luxury properties, boutiques and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. Our round-ups will include a short description of what it is like to stay at this hotel. We also strive to include a more detailed review of each hotel, assessing the property's design and decor, hotel rooms and suites, backstory, food and drink offerings, spa (if applicable), neighbourhood, service, eco effort, accessibility, and suitability for families.

We tour the hotel and meet the on-site team where possible. While visiting, we aim to view different accommodation styles, eat at the on-site dining destinations and experience additional facilities such as the spa or wellness offering. We also take sustainability and accessibility seriously, providing detailed insight into the hotel’s efforts to make the space more environmentally friendly and accessible to Disabled travellers. From an accessibility standpoint, we look at everything from adjusted room layouts for wheelchair access to hearing loops for visitors who are deaf.

Our annual Gold List is Condé Nast Traveller editors’ picks of the creme-de-la-creme of the hotel world, while the Hot List features the best new hotel openings from the previous year. Condé Nast Traveller editors will sometimes receive exclusive access to big hotel openings, which are then featured in our First Guest video series. Each video is hosted by an editor and shot by a member of Condé Nast’s video team.

How we review restaurants

At Condé Nast Traveller, we are passionate about our food and believe it is a significant part of any travel experience. Our editors often plan trips specifically to sample new and exciting dishes from around the globe, so when we recommend a restaurant, it comes with first-hand experience. The restaurants and bars featured online have been selected independently by our editors and reviewed by a Condé Nast Traveller editor or contributor who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing restaurants, our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries and weigh standout dishes, location, ambience and service – as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update these lists as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.

Condé Nast Traveller has a curated list of the best restaurants in London, which we update every quarter. Our guide to the best new London restaurants is updated weekly, highlighting the most exciting and tasty openings in the capital city. Where the Chefs Eat is Condé Nast Traveller’s series, in which we interview leading and up-and-coming chefs about their favourite restaurants, including the must-order dish and the best seat in the house. We’ve interviewed everyone from Jason Atherton and Jamie Oliver to Anna Jones and Ruth Rogers. We also launched Condé Nast Traveller's inaugural edition of The UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards in 2024, working with top chefs, food writers and tastemakers in the UK to curate a list of the best new restaurants in the country.

How we review rentals and villas

We exclusively feature Airbnb, villa and home rental recommendations selected by an experienced travel writer or editor. We strive to write from first-hand experience and prefer to visit a property before it is listed online. However, when we cannot review a property personally, we follow strict criteria to ensure each recommendation has gone through a thorough vetting process. Recommendations are a mix of editor stays and recommendations based on location, aesthetics, amenities and strong guest reviews. We also run a series titled My favourite Airbnb, where an editor reviews their most-loved homestay in a specific destination.

How we review cruise ships

Cruise ships are independently reviewed by Condé Nast Traveller editors or contributors with firsthand experience onboard the cruise. Our ship reviews aim to represent the breadth of the cruise industry, including small, medium, large, mega, expedition, and river ships. These reviews detail the personal experience of the writer in relation to the ship’s food and drink, spa offerings, onboard activities and entertainment, the itinerary, shore excursions, the experience for families, and the ship’s sustainability initiatives. Some trips are complimentary, but our editors are not obligated to feature the cruise if it does not meet the Condé Nast Traveller standard. Our Onboard Obsession franchise highlights specific features of the best-loved cruises, also independently selected and based on firsthand experience from contributors and editors.

How we review products for shopping guides

Each recommended piece of travel equipment or clothing has been chosen by a travel expert for its individual properties. We are a team of frequent travellers, and we understand the importance of easy-to-use, durable products, whether you’re searching for the best carry-on luggage or a packable rain jacket. We aim to test every product featured online before recommending it to our readers. Our team independently tests the majority of products we feature on the website before recommending them to you, striving to provide options with varying price points and including first-hand experiences from travelling with said product. The team often recommends brands our editors trust and up-and-coming brands in the travel space, all while maintaining a high-quality standard.

When testing a product, our editors consider the following features: design, functionality, aesthetics, comfort, sustainability, value and overall quality. We provide unique insights based on the product we are reviewing. For example, we’ll include details as to whether under-seat luggage actually fits comfortably in front of your feet and if that trending travel pillow really helps you get some sleep on your next long-haul flight. If an editor has not tested a product, we will only recommend editor-trusted brands and brands with high customer reviews or if the product comes recommended by one of our expert travel contacts.

Affiliate disclosure

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy or book something from our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We work with select booking platforms and retailers to earn commission on any purchases made through links that originated on cntraveller.com. We also work on a tenancy basis with a select number of brands, but are dedicated to maintaining integrity and honesty through our featured recommendations. As such, we only work with brands that we believe in.

While hotels, airlines or tour operators sometimes host Condé Nast Traveller editors and writers to produce stories, we pride ourselves on only accepting hosted travel when it fits our brand vision. We never recommend anything or create content around any experience that wasn’t to the highest standard, regardless of whether a writer or editor was hosted.

Meet the team

Global editorial director: Divia Thani
PA to the global editorial director: Sandra Denda
Global operations director: Helen Placito
Global creative director: Pete Winterbottom
Global visuals director: Matthew Buck
Global digital director: Arati Menon
Global executive director, audience development, analytics & social: Erin Parker
Global associate director, social: Mercedes Bleth
Global audience development manager: Abigail Malbon
Global content planning manager: Jessica Rach
Digital director: Sarah Allard
Digital editor: Sarah James
Commerce editor: Lauren Burvill
Acting commerce editor: Sarah Bannerman
Social media manager: Lucy Bruton
Senior audience development manager: Amber Port
Digital features editor: Olivia Morelli
Commerce writer: Charley Ward
Digital assistant: Connor Sturges
Senior features editor: Lydia Bell
Features editor: Olivia Squire
Features writer: Noo Saro-Wiwa
Art director: Paula Ellis
Visuals director: Karin Mueller
Senior visuals editor: Sophie Knight
Acting senior visuals editor: Chelsea Hughes
Visuals editor: Rebecca Douglas-Home
Director of content, CNT global video: Preshita Saha
Senior fashion and lifestyle editor: Charlotte Davey
Watch and jewellery director: Jessica Diamond
Beauty director: Anita Bhagwandas
Sustainability editor: Juliet Kinsman
Copy director: Sarah Cohen
Copy manager: Suzie McCracken
Research associate: Anna Gladwin
Art production manager: Megan Wilkes
Editorial assistant: Jessica Puttock

Condé Nast Traveller is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/editors-code-of-practice) and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please see our Editorial Complaints Policy on the Contact Us page of our website or contact us at complaints@condenast.co.uk or by post to Complaints, Editorial Business Department, The Condé Nast Publications Ltd, Vogue House, Hanover Square, LondonW1S 1JU. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit ipso.co.uk