Each month, we spotlight an inspiring PR Professional from the TravMedia community. This month, we're proud to feature Meg Griffith, Media Relations Manager at Visit Detroit, Michigan — a leader in travel whose passion, expertise, and influence continue to shape the industry.
Visit Detroit just hosted the SATW's annual convention, and the unmitigated success was met with rousing applause. Full stop.
When did you join Visit Detroit?
I joined in December of 2022, which was a major life change. Not only did I join the Visit Detroit team, but I relocated from Canada at the same time. It felt like a crazy leap of faith, but moving to a new country for a role focused on showcasing Detroit felt like the ultimate way to experience the city authentically. Having that newcomer's perspective helps me understand what it's like to discover Detroit for the first time, which I think makes me more effective when working with the media we collaborate with.
How long have you been in the travel industry?
I've been working in the travel industry for six years. My journey began as a travel writer, where I developed a deep appreciation for storytelling and destination marketing that can shape perceptions. Those years taught me that the best way to learn about a destination and tell its story is knowing how to find it and who to tell it to, which naturally led to my role at Visit Detroit in media relations.
What originally drew you to the travel industry?
I think I was always destined to be in the travel industry. I got my passport when I was one month old and my first trip was to Europe when I was six months old. By the time I was five, I was flying as an Unaccompanied Minor visiting family. I've always felt travel opens minds and creates connections between people and places. That early exposure to different destinations and cultures sparked a lifelong love and passion for inspiring and showcasing to others the power of travel.
In your past professional life, you were …
A travel writer. From internship to a full-time position, I spent time writing stories, exploring destinations, and learning so much about the travel industry as a whole. That background gave me a unique insight into what journalists and content creators are looking for when looking to tell stories about Detroit.
What is something you love about working with travel media?
I'm passionate about helping travel media discover the best parts of Detroit through their own unique lens. It's honestly like being a matchmaker — I think travel media and any storytellers have such an important role, and so learning their process and how my knowledge and love for the destination can help them develop future connections and stories is incredibly rewarding.
What are your professional pet peeves?
Oh, this is easy — anything that feels too templated or generic (press releases and pitches come to mind). We are in the industry of connection and developing our own stories, so taking the time to understand the media contact and what they are looking for is crucial. I'm a relationship person at heart, so it's frustrating when you see the one-size-fits-all model, especially in a place where we thrive from what we can offer individually.
What has been your most memorable press trip?
The first press trip I ever hosted will forever stay the gold standard for me. It showed me that while you can plan everything to a tee, sometimes the power of chemistry among the media, the unique moments of exploration, and those spontaneous discoveries that can happen organically is really amazing. Each press trip has a unique vibe to it, but that first one excited me for all that can come from a press trip, and I felt I got to show Detroit in a way that really resonated with me and the media we hosted.
What is your favorite place to travel?
I've been lucky to travel to a few places that have stuck with me, but honestly, Detroit has become my favorite place to explore. Living downtown now, I feel I am so engaged with a city that's constantly evolving, with an incredible resilience, creativity, and heart like no other. There's always something new to discover, and every new piece of art, or restaurant I have yet to visit, or story told by someone new reminds me why I love this work.
On a personal level, travel has always meant connection for me — whether that's discovering something new in Detroit or visiting family across Brazil, Portugal, England, Canada, and Austria. Those moments of genuine connection are what fuel my love of travel and this industry.
Find me on my TravMedia profile here.
