Collinson Media is one of the senior leaders in the meetings, travel and tourism industry, providing successful marketing solutions to a wide variety of clients for more than 35 years. Our clients include convention and visitor bureaus, state tourism offices, attractions, hotels, resorts, chambers of commerce, destinations and convention centers. From its beginnings in 1974 as a publisher’s representative firm, the company has expanded over the last decade into print and online publishing, conference and event production, and digital marketing.

Our mission is to provide our clients with economical and highly effective, results-oriented tools to make their marketing efforts a success. Our matchmaking programs deliver qualified leads to fit their targeted specifications. We provide destination marketing organizations greater access to the leisure travel market and niche group markets through Internet solutions, demographically targeted newspaper preprint inserts, and publications such as Audubon Magazine, Connect Magazine, Groupaway Magazine, Rejuvenate Magazine and America's Best Vacations newspaper inserts, as well as a broadcast product, The Getaway Forecast by The Weather Channel.

Additionally, Collinson Media is an innovator within the ever-emerging Internet technologies field for tourism, travel, meetings and destination marketing. As part of its business strategy, the company manages several targeted newsletters and the travel consumer website VacationPlanning.net, as well as ConnectYourMeetings.com and RejuvenateMeetings.com.

Based in the Greater Atlanta area, Collinson Media is a success story in today’s challenging, ever-changing environment. That story is based on strong relationships that result in servicing well-defined niche communities within the travel industry, an overall commitment to quality products and solutions that work for clients, and a work environment that encourages new development, collaboration, education and service.

 

Our Staff:

Publisher, Collinson Media and Events
Newt Collinson IV

Newt Collinson IV is the President of Collinson Media, one of the nation’s fastest growing private companies engaged in a broad range of publishing and diversified marketing activities in the conference, convention, meetings, travel and tourism fields.

In lieu of joining the family rep business right out of college, Newt went to OCS in the United States Marine Corps, earning his commission in 1992 then serving four years on active duty as a Platoon Commander and Communications Officer in an Airborne unit. After his tour was over, he went back to Atlanta, worked at the family firm for a short time then went to graduate school. After that, he was recruited by an investment management firm, which gave him yet another opportunity to move around the country and the world, ultimately landing back in Atlanta for a career in institutional sales in the investment management industry.

Rejoining the firm in 2006, Newt and his brother Chris bought the company in 2007 and have enjoyed working with their father to grow it and bring innovative products to the market.

Newt is an avid traveler. Outside of work, Newt and his wife enjoy raising their three sons and taking them on far-flung trips, usually involving the outdoors. Like most Collinson Media employees, they share a passion for tourism and have traveled half the globe together, including the Far East and Africa.

Newt earned his bachelors with a degree in French at Furman University and his masters (MBA) at Georgia Tech.

 

Our Bloggers:

Lynne Christen, Beaches of South Walton, FL Lynne is an award-winning freelance travel journalist, leisure travel addict and culinary enthusiast. Spending 22 years as a flight attendant with Eastern Air Lines opened the door to discovering the world and through the years she has traveled to 51 countries and sailed on 24 worldwide cruises. Between travels, Lynne looks forward to returning home to the Florida Emerald Coast. She is author of three travel books (Travel Wisdom, 101 Vacation Rental Tips, and 101 Cruise Tips) and her work appears in numerous travel publications and websites.

Nancy Dunham, Prince William County, VA Nancy has lived in Northern Virginia for 15 years and has a special affection for the diversity of Prince William County, because it's not just a family-friendly place to live but offers a multitude of entertainment options. Nancy is a full-time entertainment and travel writer whose work has appeared in many publications including The Washington Post, Maryland Life, and NFT (Not For Tourists) guidebook and blogs.

Jodi Helmer, Cabarrus County, NC Jodi is a Toronto native who has been calling Charlotte, North Carolina home since 2007. Helmer is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Backpacker, American Way and Women's Health. She is also the author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference.

Gail Lambert, Roanoke, VA Gail loves Virginia and teaches Latin at an independent high school in downtown Roanoke in the midst of art galleries, museums, theaters and restaurants. Whether close to home or abroad, she considers travel the ultimate pleasure. Gail is a freelance travel writer with work published in The Roanoke Times, City Magazine, The Roanoker, Blue Ridge Business Journal and Healing Retreats & Spas.

Liz Mitchell, Brunswick County, NC Liz lives, plays, writes and photographs all along the coast of North and South Carolina. You might find her on a beach, at a festival or shopping or dining with the locals. Published for many years in magazines, websites and blogs, Liz loves coastal fun and specializes in insider coverage with invitations to visitors.

Carrie Pack, Flagler County, FL Carrie loves to read – particularly nonfiction – but she’s not ashamed to admit that she’s a Harry Potter addict. She also likes cheese, space travel, canoeing and listening to “geek rock.” She has a master’s in journalism education from the University of Missouri and teaches writing part time in St. Augustine, Florida, where she also writes for and helps edit a college alumni magazine.

Sue Poremba, Central PA Sue came to State College as a Penn State student and has now lived in the area for 20 years. After working at the university for 15 years, Sue began freelance writing and has been published in many Central Pennsylvania publications, as well as national business-to-business and consumer magazines.  She also authored The Phillies Fan's Little Book of Wisdom. Besides writing, Sue enjoys attending sporting events, visiting wineries, bowling, playing the hand bells and singing in choir.

Haley Shapley, Grapevine, TX Haley lives in North Texas, where she works as a full-time freelance writer and editor. When she’s not immersed in words, she enjoys playing board games, riding roller coasters, planning events and traveling whenever she can. Her work has appeared in American Way, Grapevine Today, The Grapevine Courier and Group Travel Planet, among other publications.

 

Shanna Smith-Snyder, Abilene, TX Shanna originally came to Abilene as a Hardin-Simmons University student, but decided to stick around and call herself an ‘Abilenian’. After graduating in 2008, Shanna began working as the Heritage Tourism and Special Projects Coordinator for the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2009, she was promoted to Director of Communication. She currently has her own weekly newspaper column in the Abilene Reporter News and a weekly e-column on bigcountryhomepage.com. Shanna holds a master of business administration, emphasizing in business management, from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. When she is not writing, you will find Shanna teaching yoga at various fitness centers in town.

Vicki Stout, Franklin, TN Vicki’s middle name is Joy, but her mother always said it should have been “Go." She’s a gal whose bedroom floor makes room for an assortment of luggage, always ready to be packed. A freelance writer for magazines and newspapers, Vicki's passion is travel, though she also writes on any number of other subjects, generally in the lifestyle arena. She makes her home in Nashville, Tennessee with her two dogs, one of which is so talented that she has her own weekly newspaper column The Wag.

Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Hershey-Harrisburg, PA Marilyn, a full-time travel, food and features writer and editor, was born and raised in Philadelphia, but is now settled in Lancaster County, where there are cornfields on just about every corner, mud sales in late winter/early spring and horse and buggy "parking spaces" at just about every shopping center. Marilyn's currently the travel editor for Main Line Today magazine and author of the books, Insiders' Guide to Pennsylvania Dutch Company, The Hershey, Pennsylvania Chocolate Cookbook and Quick Escapes Philadelphia. Marilyn's also a contributing editor for Modern Baking magazine and regularly writes for Delaware Today and QSR magazines. Main hobby? Travel — there's nothing better than being able to combine fun with finances.