Tag: Journalism

My 5,550-word look at the Trump Hotel D.C. for Condé Nast Traveler, “Inside the World’s Most Controversial Hotel,” just took top honors for travel news/investigative reporting in the 2018–2019 Society of American Travel Writers Foundation’s Lowell Thomas awards.

Here’s what the judges, faculty members at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, said about the article:

Zach Everson uses the allure of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., to draw readers into its darker corners where its questionable position in the president’s portfolio is fully explored. The reporter uses the full range of strategies and techniques to show how messy the relationship is between the leader of the free world and a hotel perfectly situated to benefit from his status. What a rare combination of vivid, witty writing and solid investigation this is. Bravo.

Thirty-four other articles were entered in that category. The competition is open to all North American journalists.

The awards, recognized as the most prestigious in travel journalism, were announced Oct. 21 in El Paso, Texas. They are named for Lowell Thomas, a broadcast journalist and author.

Thanks to everyone at Condé Nast Traveler who worked on the article, especially Pilar Guzmán, Laura Redman, Brad Rickman, and Alex Postman for their insightful edits, and Luke Zaleski and Carey Dunne for helpful queries and a thorough fact check. Thanks also to everyone who made time to speak with me or pass along tips for the piece.