James Bainbridge
I’m James Bainbridge, a travel and culture content specialist with 25+ years’ experience across editing, commissioning, copywriting, subediting, and journalism.
About
I’m James Bainbridge, a travel and culture content specialist with 25+ years’ experience across editing, commissioning, copywriting, subediting, and journalism. I’ve worked with major publishers and brands including Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, The Guardian, and Condé Nast Traveller, as well as consumer, B2B and branded magazines—covering everything from destination storytelling to cuisine, wine, property and the advertising industry.
Most recently, I’ve led special features production and campaign content for Wanderlust, working closely with destination marketers, tourism boards, tour operators, airlines and hotel groups across print, digital, video and podcasts. Previously at Ten Lifestyle Group, I managed high-impact travel and lifestyle content projects aimed at high-net-worth audiences—building revenue through magazines, member guides, CRM copy and SEO-led publishing, while mentoring teams and aligning editorial output with commercial goals.
- 26 years' experience
- Joined September 2026
Industry experience
- Media & Entertainment
- Travel & Hospitality
- Education
- Financial Services
Work experience· 6 roles
Provided maternity leave cover at the UK’s top travel magazine. Worked with destination marketers, tourist boards, tour operators, airlines and hotel groups to deliver branded content campaigns across digital, print, video and social media. Interpreted marketing briefs and commissioned and edited written content, video scripts and podcasts; coordinated supplements, digital features and competition launches and managed winners’ trips. Produced and managed content in WordPress and Elementor, edited layouts in InDesign, resized images in Photoshop, and worked closely with designers, the subeditor and the Special Features Editor. Managed schedules, campaign tracking and budgets, approving invoices and supporting sales team production planning. Also arranged freelance creator trips to client destinations and created newsletter and social media activity plans.
Managed a portfolio of travel and lifestyle concierge content projects focused on converting high-net-worth individuals. Achievements included creating a print and digital travel magazine that doubled quarterly revenue year-on-year to £500,000; launching a quarterly magazine, EXPLORE, that features in newsletters to 100,000+ recipients; and playing a senior role in launching and growing the Ten agency (up to ~£1m annually). Led editorial work for private bank clients (including Arbuthnot Latham), planned global SEO-optimised schedules for partners such as Mastercard and Barclays, and relaunched Ten travel guides, producing standardised destination guides to drive revenue. Managed updates to eight UK staycation guides and rollouts into newsletters, and directed video production featuring internal travel specialists. Coordinated editorial training and quality reviews, ran proposition-focused sessions to connect editorial and commercial objectives, and partnered across teams on pitches,
Marketed and ran workshops on travel writing, feature writing and story selling, delivered online and in venues including the University of Cape Town and South Africa’s National Arts Festival.
Education
Certifications and awards
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