Jessica Plautz Jessica Plautz is a writer, editor, and content strategist with more than a decade of experience working on travel and lifestyle brands. She has been the director of content operations at Dotdash Meredith since 2019. Previously, Jessica served as the deputy digital editor of Travel + Leisure. Prior to joining T+L in 2016, she was a travel editor at Mashable, where she successfully launched and oversaw the website’s travel section from 2014 to 2016. Jessica began her journalism career in Southern California as an assistant producer and web producer at KPBS-TV. After later completing a creative fellowship with Upworthy, she joined the Investigative News Network as a communications and engagement manager. In 2013, she made the shift into travel as a social media and engagement manager at Skift. She lives in New York City.• 10+ years of journalism experience• Director of content operations at Dotdash Meredith• Former deputy digital editor of Travel + Leisure (2016-2019)• Former travel editor at Mashable (2014-2016)• Won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the San Diego Press Club, Scholars without Borders, the SDSU Women's Association, the Mensa Foundation, and the John F. Reeves Memorial Foundation• Received a bachelor's degree in directing and theatrical production from the University of California, Santa Barbara• Received a master’s degree in mass communications from San Diego State University About Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is a top travel media brand with a mission to inform and inspire passionate travelers. Our expert team includes a network of hundreds of writers and photographers across the globe, all providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, and explore. We reach an audience that takes 76 million round trips annually, offering valuable travel tips, ideas and inspiration, and products you need to get you to your destination — whether it’s a small town or big city, beach or lake, national park or theme park, road trip, cruise, or long-haul flight, and everything in between. Learn more about us and our editorial process