Maria Pedone Maria Pedone is a content strategist based in New York City. She started her career in 2012 at Travel + Leisure, where she worked as an editorial assistant. In 2014, she transitioned into a management role on the content marketing team of American Express Open, working on developing content for the brand’s business site, OpenForum.com. For the past five years, she’s worked at Townhouse Digital — most recently as the senior director — leading content and social strategy.• Received a bachelor's degree in English and sociology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst• Graduate of New York University's Summer Publishing Institute• Studied abroad at Stellenbosch University in South Africa 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