Ashley Rossi

Experienced travel and lifestyle editor, writer, and content strategist

About

At a glance

Managing editor with 9 years experience pitching, writing, editing, and strategizing for digital travel publications and travel brands
Formerly Roadpass Digital/Roadtrippers and SmarterTravel/Tripadvisor
Making travel accessible and enjoyable for all
Believer in the Oxford comma, design thinker, creative leader, and non-stop idea generator
CliftonStrengths: Maximizer, empathy, achiever, strategic, focus
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina

Dive deeper

Ashley is the former managing editor at Roadpass Digital (Roadtrippers, Campendium, and Togo RV) and the former senior editor at SmarterTravel (a Tripadvisor Co.). Her stories are featured online at USA Today, NextAdvisor with TIME, Digital Trends, Tripadvisor, Charlotte's Got A Lot, Jetsetter, and other publications. She's also appeared on radio shows like NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and SmarterTravel's YouTube and Instagram channels. She was named one of the top travel writers to follow in 2020 by The Crowdfunding Formula and is an active member of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) and TravMedia.

Education

Ashley has a master's degree in digital communication from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University.

Skills & programs

Editing, content calendar management, SEO keyword research, product writing, sponsored content project management, social media content creation, social media management, social media analytics, content analytics, freelancer management, photo sourcing, email newsletter curation/production, and copywriting

WordPress, Google Analytics certification, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom), Google Suite, social media management (Later, Iconosquare, Buffer, Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Agorapulse), SEO tools (Moz, Search Console, Semrush), email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Braze, Hubspot)

The TikTokification of Travel Media: How to Use Authentic Destination Storytelling to Connect with Millennial Audiences Across Off-Site Platforms

The deliverable section of Ashley's thesis project at UNC's Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Recent Work

See below for a collection of lifestyle, news, destination, and travel coverage. Ashley's published hundreds of pieces on SmarterTravel.com and dozens of syndicated articles in USA Today's Travel section. You can view the majority of her articles on Muck Rack.

Roadtrippers • June 2023

5 one-tank road trips from Atlanta, Georgia

Between gas prices, limited vacation days, and chaotic air travel, taking a local road trip is more appealing than ever this summer. These five destinations are all within 300 miles (round-trip) of Atlanta, Georgia, making them ideal for quick getaways. Spend less time at the pump and more time enjoying the road.

Roadtrippers • November 2022

Why you should rent an EV on your next road trip (and how to do it)

When I needed to rent a car on a recent trip to Southern California, I thought it was the perfect time to try an electric vehicle. If I couldn’t survive renting a car here, then we’re all doomed, I thought. Spoiler: It was way easier than I expected.

Roadtrippers • July 2022

5 one-tank road trips from Charlotte, North Carolina

Between high gas prices, limited vacation days, and chaotic air travel, taking a local road trip is more appealing than ever this summer. These five destinations are all within 300 miles (round-trip) of Charlotte, North Carolina, making them ideal for quick getaways. Spend less time at the pump and more time enjoying the road.

Campendium • January 2022

9 Next-Level Glamping Options on Public Lands

Many state park campgrounds offer basic cabin options, but these nine public land locations take glamping to the next level with safari-style tents, beachside cottages, geodesic domes, and other unique stays.

Roadtrippers • November 2021

Calling Tulsa home: A $10,000 incentive to move to Oklahoma’s growing city

If you’ve ever thought about picking up and moving to a new city or state, it might be worth researching freebies and opportunities first. Thanks to state and privately funded programs, some U.S. cities and states offer incentives—from monetary amounts to job placement programs—for those itching for something new.

Campendium • November 2021

New Legislation Is Promising for Campers and Roadtrippers in Coming Years

The past few weeks have been busy for lawmakers in Washington, D.C., with the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and other initiatives through the U.S. Department of the Interior. This combined with the Great American Outdoors Act shows bureaucratic investment in the outdoors but also means future construction and closures.

Roadtrippers • November 2021

Black bears, waterfalls, and pastrami: 14 stops on a Highlands-Cashiers Plateau road trip

The mountain communities of Highlands, Cashiers, Lake Sapphire, and Lake Toxaway offer an escape for city dwellers from Atlanta and Charlotte. But there’s more to do here than just stay for a weekend getaway. Located about 1.5 hours from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center and less than 2 hours from Asheville, this section of North Carolina is an ideal home base for day trips to national forests and the most visited national park in the U.S.

Family Vacationist • April 2021

Make your family's national park trip easier with nonstop flights, improved reservations, small group tours

It seems we’ve entered the golden age of national park travel. While national parks in the United States have always been among the best family vacation spots for Americans and especially popular after the 2016 centennial, the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a whole new wave of travelers seeking the natural social distancing of the great outdoors.

Family Vacationist • January 2021

Last-minute trips to COVID-19 vaccination passports: 15 trends that will shape travel in 2021

Last-minute trips to COVID-19 vaccination passports: 15 trends that will shape travel in 2021 If 2020 taught us anything, it’s not to make predictions. Still, travelers rightfully have questions about what travel will look like this year amid news of COVID-19 vaccines and pent-up travel demand. What will travel look like in 2021, and when will we actually be able to do it safely and without restrictions?

FamilyVacationist • December 2020

The 10 Best Mexico Resorts for Couples

Even though Mexico is one of the most accessible destinations from the U.S., its vastly different landscapes and culture keep it fresh and varied no matter how many times you go. And, there’s plenty to enjoy for all vacation styles and budgets, from swimming in cenotes to visiting Mayan ruins to relaxing on private white sand beaches.

Charlottes Got A Lot • November 2020

Coworking Spaces in Charlotte

Whether you’re a local, a long-term visitor, or just in town for a few days, Charlotte is home to over a dozen co-working spaces that foster some much needed creativity and productivity.

NextAdvisor with TIME • October 2020

Joint Credit Cards Can Give Your Credit Score a Boost, But They Are Not Without Risk

Financial decisions can impact even the strongest relationships, so consider all aspects of your spending habits and personal finances before opening an account with someone else.

Yahoo Finance/Digital Trends • July 2020

You’ll be ordering food with QR code menus long after the pandemic ends

Dining out at a restaurant used to be a break from busy routines — and technology. It was a faux pas to spend a meal staring at your phone.

SmarterTravel • February 2020

11 Lesser-Known Africa Tours and Destinations

If you’ve landed on this page you’ve either seen the Big Five already in South Africa, or you’re after a trip to Africa that’s more “off the beaten path.” But Africa is a vast continent, and finding the right trip here can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve narrowed down 11 tours to less-traveled African destinations that are worthy of your bucket-list.

SmarterTravel • February 2020

Banff and Beyond: The Best Time to Visit Alberta, Canada

You’ll find a Dark Sky Preserve, five national parks, two major cosmopolitan cities, world-class ski mountains, and maybe the most-Instagrammed lake in the world all in Canada’s province of Alberta, and that’s just the start. The Northern Lights, long table dinners, Nordic spas, a Scandinavian-designed library, and one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs (which you can also sleep at) also await in this western Canadian province.

SmarterTravel • January 2020

How to Do a Weekend in Sedona, Arizona

Famous for its red rocks landscape and known as the “Day Hike Capital of the World”, Sedona is a popular destination for couples, groups of friends, and families. While locals have pushed back a little on tourism in recent years, there are still some hidden gems and ways to avoid the weekend crowds in Sedona. If you’re really going for a holistic experience, I recommend adopting this three-day itinerary and visiting mid-week instead of on the weekend.

USAToday • December 2019

Mobile boarding, 9/11, overtourism: Travel changes over a decade

The death of the printed boarding pass and other ways travel has changed in the past 10 years. As we head into a new decade, we reflect on the many changes that have happened across the world because of technology, climate change and other shifts in lifestyles. The world of travel is no different, and SmarterTravel has put together a list of incredible events and momentous changes in the travel world since 2010.

SmarterTravel • January 2020

9 Cheap Caribbean Hotels for Under $100 per Night

A Caribbean vacation on a budget? Yes, it’s possible, and these 10 properties offer just that. With starting rates less than $100 per night, you can afford your dream vacation to these islands.

Managed Social Accounts

References

Additional references available upon request

"Ashley is an excellent, experienced writer and editor. During her tenure at SmarterTravel Ashley consistently exceeded expectations delivering quality content that drove traffic (through her use of SEO best practices), reader engagement and revenue (through thoughtfully crafted commerce content). In the absence of dedicated social media resources, Ashley also stepped up to take on additional responsibility, learning valuable skills in publishing engaging social content. Ashley is smart, ambitious, tenacious and a pleasure to work with."
--Sarah Hodkinson, General Manager, SmarterTravel at Tripadvisor

"If I had to describe Ashley to others, I'd say she's a crackerjack editor that can handle anything that comes her way. She can tackle news-driven articles, passionate op-eds, and fun e-commerce roundups alike. She's also fluent in social media and quickly became our division's super-user, instructing everyone on best practices. But what impresses me the most about Ashley is how driven she is to improve her already stellar skills. She's always researching what competitors are doing, taking Webinars on new innovations, gleaning tips from Reddit, and leveling up her knowledge. I know wherever Ashley goes, she'll be leading the pack."
--Maria Teresa Hart, Executive Editor, SmarterTravel at Tripadvisor

"Ashley is such a breath of fresh air! As a writer and editor at SmarterTravel, she always came up with brilliant story topics that we're able to monetize and rank well in search engines, driving significant impact on increasing visits to the site. As a social media expert, Ashley came up with strategic partnership and sponsorship ideas, curated content calendars across many social channels, personally designed images and assets, and implemented strategic recommendations for growing engagement and followers. She is detail-oriented and a genuinely kind person; with her SEO skills, social media background, and experience as a writer and editor, any company would be lucky to have Ashley as an asset on their team."
--Melissa Sciorra, SEO + Content Expert (former colleague at SmarterTravel)

"Ashley is the kind of writer that you can't help but want to work with. She is smart, responsive and truthful when a story will work or not based on her expertise. Anyone will be lucky to work with her and I can't wait to continue creating amazing stories about the travel world, because she is truly an expert!"
--Lauren Wire, Account Supervisor at Finn Partners

Media Appearances

U.S. News Travel, "Fall in New England: When & Where to Go in 2023"

QC Morning WBTV

USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Campground Nominations

Travel + Leisure, "The Coolest Airstream Resorts in the U.S."

NPR's The Weekend Edition Sunday

BYU Radio's The Lisa Show

Real Simple January 2020 Print Issue

Video Appearances

For more video clips, check out SmarterTravel's YouTube Channel