Meet: Lea Vitezic

Lea Vitezic is a journalist, editor, copywriter and travel PR specialist, who has turned her love of travel into a successful career. She graduated from BA (Hons) Journalism at London College of Communication (LCC) in 2017. Lea has also been a mentor for the LCC Industry Mentoring Programme for over 5 years.

She spoke to us about the advice she’d give to someone wanting to get into travel PR and the exciting challenges she faces in the role, as well as the importance of mentoring.

You completed your BA (Hons) Journalism at London College of Communication in 2017. Can you tell us about your time on the course? What was your experience studying at LCC?

My time at LCC remains one of the happiest periods of my life - I truly enjoyed the course and believe it played a huge role in shaping the career I have today. What I loved most was its versatility; it gave me hands-on experience in a newsroom before I had even graduated and allowed me to be involved in the publishing process from start to finish. Being part of such a creative community at UAL was incredibly inspiring, and I loved collaborating with students from different courses.

I’m still in touch with some of my tutors, who have been incredibly supportive throughout my career. In fact, I even co-founded a successful journalism project with one of them, dedicated to reporting on Covid and its consequences at the peak of the pandemic - well after my time at university.

Why did you choose to study journalism?

I chose to study journalism because I’ve always been creative, with a particular love for writing. I was also drawn to media, video production, photography and experimenting with different formats, so journalism felt like the perfect fit as it offers endless opportunities in those areas. My passion has always been arts and culture journalism rather than politics or hard news, which made UAL the ideal choice for me.

You now work in travel PR — how did this come about?

I started working in travel PR shortly after graduating. At the time, I was open to both journalism and PR roles - I was more focused on finding the right industry rather than limiting myself to one specific path. I looked at opportunities in areas that matched my interests and personality, such as the arts, fashion and travel - all dynamic and creative fields with a lot of overlap. Landing my first full-time role in travel PR straight out of university was truly one of the best things that could have happened.

I’ve always had a deep love for travel, and that job opened my eyes to just how much I enjoy working in this space. From that point on, I knew this was the industry for me. I still feel incredibly lucky that I get to explore incredible destinations for work and experience things I likely wouldn’t have access to otherwise - from meeting renowned chefs to enjoying VIP experiences and participating in workshops with celebrated artists. While I also freelance in arts and culture as a journalist - a field that will always be close to my heart - travel is where I’ve found my professional home. I feel very privileged to have turned my passion for discovering the world into a fulfilling career.

Can you share some of the exciting challenges and projects that you’ve worked on?

I’ve had the privilege of working with major tourist boards such as Visit California, Visit Hungary, and Visit Valencia, organising press trips with top-tier journalists from publications including The Times, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet and other national newspapers and magazines. I’ve also collaborated with a wide range of hotels around the world and coordinated trips to destinations like Lake Como and Turkey. In addition, I’ve worked on high-impact media campaigns with titles such as Wanderlust and Condé Nast Traveller.

It’s always a proud moment seeing your client featured in a major publication - knowing that your work is helping shape public perception of a destination and encouraging people to explore the world. I truly believe that travel enriches lives and helps break down prejudice, so it’s rewarding to be part of an industry that promotes understanding and connection across cultures. Tourism can be a lifeline for many countries, especially in less economically developed regions, and it's inspiring to work with partners who are equally passionate about sustainable travel.

One of the biggest challenges for the industry was, of course, the pandemic - when travel came to a complete standstill. During that time, I stepped away from travel PR for a year and worked on an exciting and meaningful initiative: I co-founded the Covid Action Network, a journalism project developed in collaboration with a group of fellow journalists, some of whom contributed to The Financial Times, The Huffington Post, and other major outlets. Our aim was to report on the wider impact of COVID-19 and to highlight positive, solution-driven stories - particularly those showcasing how people supported their local communities during challenging times.

While I truly valued being part of something so timely and impactful, I couldn’t wait to return to travel - and as soon as the world reopened, I was back doing what I love most: helping others discover the joy of exploring new places.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into travel PR?

Be open-minded and genuinely curious about the world around you - that’s one of the most important traits for anyone entering the travel industry. Flexibility is also key, as no 2 days are ever the same. It’s a fast-paced, ever-evolving field where you’ll often need to draw on a wide range of transferable skills. One day you might be writing press materials, the next you could be creating visual content, managing events or coordinating a press trip - and that variety is part of what makes it so exciting.

Strong people skills are also essential. Press trips are one of the biggest perks of the job, but they also come with the challenge of managing different personalities and expectations. With experience, you learn how to navigate those dynamics, but it’s helpful to know from the start that relationship-building and diplomacy are a big part of the role.

Above all, stay curious, stay passionate and always keep exploring.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to help students navigate the transition from university into their first jobs. In some cases, I’ve even supported mentees with things like visa applications which was a new area for me and a learning experience in itself. Over the years, I’ve met so many driven and inspiring individuals, and it’s been a real privilege to play even a small part in their journey.

Why do you think mentoring is so important?

Mentoring is incredibly valuable because it bridges the gap between education and the professional world. It offers students and recent graduates’ real-world insight, guidance, and encouragement at a time when everything can feel a bit overwhelming or uncertain. Having someone who’s been through similar experiences, and who can offer honest advice and perspective, can make a huge difference - not only in terms of career direction but also confidence. On the flip side, mentoring is just as enriching for the mentor. It’s a great reminder of how far you’ve come, and it’s inspiring to connect with people who are full of fresh ideas, energy and ambition.

And lastly, what's next for you?

I plan to stay in travel PR and continue growing within the industry, hopefully climbing the career ladder while working on exciting, meaningful projects. I’ll also keep travelling, both professionally and for holidays, as I don’t think I’ll ever tire of discovering new places. There’s still nothing quite like the thrill of boarding a plane to a destination you’ve never been to before.