In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the women editors of Recommend. Meet the all-female gang:
Laurel Herman, Recommend Publisher/Editorial Director
Laurel Herman is publisher/editorial director of Recommend and the leader of its parent company, Worth International Media. She has spent the last 39 years roaming the globe with the focused belief that sharing stories of different cultures and experiences is an integral way to foster world peace. It all started in 1972 while she was finishing her college education in London, when she had the opportunity to backpack throughout Europe. Laurel continued her love affair with travel by expanding Recommend magazine to a worldwide destination brand when she became its publisher/editorial director in 1985.
Paloma Villaverde de Rico, Recommend Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief of Recommend and Executive Editor of its parent company Worth International Media, Paloma Villaverde de Rico has worked in the media industry in South Florida for over 30 years. She has worked for various media outlets, including The Miami Herald, Aboard In-flight Magazines, Herald Custom Publishing, and Terra.com, and co-authored a Miami guidebook for Avalon Travel Publishing. She’s been with Recommend for more than 18 years and has a passion for traveling the world and bringing back news that travel advisors can use.
Michelle Marie Arean, Recommend Managing Editor
Michelle Marie Arean joined Recommend’s editorial team after dabbling in public relations, social media and the non-profit world, bringing with her a range of knowledge in communications, editing and writing. After working in various aspects of communications, Michelle decided to focus on where her passion lies—writing. Michelle has contributed to Glamour magazine, Latina magazine, Florida International magazine, World City Business, South Florida Parenting, SOMI magazine and Unique Me magazine. Michelle combines her passion for fashion, beauty, women’s issues, travel and photography on a blog—Bella Vida Styles, recognized as one of Miami’s Best Blogs by CBS 4. Michelle’s passion for telling stories and traveling help her write and share with advisors news that they can use.
Regina Baraban, Recommend Contributing Editor
Veteran travel writer Regina Baraban is an award-winning journalist who joined Worth International Media as a contributing editor in 2021. She was the founding editor of Hospitality Design magazine, editor-in-chief of Financial & Insurance Meetings magazine, and executive editor of Corporate Meetings & Incentives magazine. As a freelance writer, she has contributed to Global Traveler, Metropolis, The Cook’s Cook, MeetingsNet and more. Regina is also the founder of the GenerationsGoTravel brand, covering trips and tips for the modern boomer+millennial family vacation, and co-author of Successful Restaurant Design. She loves writing for the travel industry and is always ready for her next travel adventure.
Barbara Scofidio, Recommend Contributing Editor
Barbara Scofidio is a contributing editor to Recommend as well as Editor of Prevue and director of Worth International Media Group’s Visionary Summits, Prevue’s exclusive conference series targeting senior-level meeting and incentive planners. In her 30 years in the industry, she has become known for her passion around greening meetings, growing awareness of human trafficking and promoting CSR activities as part of business events. She is currently a member of SITE’s Women IN Leadership committee and the media liaison for FICP’s Education Committee. She was the first member of the media ever to be invited to sit on a committee by GBTA, where she spent three years on the Groups and Meetings Committee. She has also been an active member of SITE for 30 years, chairing its Crystal Awards committee and acting as a judge. Before joining Prevue in 2014, she served as Editor of Corporate Meetings & Incentives (MeetingsNet) for more than 20 years.
