Cosmopolitan is the iconic monthly periodical known for its no-filter, NSFW approach to can’t-put-down reads with the latest sex tips, do’s and don’ts of dating, celebrity news, beauty must-haves, and fashion inspo. Because readers can’t get enough, Cosmo—the world’s largest women’s media brand—has further expanded its reach and forayed into the travel space with the debut of CosmoTrips.
Nancy Berger, the senior vice president/publishing director and chief revenue officer of the Heart Magazines Youth + Wellness Group (Cosmo is published by New York City-based Hearst Magazines), said the offering, which launched on Aug. 15, was born out of the pandemic, “knowing that there was going to be another side.”
Each CosmoTrips experience is themed, based on what the magazine’s readers show interest in. Take the two-night “Austin: The Foodie Edit” itinerary, for example, where travelers can explore the Texas capital with a secret food tour through low-key taco joints, upscale farm-to-table eateries, and, of course, the city’s wineries and breweries.Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan
Berger said that she and her team “knew that, eventually, people were going to come out with a renewed rigor in travel.” After recognizing the opportunity, Cosmo “jumped in,” and “it is playing itself out.”
It’s all thanks to CosmoTrips, which “is designed to serve that demand for travel, packaged in a way that only Cosmo can,” Berger told BizBash, noting that every itinerary was built “through the Cosmo lens,” thanks to the trusted editors who spend much of their time jet-setting and experiencing royal treatment.
And with the tagline “travel like an editor,” Cosmo fans can be reassured that these vacations not only “take time and stress out of the vacation planning process,” but also pass the “pickiness test” Berger said her editors have. The result? Highly curated experiences complete with the “best places to stay, eat, and play—plus exclusive perks and insider access”—in destinations across North America.
“We did a lot of research and launched with four of the domestic cities our audience was most interested in (West Hollywood, New York City, Charleston, and Austin),” Berger said of the destination selection process. “We also wanted to ensure that travelers would be able to either fly or drive to them, depending on where they are located.”
Fleshed-out itineraries for two- to five-night stays invite groups of up to nine travelers to experience itineraries where Cosmo has “leveraged our editorial influence and expertise [in a way] that brings the brand to life and inspires discovery along the way,” Berger said.
Each CosmoTrips experience is themed, based on what the magazine’s readers show interest in. Take “Austin: The Foodie Edit,” for example, where hedonists seeking to eat their way through the Texan capital can do just that with a secret food tour through low-key taco joints, upscale farm-to-table eateries, and, of course, the city’s wineries and breweries. This itinerary includes two nights at an Austin hotel, and CosmoTrips-exclusive perks allow guests to spend an afternoon at a reserved poolside cabana.
And if you’re not into heading south, then head to Cosmo’s home city with “The Tastemaker Edit,” a local guide to the Big Apple. With this itinerary, you'll stay in Chelsea, attend a makeup session with a top cosmetic artist, and get to know New York City through its hidden gems, such as local-approved photo ops, cocktail lounges, nighttime shows, and more.
“We were sure to allow time for exploration and discovery—and include additional activity recommendations for each city on the CosmoTrips site,” Berger noted.
Each itinerary also leaves room for exploration and discovery, where attendees can draw on additional editorial content courtesy of Cosmo to seek out the most Insta-worthy photo ops, hikes, tours, and more, not already included.Photo: Ayzia James (@ayzia_)
Built in partnership with tech-first travel industry leaders DH Enterprise & Associates, CosmoTrip is priced per person—starting anywhere from $299-$699 per person—and includes hotel accommodations, some meals, and various tours and activities, which were decided upon by editors in collaboration with local tourism offices. Along with exclusive perks—which are value add-ons thanks to Cosmo and its launch sponsors Bloomingdale’s and “travel now, pay later” platform Klarna—travelers will also receive a CosmoTrips Getaway Box, filled with skincare, haircare, other beauty products, and special retail offers—all courtesy of Dagne Dover, Lola, Verb Energy, Tula Skincare, and L*Space, just to name a few.
According to Berger, Cosmo is already seeing its Millennial- and Gen Z-heavy audience “leading the comeback in the return to travel.” She added: “Our audience is traveling more—and spending more—than any other generation, and as the largest young women’s media brand in the world, Cosmo is uniquely positioned to serve that demographic.”
Wanderlusters, rejoice, because CosmoTrips has only just begun. “CosmoTrips will evolve as our audience evolves,” Berger said. Aspiring travelers can expect the offering to expand from long weekends to four- and five-night trips, “adding more destination cities—including New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Miami—and our expectation is that we will expand worldwide.”
