A comprehensive look at my published work, spanning features, guidebooks, branded cultural content and strategy, editorial leadership, as well as consumer, business and cultural reporting on destinations around the world.
Editorial Content, Storytelling & Strategy
Belize Tourism Industry Association – Destination Belize Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Belize Tourism Board
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies
American Airlines Vacations
Marriott Bonvoy Traveler
Hilton Hotels
Northstar Travel Media LLC
Travelzoo
TripAdvisor
VERA (Virgin Atlantic)
Viator Travel
World Nomads
Barbados Tourism Authority
Published Work: Consumer & Business Journalism
Bloomberg News (Bloomberg Businessweek & Bloomberg Pursuits)
- View complete portfolio here.
AFAR
- Island Deep Dive: Jamaica (Print)
- AFAR Guide to Jamaica
- AFAR Guide to Guadeloupe Islands
BBC Travel
Cacique Magazine (interCaribbean Airways): Green Dreams (December 2020)
CNN Travel
- Eco-adventures in the Dominican Republic
- Best Beaches: Playa Rincon
- 13 fun things to do in Curacao right now
- Guadeloupe Islands: 14 gorgeous reasons to go
- The hidden beauty of Garifuna Belize
- Belize: 7 of its most stunning islands
- Learn the Lingo: 13 ways to travel more responsibly (2021)
- 21 Best Places to Go in 2021: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2020)
Condé Nast Traveller UK
Sustainable travel in the Caribbean: How to holiday consciously (2021)
Delta Sky
- Escape to Jarabacoa
- Spanish version: Escapate a Jarabacoa
- Encontrando cultural en Montego Bay
Every Day With Rachael Ray: Be Your Own Willy Wonka – Belize
The Guardian: Best tropical holiday pads in the Caribbean and Central America
Here & Beyond: Adventure on the Coconut Coast
Hilton Hotels
- Catalina: An Island Escape Near Santo Domingo
- Barbados: History and Fun in the Sun
- Local Fun in Santo Domingo
Huffington Post: 25 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Belize
JaxFax: A Hot Date in The Dominican Republic
Lonely Planet
- Where to experience Puerto Rico’s vibrant cultural scene in 2020
- How to visit Puerto Rico after the earthquakes (2020)
- How sustainable tourism is thriving in Puerto Rico (2019)
- Ecotourism hotspots in Antigua and Barbuda (2019)
- Celebrate Christmas in the Caribbean at these five destinations (2019)
- Get cultured in Bridgetown: 8 ways to explore Barbados’ historic capital
- Los Haitises National Park: A complete eco-adventure
- 5 ways to celebrate Willlemstad’s World Heritage Anniversary
- How to experience Santo Domingo
Matador Network
- 13 Things only someone who’s been to Jamaica will understand
- 15 reasons to visit Taiwan
- The Music of Belize – More articles here
MorningCalm (Korean Air)
- One Patty, One Love
- Jewel of the Jungle
National Geographic Traveller UK: Caribbean carnivals: 8 iconic events and when to go
New Worlder: Eat List: Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo
New York Magazine: Go barefoot on Les Saintes
New York Times Magazine: Image Contest – Cultural Pilgrimages
Orbitz: 5 dreamy Dominican hotspots that aren’t Punta Cana
Shermans Travel
- The Sweet Spot: Barbados
- 7 Ways to Explore Curaçao for Less
- Santo Domingo Eats for $20 or Less
- 5 Great Value Hotels in Santo Domingo
- From Budget to Splurge: 3 Ways to Stay in The Dominican Republic
Sierra Magazine: The Proudest Treehugger (March-April 2020)
Skift (view all stories here)
Sunday Times Travel Magazine: Dominican Republic: Unpackaged
The Latin Kitchen: Hello Belize! The Best of Belizean Food
Thrillist
Transitions Abroad: Seeing the Real Dominican Republic: A Stay At Tubagua Eco Lodge
Travel and Leisure: The Dominican Republic’s “Wild Side” (2020)
Travel Channel
Travelzoo: 20 Best Places to Travel in 2020: Curacao (2020)
TripSavvy
- Where to Go for a Romantic Getaway in 2020: Guadeloupe Islands
- 20 Best Things to Do in the Dominican Republic
- Your Trip to the Dominican Republic: The Complete Guide
Guidebooks
A range of guidebook titles I’ve authored over multiple editions for major US publishers.
Moon Travel Guides (Hachette Books)
- Author, Moon Belize (Three Editions)
- Author, Moon Dominican Republic (Two Editions)
- Author, Moon Belize Cayes
- Rough Guide to Jamaica 2018, Rough Guides UK, Co-Author/Update
Speaking Engagements
From delivering keynotes to moderating discussions and contributing to panels—below is a range of my public speaking experience
Keynote
Impact Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit: “Navigating the Crossroads of Tourism” (2025)
Hidden Compass: “The Future of Travel” (2024)
Travel Alaska, Alaska Media Road Show: “Living Cultures” (2022)
Belize Tourism Board, Digital Marketing Summit: “How to Adapt to the Ever-Changing World of Digital Content” (2022)
Center for Responsible Travel, World Tourism Day Forum: “Destination
Stewardship: Embracing Community-Centered Storytelling in Marketing” (2022)
Skift Megatrends: “The New Transparency.” (2022)
Women in Travel Summit: “How Tourism Boards, PR, Creators Can Play a More Powerful Role in Equity and Inclusion” (2022)
Moderator
Caribbean Travel Forum Day: Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico (2023)
The Travel Fair Caribbean and Mexico (Virtual): Traveling Beyond the Resorts (2022)
Bloomberg CityLab, Amsterdam: “Tourism Reset: Building a Vibrant and Sustainable Tourism Economy for All (2022); with Geerte Udo, CEO at Amsterdam & Partners; Norbert Kenner, managing director at Vienna Tourist Board; and Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism
Skift Global Forum, New York: “Where Do US Destinations Go From Here?” (2021); with Elliott Ferguson, CEO at Destination DC, Dana Young,
CEO at Visit Florida and Caroline Beteta, CEO at Visit California
Skift Megatrends (Virtual): “Communities Taking a Central Role in Tourism” (2022)’; with Enver Duminy, CEO at Cape Town Tourism
Skift Forum Europe: “Europe’s Tourism Future;” with Caroline Leboucher, CEO at ATOUT France, Miguel Sanz, CEO Turespaña
Skift Forum Europe: “An Action Plan for Sustainability” (2022); with Dupsy Abiola, head of global innovation at International Airlines Group (IAG) and Elke Dens at The Travel Foundation
Skift Sustainability Summit (virtual): “Strengthening the Relationship Between Communities and Tourism” (2021); with John De Fries, CEO at
Hawaii Tourism Authority and Denaye Hinds, founder of JustaTaad
Skift Travel Loyalty Summit (Virtual): “New Paths to Building Tourism Loyalty”; with Petra Roach, CEO of Grenada Tourism Authority and Ramya Murali, principal at Deloitte Consulting
Skift Presents: “The Trends Driving Travel’s Big Rebound, Implications for the Caribbean,” a webinar for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s
Allied Members
Propel Forward: “Sustainable Travel – The Media’s Role”
Panelist
UN Tourism, Brand Africa Conference, Zambia (2024)
Travel Alaska, Alaska Media Road Show: “Living Cultures” (2022)
Destination Canada and Travel Media Association of Canada: “The Positive Impact of Regenerative Tourism,” with co-panelists Norie Quintos and AFAR’s Julia Cosgrove (2022)
WTM Africa: The importance of ethics and sustainability in influencer marketing, with co-panelists Keith Jenkins and Nick Montemaggi of iambassador, and GenC Traveller’s Peter Jordan (2021)
Wanderful: Why the Travel Industry is Essential in the Fight for Vaccine Equity (2021)
Travel Unity Summit (2020)
TravelCon: “Sustainability in Travel” with Intrepid Travel (2021)
IMM TravMedia NYC (2019)
Sample Workshops
Faculty member, Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference & 1:1 Consultations (2022-Present)
Guest lecturer, TSTD 4301W Travel Marketing Communication (Undergraduate), and Team coach – George Washington University International Tourism Studies Institute (2024)
Lead Instructor: Storytelling in Social Media, Belize Tourism Board, Digital Marketing Summit 2022
Lead Instructor: How to Be An Impactful Travel Storyteller, TravelCon 2022
In the Media
Forbes, 15 Black Travel Writers To Read Now
Global Shakers, 40 Leaders in Sustainable Tourism
CNN’s Quest Means Business (2021): EU Allows Entry to Vaccinated Travelers; and Travel Industry Tries to Stay Open as Delta Spreads
CBS Eye on Travel with Peter Greenberg – Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic; see complete guest list here
Oprah Magazine, Dominican Republic Travel and Safety
Publishers Weekly Magazine, Meet a Guidebook Author – full feature here
TravelPulse, For Lebawit Lily Girma, International Upbringing Leads to Life on The Road
Jamaica Observer, Cocktails With Lebawit Lily Girma
Moon Travel Guides, 8 Women Influencers You Should Be Following
Postcard Academy, Santo Domingo: The Perfect Travel Destination for Beaches, Chocolate, and Culture
Amateur Traveler, Travel to The Dominican Republic
Mwende Bino Podcast, Why You Should Use Guidebooks and Not Instagram to Plan Your Next Trip
Geotraveler’s Niche, Snapshot: Lebawit Lily Girma
City Whit, Orlando’s Favorite Instagrammers to Follow
Griots Republic, Moon Belize: An Interview with Author Lebawit Lily Girma
Legal Nomads, Thrillable Hours: Lebawit Lily Girma, Author and Photographer
Wandering Educators
- What You Need To Know Before Visiting The Dominican Republic
- Exploring Belize with Moon Guides and Lebawit Lily Girma
Upscale Magazine, Travel Pros
ComplexD Magazine, Corporate to Caribbean
UN Women: I am (wo)man Campaign
Matador Network, What it takes to be a travel guidebook author: Conversation with Lily Girma
Ambergris Today, Ambergris Today Meets Belize’s Road Warrior
National Geographic Travel, 21 Best Beaches in the World
Reader’s Digest Canada, 6 Things You Should Know Before Travelling Alone
CNN, Do you check government travel warnings?
Business Insider, 4 Countries where your US Dollar will go the furthest
Saveur Magazine, How many of the world’s great yogurts do you know?
National Geographic Intelligent Travel, The Radar: Free Flights to Japan, Most Dangerous Destinations, Belizean Music
Uncommon Caribbean, Where Should I Stay in The Dominican Republic?
Wandering Educators, Best Books & Music of 2016
HGTV, House Hunters International: The Pros and Cons of Living Abroad, As Told By Expats
Ambergris Today, Belize’s Newest Road Warrior