TPG adds 4 experts to growing editorial team
At TPG, we are bullish on travel.
It's been a really long and painful year for those working in the industry and those of us who want to take trips. There are going to be plenty of starts and stops ahead, but a sense of hope is finally beginning to spread as more people get vaccinated.
So, to help get ready for more travel -- and more travel advice -- we are adding four experts to our editorial team.
With these new hires, TPG now has 35 full-time employees dedicated to writing, editing, social media and video. That's in addition to a robust network of freelancers, ranging from family travelers to solo travelers to pilots, who can help explain the technical nature of flight.
To keep track of what this team is up to, please make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter. Each morning, we highlight some of the top stories from the past 24 hours.
And while we don't have any more editorial openings at the moment, please keep an eye on our careers page for future jobs -- plus a number of non-editorial positions that we are currently looking to fill, including site engineers. We're also currently hiring for our five TPG summer interns.
Now, without any more delay, here are the latest members of our team:
Ashley Onadele -- Sponsored Content Writer
Ashley is an avid traveler and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young family.
Ashley first became interested in points and miles as a graduate student studying Spanish who hoped to study abroad someday. Now she uses points and miles to help her family of four experience the world together. Some of her favorite points redemptions are the JW Marriott in Venice, Italy, and what would have been an epic first-class trip to Japan for the 2020 Olympics.
Ashley has traveled to more than a dozen countries on three continents and, though she considers herself a family traveler now, she is passionate about showing travelers of all types and styles how to travel on points and miles.
Before joining The Points Guy, Ashley wrote her own travel blog and was a freelance writer for online publications such as Matador Network and Condé Nast Traveler. As a travel blogger, she offered tips for traveling with small children as well as destination guides and guides for beginner points and miles enthusiasts. Her favorite places in the world include New Orleans, Italy's Venice and Bangkok, Thailand.
Once it is safe to travel freely with her family again, Ashley plans to finally visit countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East.
Juan Ruiz - Credit Cards Editor
In 2013, Juan started a successful family travel blog (known as Double Duty Daddy) with the purpose of sharing travel rewards and points and miles redemptions with families.
He has since contributed credit card and travel content to numerous outlets, including Forbes, Business Insider, and, of course, TPG. Never one to turn down a good deal, his travel redemptions and credit card strategies have taken him to far-off destinations from Iceland to Japan (35+ countries and counting). It's also helped him check off a lifetime bucket list of visiting all 30 MLB ballparks in the U.S.
When he’s not dissecting credit card products or teaching as an adjunct professor at a public university in Miami, you can find Juan maximizing his points and miles for family travel with his wife and twin daughters. You can connect with him on Twitter or Instagram @DoubleDutyDaddy
Stella Shon -- Credit Cards Reporter
Stella was recently the travel writer for ValuePenguin, specializing in travel industry trends and rewards credit cards.
Previously a TPG 2020 summer intern on the points, miles and deals team, she's now excited to come back as a full-time writer on the credit cards team. She has more than eight credit cards but is excited for one of her 5/24 slots to open in early March!
She graduated with a journalism degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2020, and she previously interned at JetBlue Airways (her favorite airline) in summer 2019.
Feel free to ask her about her Morocco trip -- she just recently flew to Casablanca on a one-way business class ticket on TAP Air Portugal for just 12.5K miles.
Stella moved to New York City in December and is ecstatic to join the TPG team again.
David Slotnick -- Senior Aviation Reporter
David was most recently the senior airline reporter at Business Insider, covering the aviation business in depth throughout the COVID-19 crisis, as well as aviation startups and logistics, passenger experience and breaking news.
Before covering aviation full-time, David launched Business Insider's points, miles and credit card strategy while also reporting on the broader travel space. He has contributed to numerous publications as a freelancer, including TPG.
He spent most of his life in New York but recently relocated to Boston with his wife Reni and their goldendoodle Murray. He went to college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and spent a year living in Edinburgh, Scotland, during graduate school.
David is a bona fide travel junkie — and can't wait to get back in the air — an avid photographer and a cocktail enthusiast (the Polaris Lounge's Paper Plane is among his favorites). He's also a certified EMT and picks up occasional ambulance shifts in the Greater Boston area.
Follow him on Twitter or Instagram at @david_slotnick.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.