THE GLOBAL ATLANTAN
Where Atlanta meets the world…
Where Atlanta meets the world…
Latest STORIES
Hilton’s Leaders Talk Real Traveler Needs AT IMEX AMERICA 2025
Hilton’s Leaders Talk Real Traveler Needs — A Personal Las Vegas Briefing at IMEX America 2025
After a $340M expansion—and with the Elizabeth line at its door—Excel London makes a product-first case at IMEX America 2025: sustainability, F&B by design, connectivity, and a waterfront built for activations.
By Jen Deaton & Yousuf Basil — Las Vegas (on the sidelines of IMEX America 2025)
CO FOUNDER: JENNIFER Z. DEATON.
For nearly two decades, my world was the breaking news alert and the live broadcast. As an award-winning Senior News Editor for CNN International, I led coverage from the front lines of history—directing reporting on the invasion of Ukraine, the fall of Afghanistan, and the war in Iraq from a bureau in Baghdad. I’ve shaped global news strategy, verified facts in the fog of war, and told human stories from the heart of crises, work recognized with every major award in journalism, from the Peabody to the Emmy and the Murrow.
That career was built on a simple, powerful principle: every major event, whether a political shift or a conflict, is ultimately a human story. It’s about how global forces change the lives of everyday people.
Now, I’m applying that same lens to a new frontier: the world of travel and business. As a co-founder of this venture, I am driven by the belief that travel is one of the most profound human experiences. It is how we connect, understand, and grow. My role is to seek out the narratives that matter—to analyze the trends shaping the tourism industry, to profile the innovators changing the landscape, and to find the compelling stories at the intersection of culture, commerce, and exploration.
This new chapter is not a departure from my past; it's an expansion of it. It’s about trading the news desk for a digital platform where curiosity leads, and every destination has a story waiting to be told. Join us as we explore this world with the rigor of a journalist and the wonder of a traveler.
From The Global Atlantan, part of Deaton & Basil Media Company— we bring you inside the stories shaping travel, hospitality, and culture across the globe.
Conversations with the visionaries behind tomorrow’s hotels, the chefs defining cities, and the products that elevate how we live, move, and feel.
CO FOUNDER: YOUSUF M. BASIL.
From the Frontlines of News to the Frontiers of Travel
For over 20 years, my career as a journalist with CNN was about getting the story right in the most critical situations. I planned coverage from the news desk during the Arab Spring, produced reports from the streets of Baghdad, and led award-winning coverage of stories that shaped our world. It taught me about urgency, accuracy, and the power of a compelling human story.
Now, I've channeled that same passion for discovery into a new arena: the dynamic world of travel and tourism. As the North America Media Partner & Correspondent for Travel and Tour World (TTW), I explore emerging trends, conduct in-depth interviews with industry innovators, and uncover the stories that connect culture, business, and hospitality.
This site is where my past sharpens my present. It's where a veteran journalist's eye for detail and a storyteller's heart meet the endless inspiration of new destinations. Join me as we explore the world, one story at a time.
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