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Addressing the National Press Club
Washington, D.C., March 6, 2001
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Christopher P. Baker is acclaimed as one of North America’s most multi-talented and successful travel writers and photographers, with a special focus on the Caribbean and Latin American. He is acknowledged as the world’s foremost regional travel expert on Cuba and Costa Rica.
Baker was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. He received a B.A. (Honors) in Geography at the University of London's University College, during which time he participated in two Sahara research expeditions and an exchange program at Krakow University, Poland. He later earned Master's degrees in Latin American Studies from Liverpool University, and in Education from the University of London's Institute of Education. He began his writing career in 1978 as a contributing editor on Latin America for Land & Liberty, a London-based political journal. In 1980, he received a Scripps-Howard Foundation Scholarship in Journalism to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He has made his living as a professional travel writer, photographer, and lecturer since 1983. He also writes frequently on natural sciences and tourism related issues.
Baker is a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors, the Society of American Travel Writers and Guidebookwriters.com.
Read about Baker on Wikipedia
 Publication credits and Magazine assignments:
Baker has written for more than 200 publications worldwide as far-ranging as Caribbean Travel & Life, Elle, Islands, Maxim, National Geographic Traveler, National Wildlife, Newsweek International, Robb Report, Saveur, The Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor and South China Morning Post, plus the in-flight magazines of more than 20 airlines worldwide.
His passion for travel writing and photography helps Baker maintain a schedule in which he travels around the globe on assignment for leading editors and publishers.
To schedule an assignment: 760-327-9879 or email.
His more than 20 books in print include best-selling guidebooks to The Bahamas, California, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Palm Springs, Panama, and elsewhere on behalf of such publishers as Avalon Travel Publishing, Dorling Kindersley, Frommer's, Lonely Planet, National Geographic Society, and Thomas Cook. He has also contributed chapters to books on behalf of Time-Life, the Discovery Channel, etc. He is the author of the acclaimed literary travelog, Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba, winner of two national book awards.
 Awards:
Baker, the Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year,’ has been honored with many awards for outstanding travel writing, including ‘Travel Journalist of the Year’ awards from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Jamaica Tourist Board.
Click here for a complete list of Baker’s awards.
View the 2008 Lowell Thomas Awards
Public speaking & lecturing:
Baker is an acclaimed public speaker and has been honored to address the National Press Club, World Affairs Council, and the National Geographic Society (televised “Live from... National Geographic”) among other prestigious organizations. He regularly tours the USA and Canada, speaking at bookshops, public libraries, etc.
He has also been a faculty member of Cunard Cruise Lines and Holland American Cruise Line, and currently lectures as a ‘Resident Expert’ for National Geographic Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions, and as a photo instructor for the prestigious Santa Fe Photographic Workshops.
Recent speaking engagements include giving the keynote address, North American Travel Journalist Association conference, Reno, Nevada, May 11-14, 2010
Radio & Television:
Baker appears frequently on radio and television talk shows throughout North America and has given live and recorded interviews for ABC, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, CNN, Fox TV’s "Fox Magazine," the National Geographic Channel, NBC, NPR Public Radio, Shaw TV, and many other nationally syndicated programs.
He has been profiled in USA Today (March 23-25, 2001, Life section, "Riding Across Cuba Brings Forbidden Thrills" by Jayne Clark)
Baker has hosted his own online TV show, Chris Baker’s Palm Springs, for BeHereTV, and is a frequent host for
LatinEyes TV. He is currently partnered with Emmy-winner producer Andres Pruna to create an exciting new TV reality show, Chris Baker’s Road Wage, currently in production.
Recent interviews...
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Consulting:
Baker has wide experience in marketing and has been a consultant to dozens of travel companies, including such industry leaders as Backroads, Ker & Downey, Mountain Travel-Sobek, and Wilderness Travel, as well as for major international corporations such as Intel. He has written brochures, catalogs, press releases, etc. for dozens of companies, and has been honored with awards from the American Catalog Awards, the Direct Marketing Creative Guild, and Target Marketing. He is available for freelance projects.
Group Tour Operations and Escorting:
Baker also has wide experience within the travel industry. For seven years he was president of British Pride Tours, which he founded. In addition to operating his own tours to England, he has packaged and managed group tours on behalf of several universities, and has escorted group tours to Costa Rica, England, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, and Panama.
He currently lectures as a ‘Resident Expert’ for National Geographic Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions, and as a photo instructor for the prestigious Santa Fe Photographic Workshops.
See Tour Escorting for more details.
Teaching:
Baker is a leading faculty member of the prestigious SATW Institute of Travel Journalism. He also regularly teaches travel writing classes for the Learning Annex and has participated in the annual Book Passage Travel Writer & Photographer Conference. As a teacher, Baker regales students with his experiences with the hope that his enthusiasm and love for his work can inspire them to also succeed in this competitive but exciting field.
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christopher p. baker
