October 2, 2007 – New York, NY— Questex Media Group, Inc. announced today a strategic shift in its Travel Agent media group from a largely print-centric, weekly news strategy, to a fully integrated print, online and live event platform.  With the re-design of the group’s flagship travel industry publication Travel Agent magazine, travel professionals will now receive more in-depth content and a wider range of choices over media formats and frequencies.  With a shift to bi-weekly distribution and a stronger focus on features and analysis, the group also announced the addition of significant new digital media features and editorial enhancements to its website, www.travelagentcentral.com including the introduction of a series of subscription-based digital newsletters, daily deal and breaking news alerts.  

“The travel distribution landscape has shifted dramatically over the past few years,” said Kerry Cannon, group publisher for the Travel Agent Media Group.  “Over $140 billion in travel is being booked through the travel agency channel and over time travel agents’ information needs have diversified. Online availability of news, destination and product information, rich media content, videos, Podcasts, e-learning courseware, and electronic booking tools have changed the way travel agents interact with information sources and their clients.  Travel Agent Media Group is moving from a print-driven publishing model, to a truly integrated approach where information is matched and delivered via the most appropriate channel,” continued Cannon.

“We’re addressing the needs of our audience and responding to what they have requested.  Having conducted exhaustive focus group research, agents have made clear that they need both print and online resources. We believe we can serve our audience most effectively by offering the best of both: an information-rich network of websites featuring strong, focused editorial content delivered via print and online,” states Cannon.  “There are media companies that offer magazines, and or stand-alone websites, however none have taken this integrated approach where the print and website truly support one another to deliver information, intelligence and business opportunities directly to the travel agent community.”
 
 “This is a further example and demonstration of our commitment to investing in the development of fully integrated business media and information platforms in the markets we serve,” said Kerry C. Gumas, president and CEO of Questex Media Group. “The Travel Agent media brand has been serving this community now for nearly 80 years. At Questex, we have stepped up investment and development and have transformed Travel Agent from a standalone weekly news magazine, into a media portfolio serving travel professionals in print, online and through face-to-face events. These include, in addition Travel Agent Magazine, Home-Based Travel Agent, Luxury Travel Advisor, Premier Hotels & Resorts, Five–Star Alliance, Luxury Travel Expo, Home-Based Travel Agent Expo, and the Incentive Travel Exchange.  “We are proud to continue building on the tradition of editorial excellence established by Travel Agent,” added Gumas, “and continuing to serve our customers in new and innovative ways.”

About Travel Agent Magazine
www.travelagentcentral.com
Multi-Media Intelligence for Travel Professionals
Travel Agent Magazine is the leading publication serving travel professionals and has been the established leader in the travel trade for almost a century. By keeping in touch with agent needs, and boasting the largest circulation of any trade magazine, Travel Agent has consistently evolved and led the way for readers and marketers alike. Publishing every two weeks in print, supplemented with substantial daily, and weekly online delivery of news, supplier profiles, destination guides, marketing/sales programs, and educational material, Travel Agent’s portfolio of print and online products provide agents the tools in ways agents can use to sell more travel, more effectively.

About Questex Media Group, Inc.
Questex Media Group, Inc. is a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider, headquartered in Newton, MA. Questex serves multiple industries including technology, beauty, spa, travel, hospitality, leisure, home entertainment, industrial specialties and service industries through a range of well-established, market-leading publications, events, interactive media, research, information and integrated marketing services. The company’s media properties include 81 trade magazines and eNewsletters, 84 websites, 45 conferences tradeshows and events, as well as a range of research, data and information products.

The company's businesses are managed through operating companies including Questex Media Group and five subsidiaries; InfoTrends, Inc., the world's leading strategic research and advisory services provider to the document management and communications industries; McLean Events International, Ltd, a world-leading producer of appointment-based events; Imaging Network, a leading business-to-business multimedia marketing company serving the office products channel; Five Star Alliance, the leading online luxury hotel booking service for the affluent traveler; and, Oxford Publishing, Inc., publisher and tradeshow producer serving the beverage and food industries. The company's combined operations include more than 450 employees in offices throughout North America, South America, Asia and Europe.