“Weinstein-Backed High End Travel-Lifestyle Social Network ASMALLWORLD ... - MSN Money” plus 4 more

Weinstein-Backed High End Travel-Lifestyle Social Network ASMALLWORLD ... - MSN Money
Miss India’s parents terrorised, scared to travel - Economic Times
Congressional Travel: Jettison the Jets - The Ledger
IATA: Air travel stabilizes in June - Birmingham Business Journal
American offers NY fare sale during slow period - MSN Money

Weinstein-Backed High End Travel-Lifestyle Social Network ASMALLWORLD ... - MSN Money

Posted: 19 Aug 2009 10:39 AM PDT

Last fall, after laying off 40% if its staff, the future of Weinstein-backed high-end members-only travel oriented social network ASMALLWORLD --like that of the media industry at large-- looked gravely uncertain. According to ASW CEO Joe Robinson: "Luxury advertising budgets were scaled back. The future of luxury media seemed uncertain."

However, ASMALLWORLD has proved that it knows how to sell advertising - and to blue chip brands. ASW is reporting an 11% increase in advertising revenue up from Q1 to Q2, with plans to be EBITDA positive by Q4. This, of course, happened during what most say is the worst recession since the Great Depression and amongst strong debate over the profitability of social networking sites.

According to Robinson, "In tougher economic climates, luxury advertisers, in particular, are looking for highly efficient, integrated buys. They need to be smarter than ever."

ASMALLWORLD is a private travel and lifestyle-focused online community with over 480,000 members worldwide. Its control over its affluent membership base is what attracts advertisers seeking to target a global high-profile audience.

"We offer a unique platform to inform and engage a select group of people, with targeted advertiser programs. Our ad team works with individual brands to come up with a program specifically suited to that brand," says Robinson. The proof is in the pudding. Q2 alone brought in M Gallery, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Tudor Rolex, JLC, and the Starwood Hotel Group.

ABOUT ASMALLWORLD:

ASMALLWORLD is a private by-invitation online traveled focused community that brings together a carefully selected group of over 480,000+ international tastemakers and leaders who share similar backgrounds, interests and values. The community provides a distinct and intimate environment for these like-minded individuals to share reliable information online as well as in person.

ASMALLWORLD
Serena Merriman, +1-917-952-3089
Serena@asw.com

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Miss India’s parents terrorised, scared to travel - Economic Times

Posted: 19 Aug 2009 09:49 AM PDT


Miss India's parents terrorised, scared to travel




A group of Gurgaon hooligans have forced Ekta's parents to cancel plans to attend the Miss Universe contest in Bahamas. The last time we spoke to Miss India Universe Ekta Choudhry's mother Rita Choudhry, she was really excited about being with Ekta on D-day, August 23 at the Bahamas. A homesick Ekta, too, told us that she was looking forward to meeting her parents. However, it's not to be and Ekta's parents have cancelled their trip to the Bahamas. The reason? A group of hooligans near their house have terrorized the family and Ekta's parents are scared of travelling, in case the house is attacked in their absence. They have also filed a police complaint in this connection. Ekta's mother, sounding extremely harassed, told us, "We shifted to Gurgaon from Delhi seven to eight months ago and really regret our decision. There is a small teashop across the road and some hooligans, who sit there the entire day, keep passing cheap remarks. It was extremely upsetting and we complained about this to the police." She says, "We feel threatened and are worried that if we leave for Bahamas to attend the pageant, they might burgle our house. That is why we have cancelled our trip." The threats have worsened once the teashop was shut down after the police complaint. She explains, "The law and order situation in Gurgaon isn't that good." She adds, "We haven't told Ekta about this entire episode... we want her to focus on winning the crown. She has a big responsibility to handle. Our visas and tickets were ready but now we're too scared to travel." On Ekta, she says, "She has bright chances of winning. When I spoke to her today, she told me her interview with the judges went very well. I hope God listens to our prayers and Ekta attains success." We wish Ekta the best too!

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Congressional Travel: Jettison the Jets - The Ledger

Posted: 18 Aug 2009 10:29 PM PDT

It's as close as Florida, where Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp reimbursed the state $10,400 this spring after news reports that he took his wife and young son on state-owned planes and a Florida Highway Patrol aircraft, which the lieutenant governor may also use.

Many people, mostly political opponents, were outraged when President Barack Obama used federal air transportation to take his wife to New York City on a date.

And one of the prime abusers of almost every form of government privilege is Congress. Members of Congress use government transportation to take all forms of trips, domestic and foreign, under the guise of research and "fact-finding."

Even now, as the nation labors under heavy debt and an economic recession, the U.S. House passed a measure that authorizes the purchase of $550 million in eight new Boeing and Gulfstream jets to transport senior government officials - including themselves.

That way, members of Congress can speed to the Cayman Islands in style for meetings on confidential banking regulations.

MONOPOLY MONEY

We wouldn't want them to fly commercial and have to put up with all the indignities average Americans have to face. That might give them a different perspective when they start working on air transportation laws.

There may be hope yet. Opposition is building in the Senate. The jets are included in a defense-funding bill, and the Pentagon has said it doesn't need half of the new jets.

"The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach," Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told The Wall Street Journal. "It is evidence that some of the cynicism about Washington is well-placed - that people got out of touch and they spend money like it's Monopoly money."

Politicians who cherish their positions because of the trappings and perquisites of power are not leaders who see themselves as serving their constituents. But, once a politician is in office, it's hard to avoid these privileges. And once enjoyed, it's hard to keep them from becoming a habit.

These kinds of privileges should be reduced as much as possible. The president cannot travel on anything other than secured military transportation no matter what the purpose is. And a congressional delegation to Iraq or Afghanistan is going to have to take military planes.

But other politicians don't have to have private aircraft funded by the taxpayers. It wastes money. It corrupts politicians, and it removes them from the circumstances of the people they represent.

The Senate should make sure this deal doesn't get off the ground.

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IATA: Air travel stabilizes in June - Birmingham Business Journal

Posted: 19 Aug 2009 06:28 AM PDT

Declines in premium business, first-class and economy air travel began to stabilize in June, the International Air Transport Association reports.

The drop in total passenger numbers on international flights slowed to 7.1 percent in June from 9.2 percent in May. Adjusting for seasonal fluctuations, passenger numbers were broadly unchanged.

In June, the number of passengers traveling on economy tickets fell 5.5 percent, down from a 7.6 percent decline in May. A drop in premium travel numbers also moderated to 21.3 percent in June from 23.6 percent in May.

The association warns the stabilization is coming partly at the expense of much lower yields, as airlines seek to boost their cash flow by making more inexpensive seats available.

Sales from premium travel fell an estimated 33 percent in the first quarter and 41 percent in the second quarter, and was still declining at a rate of nearly 40 percent in June.

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American offers NY fare sale during slow period - MSN Money

Posted: 19 Aug 2009 09:49 AM PDT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - American Airlines said Wednesday it is offering a fare sale for flights between five cities and New York this fall, a typically slow time for travel.

The airline said it would sell some seats for $69 each way between Miami and New York; $84 each way from Chicago; $99 from Dallas-Fort Worth; and $109 from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The airline said tickets are on sale through Friday and cover travel from Sept. 15 through Dec. 12.

The lowest prices are for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and days around Thanksgiving are blacked out. Fares are nonrefundable and can't be transferred. Changes in itinerary will cost $150 plus any difference in fares.

Shares of AMR Corp., the airline's parent company, fell 12 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $4.99 in afternoon trading.

(This version CORRECTS the end of the fare sale to Friday.)

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