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Budget Travel Repositioned for Success and Sale
[December 16, 2013]

Budget Travel Repositioned for Success and Sale


NEW YORK --(Business Wire)--

Elaine Alimonti, President of Intellitravel Media Inc., D/B/A Budget Travel, announced today that a number of new initiatives have been introduced aimed at increasing the company's digital footprint and revenue as it prepares to be sold. Budget Travel is a 15-year-old multi-platform travel content company designed to empower consumers to travel the globe affordably. It is well known for its flagship publication, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel.

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel (tablet edition), November/December 2013 (Photo: Business Wire)

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel (tablet edition), November/December 2013 (Photo: Business Wire)

Every month, Budget Travel-branded digital content reaches more than 5.5MM savvy consumers, via multiple digital channels; users look to the brand to provide them with reliable, affordable, and actionable travel information. Building on this success with the introduction of a new e-commerce platform and custom broadcast-quality travel videos is the next phase of evolution for the brand.

"We looked at the marketplace, and saw that there were essentially two categories of travel websites: travel content sites, which seek to provide travel inspiration; or OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) and travel deal sites, which seek to sell a trip or travel package to consumers," says Alimonti. "With a brand named 'Budget Travel,' and a sterling reputation for trusted, affordable travel content, we knew our next step: connect travel inspiration and trip planning with travel offers and bookings. And to make money at each stage of the process."

Through a selection of exclusive, editorially sourced travel offers and curated packages offered through partners, Budget Travel's "Real Deals" connects travel content with e-commerce by surfacing relevant, real-time travel packages and prices while consumers are reading an article or slideshow on a related destination.This unmatched level of personalization increases the likelihood of purchase as visitors can also search for trips by departure or destination; by price, and by interests or lifestyle (adventure, foodie, romance, etc.).



Budget Travel has also partnered with DCN Creative, an Emmy-award winning producer of travel content for PBS. The partnership includes custom, broadcast-quality travel video created for the Budget Travel site, scheduled for launch in Q1 2014, as well as new pre-roll video opportunities for advertisers.

Over the past year, Budget Travel has continued to expand its digital footprint by connecting with consumers across multiple digital platforms including:


  • A mobile-optimized site; mobile traffic now accounts for 20% of site traffic
  • The "Ultimate Road Trips" app, featuring more than 70 editorially-curated U.S. drives, alongside information on what to see, stay and do overlaid with GPS directions
  • Paid (News - Alert) tablet editions of Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine on iPad, Kindle, Android and Nook devices
  • An editorial opt-in e-newsletter, which reaches more than 500,000 subscribers twice weekly, driving close to 20% of the brand's site traffic
  • Social media initiatives have provided an impetus for digital growth in 2013
    • Budget Travel has more than 4.2 million followers and ranks in the top 50 of all followed Pinterest sites; it is by far the most-followed travel media site
    • The brand has a robust following on Twitter (75,000 followers) and Facebook (30,000 followers); and just recently launched an Instagram account

"We are excited for the new opportunities we've created for the Budget Travel brand," said Alimonti. "We've expanded our digital reach, and developed and launched new revenue-generating platforms that have created a path back to profitability. We are not only creating more engagement with users, we are able to offer new opportunities to our advertisers and partners."

Intellitravel Media, Inc. has retained Bentley Associates, L.P., an investment-banking firm with extensive experience in the travel and leisure marketplace, as a sales advisor, and is in conversations with various parties regarding an anticipated sale of the company. There are no secured creditors of the company. Bids are due by January 29, 2014; parties interested in participating in the bankruptcy sale process should contact Justin Hirs at 212-763-0362.

ABOUT INTELLITRAVEL MEDIA, INC.

Intellitravel Media, Inc., is a premier, multi-platform travel media company that empowers consumers to travel the globe affordably. The Company's flagship brand is Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. Budget Travel content is distributed through digital, mobile, e-newsletter and tablet channels, as well as through a travel membership club. The Budget Travel brand serves millions of consumers each month with content that delivers "Vacations for Real People." Find Budget Travel online at BudgetTravel.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter (News - Alert), and Pinterest.


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