In the December issue of Global Traveler, we will be releasing the results of our 2008 Best in Business and Luxury Travel awards. This will be an important milestone as it will be the fifth such survey we release.

During the last five years, the magazine has seen incredible growth, increasing page count, an expanding staff and, of course, growing revenue. Most important, though, is that we have proven our company to be reliable, dependable and honest. The last five years have seen other magazines in our competitive set shut down, restart and inflate their circulations. It is like a soap opera, and there is always someone out to make a quick buck.

We always take the higher road. Our revenues from the first year to this year are reflective of our dedication and honesty. We can look our clients straight in the eye and tell them that we believe in what we say - because that is the truth!

Of course, we will be holding our annual luncheon in New York City, and we are currently searching for our celebrity speaker on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In the past years, we have welcomed Terry Waite, Beirut hostage and negotiator and a great speaker; Cynthia Nixon, from Sex and the City; Annette Lauer, Matt Lauer’s wife and a supermodel; Ivana Trump and, of course, a surprise visit from her ex-husband, Donald Trump (but we fired him!).

Keep on reading the magazine, the blog, the web site and our two editions of eFlyer (US and Asia). I am sure the growth will continue for years and years to come!

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t believe everything you read”? Well, the Internet has made this phrase even more important than ever. Wikipedia had their problems several years ago when Jay Leno made them a laughingstock by going online during his show and editing the definition of elephants. Leno altered the definition to claim that elephants roamed wild throughout North America. Wikipedia has since locked access to many of their sections to prevent this.

I received an email from a friend touting the fascism of Sarah Palin this weekend. He sent a list of books that Sarah has ’supposedly’ banned while she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. I looked at the list of books and was shocked, and then I noticed that all the Harry Potter books were on the list. This struck me as odd and so I googled “Sarah Palin banned books.” I found out this was a hoax. When Sarah Palin supposedly banned these books in 1996, none of the Harry Potter books had been published. But, of course, this Internet lie was circulating and some people will take this as Gospel and never believe anything else.

There is something to be said about electronic media having a “bricks and mortar” base. About seven years ago I was a guest speaker at The Leading Hotels of the World management conference, and I spoke about the Internet and my newsletter. There were so many websites and newsletters floating around the Internet touting travel, and many were written by disgruntled travelers or travel writers. My point was that a travel Internet site, backed with bricks and mortar, makes for a more reputable read.

As a publisher of two newsletters, eFlyer USA (celebrating its five-year run in December) and eFlyer Asia (launching this week), I find our way of producing and writing even more refreshing.

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

Your team at Global Traveler is venturing into the Asian marketplace soon with eFlyer Asia. eFlyer Asia will be an html weekly newsletter with news, deals and reviews written specifically for the Asian traveler. eFlyer USA has been an overwhelming success with over 50,000 opted-in email subscribers. eFlyer USA will celebrate its five year anniversary on December 1!

Following closely in its footsteps, eFlyer Asia will reach out to business and luxury travelers living throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, there is no source in Asia that reaches out to these high-yield travelers.

Global Traveler will be selecting an Asian-based editor for eFlyer Asia in the coming weeks.

Asia is a growing market that needs an informed source that does not pander to the industry. Only Global Traveler, with no ties to the industry, can bring the Asian reader this much-needed product.

Keep your eyes peeled for eFlyer Asia!

- Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO