If you take a look at the magazine’s masthead at the bottom of this page, you might notice a new name there this issue. Well, maybe not a new name exactly — it’s the same name, but in a new spot. Last week, Bruce Shulman, who has been our Associate Publisher for the past three years, was promoted to Publisher of TravelAge West, as well as our sister publication Travel Weekly (see page 8).
It’s probably unnecessary for me to introduce readers to Bruce, since many of you have undoubtedly met him in the past. Bruce has had a long and successful career in travel — first in the hotel industry and later in publishing — and he has been instrumental in the success of Northstar Travel Media (our parent company) for many years now.
Over the past few years, the TAW staff has gotten to know Bruce, and we have definitely come to think of him as part of the family. Personally, I don’t know if I have ever met anyone who enjoys the travel industry more. He might even like travel more than he likes watching his beloved Miami Heat play — okay, maybe not that much.
Besides his experience and knowledge of the industry, Bruce also has a rebellious side that fits in well at TAW. He has shown that he’s not afraid to shake things up and try fresh ideas.
“I’m so excited to be working with the creative and talented team at TravelAge West,” Bruce told me. “It’s such a joy to be part of a group that is constantly pushing themselves for greater success.”
Having someone at the top of the masthead who values creativity and acknowledges the professionalism of the staff is probably the greatest gift for any editor, and it’s just one of the reasons we are all thrilled to be working with Bruce.
In fact, this kind of fresh thinking and openness to change are key themes in this issue’s cover story, “The Kids Are Alright” (page 12). The best way to find, train and retain a young staff to ensure future success for your business is to approach the situation with an open mind and avoid preconceived opinions. That way, both sides may just end up learning from each other.
In addition to Bruce, we also want to welcome our new Associate Publisher/Business Development Jay Nelson. Jay has also had a very successful career at Northstar and we can’t wait to work more closely with him.
