Expanded Religious Market Coverage - Leisure Group Travel

Expanded Religious Market Coverage for '08 Leisure Group Travel
Two special sections featured - February & August 2008

Willowbrook, Ill...In support of the growing popularity of $18-billion global religious travel marketplace, Leisure Group Travel magazine, the leading group travel publication in North America, is making a major investment by expanding its religious travel coverage in 2008.
The magazine commissioned world-renowned religious travel expert, and founder of the World Religious Travel Association, Kevin Wright to create the most comprehensive analysis of the religious travel market to date. Mr. Wright's article, titled "Religious Tourism: A New Era, A Dynamic Industry" appears in Leisure Group Travel's 2008 Industry Forecast edition published this month. It outlines the many opportunities that are available to group tour planners, destinations and suppliers that are trying to capture their share of this burgeoning marketplace. (Read entire article)

Expanded 2008 Editorial Coverage
For 2008, Leisure Group Travel has commissioned two special supplements on Religious Travel in February and August. February's edition includes coverage of the Globus Religious Travel Symposium, plus market updates on destinations and events prevalent in the religious travel industry. In August, Leisure Group Travel will feature pre-show coverage of the inaugural World Religious Travel Expo, to be held in Orlando, October 2008.
Though the magazine's religious editorial coverage is expanding, Leisure Group Travel is not a newcomer to the religious travel market. Jeff Gayduk, publisher of Leisure Group Travel explains, "Back in 2003, we started to see a noticeable up-tick in the number of churches and religious organizations that were running group travel programs. We set out a plan to identify these organizations offered them a subscription. Through that effort, we were able to amass more than 3,000 religious-oriented travel groups to Leisure Group Travel's nationwide subscription base. Add that to our existing tour operators, travel agents and bus companies that serve the religious market, and we have more qualified circulation than any market competitor."
Gayduk adds that even though the word "religious" doesn't appear on the firm's masthead, that doesn't mean the magazine isn't of appeal to religious groups. "As our studies show, and Mr. Wright articulated in his article, religious groups are running the same type of group trips and retreats that other market sectors do. Whereas in years past, churches ran travel pilgrimages to validate faith, now they are developing travel programs as a social outlet, a way to tie members closer together." Gayduk continued, "Our readers from the religious segment find our articles beneficial, knowing that they may take extra time to explore their faith while on tour or retreat."
Suppliers looking to reach religious group travel planners can see for themselves how exposure in Leisure Group Travel will directly connect them with religious groups from coast-to-coast - making this religious group marketing vehicle the best value for their advertising dollar. Special two-insertion package rates have been established for the religious travel supplements in February and August, with rates from $1,550.

About Leisure Group Travel

Leisure Group Travel is the leading print and online publication serving the group travel industry. With a circulation of 20,000, Leisure Group Travel is the only publication that reaches all core market segments, including fast growing affinity and niche markets like religious tourism. The magazine's industry exclusive advertising guarantee assures that all advertisers receive qualified leads.

For more information about Leisure Group Travel's religious travel supplements, contact the firm at 630-794-0696.