Travel Channel Launches New Multiplatform Extension

SILVER SPRING: Travel Channel and Rand McNally’s Tripology.com have partnered to connect viewers with trained online travel agents who assist in creating unique personalized experiences inspired by popular Travel Channel series.

Anthony Bourdain’s new series The Layover is launching as part of the partnership. Viewers can go to Travelchannel.com to watch additional video from a particular show and then research locations and activities. The site then connects them with Tripology.com, which leads travelers to travel specialists—tripologists—who offer itineraries from the programming. The majority of the trip requests already received are for Europe in 2012, and the top requested cities are Barcelona, New York, Madrid, Paris and Rome.

"Our partnership with Rand McNally is a key element to our overall digital strategy, providing deeper connections with our viewers and the programming,” said Shannon O’Neill, the senior VP and CFO of Travel Channel. “We continue to explore new opportunities to marry inspiration with activation. We are launching with The Layover, but plan to quickly roll out additional specialized itineraries, across many of our properties, that our audiences love."

"Tripology.com is not a travel agency,” added John T. Peters, the VP of digital strategy and travel at Rand McNally. “We do not sell tickets or trips. What makes this service unique is that we help find the travel experts who specialize in specific experiences—and in this case, allowing travelers to create similar experiences they watch on television."