Travel information innovator Media Kitty celebrates first anniversary with a new, exciting website and a dramatic surge in traffic

Las Vegas, Nevada -- Media Kitty, the innovative online information exchange uniting travel and tourism industry professionals with premier journalists worldwide, is marking its first anniversary with the launch of a faster, more comprehensive and freshly designed website.

Las Vegas, Nevada -- Media Kitty, the innovative online information exchange uniting travel and tourism industry professionals with premier journalists worldwide, is marking its first anniversary with the launch of a faster, more comprehensive and freshly designed website.

Since the launch of mediakitty.coms even easier-to-use website, traffic has risen sharply -- with more than 35,000 unique visits per month. Media Kittys qualified membership now exceeds 2,100 worldwide, and more than 12,000 journalists and tourism professionals subscribe to a weekly e-letter highlighting news and story ideas, media trip opportunities and more.

Media Kitty members -- from Los Angeles to London, Mexico City to Montreal -- meet online to exchange travel news and story ideas, media trip opportunities, information about tourism products, services and destinations, jobs, contra, prize offers and more. An assignment desk feature for editors and writers to connect is announced today.

With an upbeat brand and friendly, helpful service, Media Kitty attracts top travel writers from around the world and the most forward PR professionals in the business.

The service is free for qualified journalist members. PR, marketing and other tourism industry professionals pay an affordable monthly fee for unlimited access to the most complete, interactive service of its kind.

Media Kitty is catching on fast and generating significant, immediate results for its members from around the world," says Heather Kirk, Media Kittys founder and managing director. Our service is a lively showcase for how well the Internet can serve global niche business like tourism marketing.

Weve responded to journalists and tourism industry leaders by creating a powerful, cost-effective service to help them do business more efficiently."

MEDIA KITTY BACKGROUNDER

The journalists
Carefully qualified writers, editors, broadcasters and photographers can join and access mediakitty.com for free. Media Kitty member journalists are an eclectic group, with a strong international flavor. They work for or contribute to such outlets as Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Chicago Tribune, the Seattle Times, the BBC and more.

Bill Kerig, a Salt Lake City-based writer who contributes to Sunset Magazine, USA Today.com and Mens Journal among many others, says, In the world of PR there are two types: the ones who get it and the ones who dont and never will. As a full-time freelancer, I run from the latter. Media Kitty allows me to choose who I want to talk to in an efficient, timely manner. Not only that, the staff at Media Kitty completely understands the needs of a journalist and goes out of its way to help."

Toronto-based writer Ilona Biro, who contributes to Canadas National Post, says, I think its the best service going for travel writers right now."

The tourism industry
Media Kitty PR members are busy tourism professionals. They are ahead of the curve and recognize the efficiency of the Internet for communication with journalists and their peers. They understand how important it has become to be responsive to journalists needs.

Take Heather Haus MacCuspie, an account executive with New York public relations giant Ruder Finn. Heather has 23 active postings on Media Kitty for such clients as South African Airways, New Yorks Roosevelt Hotel and the Barbados Tourism Authority. She says, Media Kitty has been a great addition to our travel practice as it provides numerous opportunities at an incredible value."

Unlimited access to Media Kitty costs tourism industry professionals just $500 a year or $49 a month.

The first anniversary celebration
Now attracting more than 35,000 unique visits to its website each month and with 12,000 e-letter subscribers, Media Kitty proudly celebrated its first year and a host of new features at a networking event at Rice to Riches, a hip rice pudding shop in New Yorks stylish NoLita.

Hosted by founder and managing director Heather Kirk and newly appointed director of member communications Laura Serena, the casual networking do drew editorial staff from concierge.com, Meetings and Conventions magazine and the New York Daily News. Ocean Properties Ltd., one of North Americas largest hotel management companies, is sponsoring a second event this week at a Matchbox Twenty concert in Fort Lauderdale.

The technology
Media Kitty uses the latest Microsoft .NET technology, which means new features can be added easily and the site runs at top speed. Public relations professionals are just four clicks away from posting consumer travel news releases, trip opportunities for qualified journalists, events, industry updates, jobs and contra opportunities.

The service has a fully searchable directory for public relations and media contacts complete with images, email and web links. Media Kitty also allows members to store useful postings and contacts in their own kitty" accessible from anywhere. The service can handle large traffic volume without interruption. Site access is password-protected, but there is a free tour option for those interested in test-driving the service.

The people
Media Kitty was conceived by managing director Heather Kirk, who has worked in public relations for more than 14 years in travel and tourism and high technology industries. She designed the service to reduce journalists inbox clutter by offering a one-stop, central source for fresh consumer travel news and story ideas, trip opportunities, leads and exceptional contacts. It is also intended to augment traditional PR tactics with a quick and easy solution to distributing travel news, vetting journalist credentials and raising their personal and professional profile within this global niche.

Handling customer service and building Media Kittys online community is Laura Serena, the companys director of member communications. A tourism public relations expert, Laura was most recently manager of travel media relations for Tourism Vancouver, a convention and visitors bureau in Vancouver, British Columbia where she built strong international relationships with journalists from around the world.

The name
A playful adaptation of the words 'media kit, the Media Kitty name comes from the notion that travel and tourism public and media relations is exciting and fun. The name puts a little life and personality into traditional PR and journalism tools. The name also comes from the clubby" nature of the service -- everyone contributes to the kitty" and takes something away from it.

Advertising
Media Kitty is introducing limited space on its website for select advertising and promotional offers that will appeal to its well-targeted, influential audience. For details on marketing through the site and its e-letter, inquire by email at advertise@mediakitty.com.

Future plans
Media Kitty plans to introduce a new category of membership for tourism businesses that do not have the benefit of a dedicated public relations resource. For an affordable price, tourism operators will be able to respond to journalists information requests for information and trip assistance, be listed in the searchable Media Kitty directory and post a number of news releases and media trip invitations to promote their products and services directly with journalists.

More information
Media Kitty can be found online at www.mediakitty.com. It is easy for public relations professionals and journalists to apply for membership online. Further details on membership, advertising or Media Kitty event sponsorship are available by emailing collarme@mediakitty.com or calling 702 792 7419 or toll free in North America 866 45 kitty. Free, personal guided tours of the site are also available on request.

Ends

Media contact:
Heather Kirk
Founder + Managing Director
Media Kitty
1800 East Sahara, Suite 107
Las Vegas, NV 89104-3732
T 702 792 7419
F 702 734 7500
TF 866 45 kitty
E heather@mediakitty.com

Notes:

1.     Images -- including word marks, the Kitty, screen shots, company representatives and members -- are available on request.

2.     Media Kitty and 3rd party interview requests are welcome.

3.     Access to password-protected areas and detailed site statistics are also available for journalists covering Media Kitty for editorial purposes.