SNAIL MAIL VS. EMAIL: SURVEY REVEALS TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE MEDIA PREFERENCE FOR EMAIL DISTRIBUTION AND DIGITAL IMAGES

A survey conducted by KWE Group shows media prefer receiving releases through email instead of snail mail; also, digital images are preferred over slides and hard prints.

Miami, FL --October 17, 2003 --In a survey of nearly 500 staff and freelance print and broadcast media in the travel and lifestyle categories, 49% prefer to receive news releases by email distribution as compared to 40% who prefer standard US mail. Preference for fax came in at under 2% and the remainder of the survey recipients did not specify the distribution method they prefer.

The survey, conducted by Miami-based KWE Group, Inc., a travel and leisure public relations firm, also queried media on what type of format they preferred when receiving images. A majority of 37% say they prefer digital images while 30% want slides. Print images come in third at 23%.

"Travel and lifestyle media were slow to 'get wired' compared with news media, but email is clearly the preferred choice," said Karen Weiner Escalera, President and CEO of KWE Group. "There is, however, an important caveat. Many media who don't want email delivery are unequivocal in their dislike for email except when they request it, and most don't want digital images except when they ask for them," Escalera continued. "Several media also advised that news releases get more 'eyeballing' when they're sent as hard copies or faxes," she concluded.

KWE Group, Inc. is a full service public relations and bilingual consulting agency specializing in the travel and leisure industries. Escalera and her team have spearheaded public relations programs for brand leaders in all aspects of the industry for over 24 years. Escalera is a sought after speaker and consultant and her public relations campaigns and business innovations have been cited as setting a standard for the industry in publications that include Advertising Age, Fortune Small Business and public relations journals. Escalera was honored with the prestigious Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's Winthrop W. Grice "Lifetime Achievement" award for the advancement of public relations in the hotel industry. For further information on KWE Group, Inc., visit them on the web at www.kwegroup.com.