I am pleased to announce that the Slow Travel websites are joining Internet Brands’ family of travel sites. Internet Brands, based in Los Angeles, runs websites in three vertical markets: Automotive, Real Estate & Home Finance and Travel. Read more about them here: www.internetbrands.com.
You won’t notice any major changes in the Slow Travel websites and message board; I am working with Internet Brands to make sure everything keeps running as it does now.
The moderators and I will continue to run the message board. All of us who worked for Slow Travel before now work for Internet Brands. I publish my travel articles and other Slow Travelers articles on slowtrav.com. Chris runs the Classifieds. Kim publishes trip reports and vacation rental reviews and answers the "help" email. Colleen publishes hotel reviews. Charisse from Internet Brands publishes restaurant reviews. The only changes you will see in the future will be good ones to make our websites and community even better.
The Slow Travel websites have grown in size and traffic since their beginning in 2001 and are at the point where a bigger infrastructure is needed to run them. This is where Internet Brands steps in. They will handle the advertising, marketing and bookkeeping, and provide their resources for the operation of the websites.
At the end of October, at Palma’s GTG in Palm Springs when the Slow Chicks did their hilarious song about everyone traveling except Pauline (“And no one’s staying home except Pauline”), I realized the irony – I am running a travel site, but not traveling because running the site has become a full time (plus) job! It was after that party that Internet Brands contacted me. Good timing.
I am very excited about this opportunity. I will be working with Internet Brands to transition the sites and their activities to them, so that I can focus on working with Slow Travel writers and doing my own travel writing for the site. I have started a weekly travel blog, “Views from the Slow Lane”, with topics of general interest to travelers and spotlighting current Slow Travel message board topics, Slow Travel articles and articles/activities from the other Internet Brands travel sites.
John McGanty, General Manager of the Travel Division, welcomes the Slow Travel community to the Internet Brands family. "At Internet Brands we are very excited to have Slow Travel join our growing family of travel guides and communities. This different approach to travel provides a wonderful alternative to the more typical way of visiting destinations. We're impressed with the quality of content on the sites and the enthusiasm of the Slow Travel community and are excited to begin providing support for the Slow Travel sites, both from our other sites and with our various back-office resources."
Please join with me in welcoming Internet Brands to the Slow Travel Community!
We welcome your comments and questions.
(The official press release from Internet Brands will go out in early February.)
Pauline - I read your announcement with conflicting emotions. I am delighted the value of this site has been recognized, and that ST will now have a supportive infrastructure.
At the same time I am sorry to see us grow out of our small "family" oriented framework. I hope that the new associaton will be all positive, and that editorially you and the mods retain full control over content and the unique "culture" of this board.
Would someone please remind me that change is a good thing?
Judy
Posts: 2806 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
Pauline - you have set off a stir in the Gold Star Chat! LOL
This is excellent for you and I am so happy that you will be able to do what you love.
A part of me is sad though about the possible changes to the board - I'm sure that your emotions are even more conflicted because this is your baby! I selfishly want it to stay exactly as it is!
It is a tad ironic because my blog post today was about slowtrav and how amazing the site is.
Well done and enjoy your freedom!
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Pauline, I am thrilled that you can now concentrate on the fun, interesting parts of running Slowtrav--and leave to IB the headaches of the nuts and bolts that make such a huge and informative website possible.
In my short time on ST, I've been impressed by the growth in members but even more impressed by the number of guests at any given time - so the word about ST is obviously spreading - Heaven knows I'm doing my part.
What a surprise! Congratulations on what appears to be a new chapter in your lives. I do respect and admire you and Steve for what you were able to create in SlowTravel. Without your creation I would not have discovered a better way of seeing the world and for that I am grateful.
Enjoy and all the best in your future travels.
Kathy
Posts: 723 | Location: California | Registered: 19 September 2004
Thanks everyone! I am still going to be around - me and the moderators run the message board. Now I will have more time to read it! I will still be working publishing travel notes (and still have a backlog!) and for now I am still running the websites. I hope to have a long and happy relationship with Internet Brands, working on the Slow Travel sites.
A big thanks also goes to Chris who tirelessly worked with me all these years, doing all the programming. Internet Brands is taking that over and that will be the biggest change. I am used to shooting off an email saying "can you add this" and having Chris figure out the perfect approach. Internet Brands has big shoes to fill (okay, that did not come out right, but you know what I mean).
The change for me is the amount of work. This past year was very intense - long days and always working weekends. I am happy to get back to a more balanced life. I always thought that they would have to pry Slow Travel out of my cold, dead fingers (again, that did not come out right), but Internet Brands approached it in a great way - I am still involved, but they do the heavy lifting.
(Could I have had more cliches? I don't think so.)
Congratulations, Pauline! I think this is really cool and I am sure you wouldn't have given up (on some levels) your baby to anyone who you don't have 100% confidence in.
You've help build a great community and I am sure that community will soldier on, regardless of who is running the office and stuff like that.
I have made so many friends and had so many great experiences because of slowtrav in the past few years and for that, I will be eternally grateful, regardless of what happens in the future.
So, cheers to the past, and to the future, of Pauline and Slowtrav!
And Chris, I am sure Sacramento is waiting, just waiting, for a "Sacramento Notes" newsletter. Go for it!
I just want to say congratulations and good luck in this new endeavor. While my time here at SlowTravel has been relatively short (or maybe not), it has become such an important part of my life; through your endeavors I have personally seen my life enriched by new friends and a wealth of information, not to mention a few good gatherings. . I know this will not change because we are a community of caring people; the infrastructure may change, but we are all still here.
I'm sure I am not alone in wondering about the future, but change can be good and we need to embrace it. I hope that this will allow you to once again become the Travelers that brought forth the Slow Travel concept and community. You have my support and admiration.
And now you really have to come to Paso Robles for a toast to this new adventure,
Congratulations Pauline and Steve, well done. Your website, your decision and your well-deserved reward. I only have an inkling of all the hours you put into maintaining and promoting the site, getting advertisers, getting paid members, so that you could make a living (barely, from what you've told me) doing what you love. Not to mention the tact that you (and the moderators) use to handle conflicts on the board -- that would really stress me out. (Pauline is writing notes "do not accept Janie as moderator if she volunteers") As for me, I'm pretty optimistic about maintaining the character of the site because it's not under the control of IB, it's really up to us members and the moderators. As long as we contribute and behave the same way, why should it change? I think that it will change/evolve the same way it would have anyway as it grew larger -- maybe more special interest topics, or more coverage on Rest of World than we have now. IB has a whole bunch of travel sites, each specialized, and they obviously liked this niche that Pauline founded, and there is no benefit in it for them to change the community when that is why they bought in the first place. As with any business, they may make some decisions that turn us off along the way, but then the truly irate will vote with their feet (some members have done that already after some of Pauline's decisions). Which may make IB reconsider. I guess what I'm saying is that unlike a corporation, control over a web community's character is distributed amongst the active members rather than in the hands of a single owner.
Pauline, heartfelt congratulations on this major milestone and the opportunity to make an important and needed change in your life. I join the others who have thanked you for creating this special place that's Slow Travel. Some come here to ask questions or find information about travel, others come to share travel stories, and many of us have found a whole new circle of friends here and come just to hang out and talk. Slow Travel has certainly changed my life, and ultimately that's because of you.
So we turn the page to a new chapter. I wish much happiness to you and Steve... especially the opportunity to travel yourself and participate more with us in the fun of Slow Travel. Thanks to the moderators and other regulars who make this a real community. And congratulations to Internet Brands... I think they definitely picked a winner!
And for all of us, I do hope the best is yet to come. Here's to Pauline and Slow Travel!
Of course it is great news that Pauline will be able to get out from under the burdens of running the board and can focus on the content of the site. As I have said frequently, "if Slow Trav didn't exist, I would have to invent it"...I can't imagine not having the message board and the lively discussions available.
But I have to confess more than a vague sense of unease at the news.....and hope that it is completely misplaced. I guess we always want things to continue as they are...at least, when things are going well.
No one can begrudge Pauline the chance to focus on the fun parts....but there is always the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Here's to many more years of the Slow Trav that we all know and love.
Wow, congratulations Pauline! As many have expressed, I have a bit of mixed emotions regarding this--really, really happy for you and Steve and knowing this may enable you to have the freedom to travel and even plan that move to England you've been hankering for...a well-deserved reward for all your hard work. But, a little apprehensive as to what the future might hold for this community. Time will tell-- One thing I'm sure of is that nothing will change the great friendships and connections that the board has forged, for me and many of us! And I'm sure the board will still be the fun and informative place its always been.
Pauline and Steve -- I'm kinda late to the congratulations posts, and can only reiterate what pretty much everyone else has said, but I think it's a good thing for you, because it obviously makes you both happy! It makes me think of a situation where, if you have a business and you find that one, completely right person, to help you run it. The one who manages it for you -- and you have complete trust and faith in them because that means you get to go do what you want, and to handle the parts you want, while knowing the rest of it is in good hands.
You've obviously found that "person" and I'm happy for you both! The whole community has grown so very much from back in 2001 into such a wonderful place. You know it has to be, because if you have to leave it for a little while and then when you come back it's as if you've returned *home* and everyone says "welcome home whatcha been doin' how's it goin' tell us everything!". I mean, really, how cool is that
Were it not for this little community, I don't think I would have ever had the courage to do what I did. You all saw me through it, encouraged me when I was lonely and afraid, and gave me a swift kick in the a** when I needed to be reminded of what I had dreamt of and desired.
What a delightful thing, Pauline and Steve! Hugely complimentary for you and all of your hard work over the past 5+ years! Did you ever dream that one day your very own travel site would become what it is today? I'm so proud of you both!
Of course, like the others who confess to a little twinge of unease, I also love this site and the people who I've come to regard as family and friends...so there's a small bit of 'uh-oh!' in my tummy, hoping that we won't notice the difference. You will notice, though, because you'll get custody of your life back! You can read the trip reports, the restaurant reviews and post on the topics at your leisure now! You might even get to take off on the fly, grab a seat sale and disappear for a week or 6...
I know that I'd not have been brave enough to take my first trip to Europe a couple of years ago and my second one last fall without your creation! That, and a hundred other bits and pieces from this place have changed my life immeasurably, and I want to thank you from my heart for providing this wonderful place for me...
I slipped in unnoticed, and lurked in the shadows for ages, not daring to post a single word because I felt I had nothing to contribute at all. After months of to-ing and fro-ing, I screwed my courage to the sticking point and joined! I posted, even!
So, thank you and congratulations, Pauline and Steve...enjoy your success and soak up the gobs of spare time you'll both hopefully have, as the transition smooths out and begins to run seamlessly!
If Margaret Mead's definition of success is a good one, then Pauline and Steve, you have it, in spades...for with your creation of this site, you have contributed immeasurably to so many of out lives... "I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings." ~ Margaret Mead Brenda
Posts: 4840 | Location: Fox Creek, AB...home from Victoria, BC with memories of whale watching and delicious food, fresh seafood daily and the best creme brulee ever! | Registered: 26 October 2003
Wonderful, wonderful news. Well deserved reward for 5+ years of hard work.
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5315 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
Congratulations, Pauline and Steve! I hope the only difference we notice is more of your own writing. You've made such a personal world!
I was going to say I think the reason we feel a little nervous is the impersonality of the name Internet Brands, but then I substituted something cute for it and it was just as traumatic. Doru is right, though: it's up to all of us to keep your baby in the family now.
I know this is good for Pauline. I'm not sure it's good for the rest of us.
I can remember when I first was laid up with my broken ankle and having lots and lots of time on my hands trying to plan a trip for later that year, I came across many, many sites. I rejected every one of them because of the sniping at each other, the lack of respect for others' feelings, the absolute animosity shown between different people. It was, to put it in the words of one who has been there several times, like a bad marriage.
Then I found Slow Travel. It was like an oasis.
I hope the palm trees do not wither and that the ocean levels do not rise to engulf us.
Now that the initial surprise and irrational fear has subsided, I'd also like to sincerly congratulate Pauline and Steve on this new venture.
As others have said, Slow Travel has changed, enhanced, enriched my life, changed the way we travel, as well as the frequency, and given me the opportunity to make the most wonderful group of new friends! I can't imagine life without this wonderful community you created, Pauline.
Pauline, I am very happy for you, and hope this change allows much more time for travel, fun, GTGs, posting on the board, chats, articles, emails, and everything else you want to do!
To all: We will continue to be our wonderful, unique, curious, lovable, helpful, caring, funloving, traveling selves!
Dear Pauline, As a relatively new member and after reading all the other comments, I also say congrats and here's to hoping the way you envision Slow Travel's future is exactly how it goes. If the amount of time you(and Kim!) invested in helping me get launched on SlowTrav is any indication of how much time you have been spendning on running your baby, you deserve a break today(sorry, while you were on the cliche thing of yours, this one popped into my head!!)
Pauline and Steve, Wonderful news! Congratulations; we're so happy for you to have achieved such a reward for all that you've invested - the time, energy, frustrations, joys, sleepless nights. And now you get to continue to nurture what you love while freeing up more time for travel, to boot! What a deal! We're woo-hooing for you.
Pauline I think this was posted after bedtime here in Italy and so I just woke up to this news--"think I'll go back to bed" was my first response and I must admit, a little bit of that is still rolling around inside me. I remember the beginning so well and, like one's kids who grow up, its hard to not dwell on the memories.
I absolutely, totally and 100% know this is best for you and Steve as you deserve a life to call your own--not one that is controlled and owned by hundreds of other people. Now you can have dreams and follow them--ST was one of those dreams, wasn't it?
The time has come for change and I am so happy that you and Steve recognized the time--so often people close eyes and hearts to that message and then life passes by.
Enjoy whatever it is you will do and I wish you well as you now go through withdrawal pangs and times of wondering what to do with the new time.
You have been, are and will be a special friend with a special place in my heart. And--you had better come see us when you are here next summer!!!!!
Heartfelt congratulations to you, Pauline and Steve !
Thank you for all the hard work that you and the moderators have put into this lovely site. I am glad to hear that you will have more freedom and hope it all goes exactly as you wish.
Like Jane, we too woke up to find this big surprise announcement! Wow! As others have said, I'm a bit shocked and scared, but soooo excited and happy for Pauline and Steve.
Along with MariaV, Jane, and others, I too remember the beginnings of this message board and yes, I'm a bit nostalgic. Like MariaV, we could never have made this journey without the encouragement and support of the ST community. We've made so many friends along the way, and hopefully that's the one thing that won't change!
Congratulations Steve and Pauline for giving us all a place to visit, to chat, to rant, sometimes even to plan a trip! We look forward to running into in an airport someday, hopefully not as victims of a snowstorm!
Firstly, Congratulations. It would be churlish to say anything else. The hard work involved in the creation and maintenance of this site surely deserves some ultimate award.
In a way it is the natural progression of changes that occurred earlier when parts of the forum moved from free to "members only". I do not want to rehash those arguments or the discord that they caused. My initial feeling is that something will be lost through all this, but it was unfair that we should all enjoy a travel website at the cost of the founder (both in terms of financial and lifestyle).
Overall, becoming part of "Corporate internet" it will make it far easier for me not to renew my membership when it expires later this year.
TimW
Posts: 868 | Location: Hampshire, UK | Registered: 28 March 2005
I think it's eccelente that you'll now be able to concentrate on "the heart of the matter," and leave the admin to someone else...who's perfectly capable, I believe, only because you wouldn't have chosen them otherwise.
Congratulations Pauline! And thanks for all you have done.
I hope you made the BIG bucks!
It feels a little uncomfortable to me, right now, but the community really is US. If the city comes into your neighborhood and repaves the roads you are still your neighborhood. Well maybe that wasn't the best analogy but...
My first idea is that maybe IB would fund some of our big GTG in Savannah? Dinner on them?
Folks - Please do not stress. I've looked at internet brands and followed one of their other websites for a couple of years. There have been minimal changes at the most. Possibly more behind the scenes but for us "ordinary" (well really extra-ordinary) folks we will notice few changes.
The only warning I would have is DO NOT, repeat DO NOT, change the format of the boards. AOL did it and they died. Literally went from 1000 posts to 10 or fewer a month. And of course the loss of moderators.
So congrats to Pauline and Steve. It is hard to let go of "your baby" but at the same point in time you have SOOO earned it. Thanks for all your hard work over the years, for the gentle hand at the tiller. You have guided your ship into safe harbor now its PAAARRRRTTTTYYYYY!!!!
Congrats on the sale - it's a wonderful experience to find a passion - then an exciting time turning it into what one does for a living - then it becomes frustrating when it becomes all you do - glad your going to your passion again enjoy. Cheers Jax
Posts: 228 | Location: Rocklyn Australia | Registered: 18 June 2005
I was out yesterday for book group and look what I see when I wake up-wow!
Congratulations. I know this site (and the wonderful encouraging folks who meet here) has inspired me to pursue our dream of a year abroad. Hopefully now we'll have a chance to meet you because you'll have the time to do it too!
Good luck with everything. Hopefully the site will stay the same.....
Brenda
Posts: 469 | Location: suburb west of Boston | Registered: 27 May 2005
Congratulations to you Pauline, and everyone at Slowtrav.
I hope that you have built in a few months sabbatical in with the transfer deal. That way you can make a start on catching up on all those places you want to visit!.
Originally posted by Earline: I can remember when I first was laid up with my broken ankle and having lots and lots of time on my hands trying to plan a trip for later that year, I came across many, many sites. I rejected every one of them because of the sniping at each other, the lack of respect for others' feelings, the absolute animosity shown between different people. It was, to put it in the words of one who has been there several times, like a bad marriage.
Then I found Slow Travel. It was like an oasis.
Congratulations, Pauline and Steve.
I know a lot of thought, research and deliberation must have gone into making this change and I hope it brings positive results for both you and the site.
I, too, however, have similar thoughts as Earline. I've seen all the sniping, backbiting and rudeness that occurs on many other message boards and I hope that never happens here.
{ fixing quote }
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,
Posts: 880 | Location: New York City | Registered: 28 May 2003
I can not even imagine the work that goes into managing this board. Thank-you! I'm just happy that it is here for us. I know I spend way too much time here--it's like a good friend that you talk to everyday (or more).
Posts: 438 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: 02 December 2005
Wishing you and Steve the best, Pauline. You created a powerful, sweet community for all of us to find each other. You deserve big rewards for that and congratulations for that. It was no small thing. Your vision has made many people happier, healthier, wiser, and more......So I say Mazel Tov, Congratulations, Hats off...ENJOY this, take a trip to celebrate! Oh and please don't go to far. Buona fortuna, Cheryl
I wish you all of the trips that you dream about, the time to enjoy life at your leisure, and the energy to do all of the things you have been putting off due to work. It’s so hard to turn loose of a dream that you have built and nurtured to reality and I congratulate you for recognizing that it was time to do so.
Congratulations on having created such a wonderful site and nurturing the community within it.
Congratulations on having the wisdom to step away when the right time came. This is often such a difficult thing to do.
Congratulations on now having the time to travel!
I join others in admitting a rather selfish sense of unease, and sincerely hope that you will continue to maintain control over the all important 'front of the house'!
Sheena
Posts: 2442 | Location: West Vancouver, B.C. Canada | Registered: 28 February 2004
Topic Closed
I have to absorb this more. 
for a happy road in front of them. (OK, it's an Irish saying and I can't recall it correctly.)
. I know this will not change because we are a community of caring people; the infrastructure may change, but we are all still here.
