WSJ to launch travel agency

Posted by Savita Sauvin on January 25, 2010 at 4:29 PM

The Wall Street Journal is diversifying its business, launching its very own travel agency, called WSJTravel on Thursday. When it launches, the agency will provide planned trips to 50 destinations, including Vietnam, Tuscany and California's wine country among others, Media Post reported.

"Just as you have come to rely on The Wall Street Journal's perspective of global events, many WSJ travel vacations will let you experience a destination from a completely new viewpoint," the announcement stated, according to Editor & Publisher. The WSJ travel agency promises trips around the world for "any range of budget" and destinations "inspired by articles' from the newspaper, according to a statement.

Since the WSJ was bought by News Corp. in 2007, many branded, high-end services to build consumer engagement and provide new revenue streams have been introduced, such as the launch of a mail-order wine club in partnership with Laithwaite's Wine Merchants, which was soon followed by an initiative to venture into travel book publishing with "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel," by Scott McCartney.

However, its not the only U.S. newspaper forging expansion.

USA Today launched a travel related free iPhone application called AutoPilot, which aims to help users stay informed on flight itineraries and weather, with GPS enabled tracking facilities to locate and search for travel related services like renting cars and hotels through a digital directory.

The New York Times organises an annual Travel Show that showcases general interest travel and smaller-trade focused conference for travel agents. This year, the NYT Travel show is scheduled to held from 26 to 28 February, Media Post reported.