Condé Nast splits sales duty

Condé Nast Traveler and its regional adsales representative, Asia Integrated Media (AIM), have parted ways after exactly a year.

The title has split its regional adsales representation, with Hong Kong-based China Media Solutions (CMS) for Greater China and Singapore-based Butcher & Partners for Southeast Asia, beginning with the April issue. AIM executive director Peter Jeffery said the split was made by mutual consent. "Condé Nast Traveler is a great magazine, but with the low commission base and commissions being cut, it became less and less profitable," Jeffery said. Despite the loss, AIM has extended its relationship with the US publishing giant, winning regional representation deals for men's title GQ and Bride on top of Gourmet, Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest, which it already has. CMS MD Jonathan Hardy said extensive development of China and Macau's travel product provided exciting growth opportunities for the title. "In China, the opportunities are there to pursue five-star hotels, which are rapidly expanding and the government tourist boards, with the major events due to happen in China. The scale of projects in Macau also means opportunities for US-based travel titles." Hardy said CMS and Butcher secured the business by working together informally to present an Asia solution .