A Jaunted Exclusive

Erik Torkells, the editor of Budget Travel, will leave his magazine on July 15, a tipster tells us:

ET is leaving BT... without a new project lined up. I bet he was asked to leave. The July issue was only like 85 pages.

Actually, the July/August issue has 92 pages. But that doesn't mean Torkells is sticking around. Says the man himself:

I am indeed leaving. It's been a great run, and BT has come farther than I'd ever hoped. But I like to leave a party when it's still fun, and I wanted to go out on top--in the wake of being a National Magazine Award finalist.

Related Stories:
· Erik Torkells coverage [Jaunted]
· Travel Media coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Duke Magazine]]]> pbb 2008-06-25T22:33:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/11/112451/336

American Airlines unleashed a new print campaign featuring retro styling and two men walking off a "Casablanca"-style airplane to what looks like a Hawaiian vacation. (Though as Queerty notes, what gay man would wear socks with loafers?)

In addition to AA's LGBT-specific website, the ad also mentions that the airline has been recognized for six consecutive years by the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. That basically means that it's a company that treats all of its employees equally regardless of orientation.

Meanwhile, the travel industry as a whole is making Budget Travel editor Erik Torkells proud with lots of companies scoring well on that HRC Index. (American is among the 20 he mentions.) But he won't be snapping up an Avis rental car or a Royal Caribbean cruise: They still have progress to make, Torkells says, and they won't be getting a dime of his cash until thing change.

Related Stories:
· American Airlines Flies First Gay Print Ads [GayWired.com]
· Travel Industry, I'm Proud of You [Budget Travel]
· LGBT Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-01-11T11:30:13-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/