New Travel Magazine Partners with Dwell

Afar devoted to ‘experiential travel’; Michela O’Connor Abrams on board.

By Dylan Stableford
02/06/2009

Launching a magazine is difficult; launching a magazine in the current economic climate, some would argue, is downright crazy.

But Afar, a new travel magazine and Web site devoted entirely to experiential travel, is launching with an assist from Dwell, the award-winning design and shelter title led by Michela O’Connor Abrams. Both titles are based in San Francisco.

The magazine was conceived by Greg Sullivan, an entrepreneur and former arcade game manufacturer, and business partner Joe Diaz, a former teacher.

The partnership with Dwell will include shared sales and ad marketing resources, as well as shared office space in both New York and San Francisco. Afar president and publisher John Sheehy has worked as consultant to Dwell and developed Dwell’s original launch plan. O’Connor Abrams will serve as Afar’s chairman on its board of advisors; Susan West, former executive editor of Smithsonian and co-founder of Health magazine, will serve as its editor-in-chief.

The bimonthly magazine is scheduled to launch in September with an initial rate base of 50,000, increasing to 100,000 in 2010. Afar will carry an annual subscription rate is $19.95 and $4.99 cover price.

Rounding out the magazine’s senior staff is Jane Palecek, founding art director of Health and former design director of Mother Jones, who will be Afar’s art director; and Laura Simkins, former consumer marketing director of Dwell, will be Afar’s audience marketing director.

RELATED LINKS

Why Would Anyone Launch a Print Magazine Today?

Post Comment / Discuss This Story - Info/Rules

AFAR is the best travel magazine I have seen in years

Submitted by Hollie McTiernan on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 18:29.

Not only are the photos gorgeous, the stories and information and thorough, and useful. AFAR is for the traveler who likes to break out of the norm, steer away from the tours, and explore the far reaching. I loved my premier issue and can't wait for the second one to arrive. AFAR is taking a risk to launch in a time when people are skimming money off of their budgets but for me, it's worth the escape on paper for $15 now during a time when I can't necessarily afford to purchase a $1500 plane ticket. I think there are probably a lot of people like me out there!