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Welcome to the Summer 2006 Issue of the Witeck-Combs Communications Newsletter! In March’s inaugural issue, we shared the latest about our role helping to launch MTV Networks newest channel Logo and the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work, shared our survey findings about the holiday shopping behaviors of gays and lesbians, and introduced you to our newest staff members. Now that summer’s almost here, it’s time for another update on Witeck-Combs Communications, including a review of our latest market research findings and a glimpse of Bob Witeck and Wes Combs’ new book on GLBT marketing! The quarterly Witeck-Combs Communications Newsletter touches upon current news and insights relevant to your world and ours. This includes our latest market and opinion research highlights, client milestones, and noteworthy announcements about our staff and their accomplishments. We're proud of our mission and our valued clients, and we hope you'll find something in every newsletter that is applicable to your needs. |
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About Witeck-Combs Communications Witeck-Combs Communications provides strategic public relations and marketing communications services for corporate and nonprofit clients who believe, as we do, that protecting and enhancing their reputations is a key to their success.  Our work often is focused on social and market issues and how they impact our diverse clients: corporations, nonprofits, foundations and government agencies. Our unique specialties include the gay and lesbian consumer market; health, disability and social issues; and reaching the Washington, D.C., market. Whether you are looking to communicate with the media, customers, members of the public, or another unique audience, Witeck-Combs Communications will help you develop strategies and messages and implement marketing and communications plans to reach your goals. |
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MARKET RESEARCH INSIGHTS
April 10, 2006: When Making Hotel Reservations for Personal Travel, Gays and Lesbians More Likely than Heterosexuals to Book Their Accommodations OnlineGays and lesbians (79%) are more likely than heterosexuals (54%) to say they most often go online to book hotel accommodations for personal travel, according to a survey by Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs Communications. Gays and lesbians (16%) are also more likely than non-gays (4%) to cite a hotel’s fair treatment of guests like them as one of their three most important considerations when deciding at which hotel to stay for business purposes. >More May 22, 2006: Majority of All Adults Agree That Companies Should Have Freedom to Decide the Benefits Offered to Employees and Their Spouses and Partners, Not Federal or State Policy Designed to Ban Gay Marriage A majority of adults (61%) agree that a company should have the freedom to decide for itself the benefits it offers to its employees and their spouses or partners, according to a survey by Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs Communications. Large majorities of GLBT adults (91%) and heterosexuals (79%) also say it is extremely important, very important or important that their employer offers equal health insurance benefits to all employees, including GLBT employees. >More For more information about research findings, especially about the LGBT consumer market surveys that we conduct with our strategic partner Harris Interactive, click here. |
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CLIENT SNAPSHOTS
The Alliance for Taxpayer Access — Mobilizing smart science to meet America’s urgent health needs is a role we fully support as communicators. This year, Witeck-Combs Communications partnered again with the Alliance for Taxpayer Access to help the media and to educate policymakers to understand “open public access” to peer-reviewed science research articles that are funded by taxpayers. — Like most Americans, we were surprised to learn that although the National Institutes of Health spend billions to foster new medical studies – in fact, very, very little of this knowledge is available free and online to the rest of us. The Alliance wants to see that happen, and as a coalition of universities, educators, scientists and health advocates, they are advocating urgent policy reforms. They believe that open access is a win-win by leading to greater usage of research, while accelerating the discovery of more cures for serious illness and disability. More... The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center — The nation’s Crystal Meth epidemic is a deadly health crisis affecting the GLBT community among others. Recently, Witeck-Combs Communications was invited to apply our media relations savvy to join the fight against Crystal Meth on behalf of The Center in New York City, the second largest GLBT community center in the world. The Center’s campaign is built around the message “Silence=Meth,” a haunting reinterpretation of ACT UP’s famous “Silence=Death” campaign during the 1980s AIDS crisis. The Center’s “Silence=Meth” campaign is part of a larger effort to focus anti-Crystal Meth messaging not only towards those who use the drug, but also their friends and loved ones. More... |
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AA's RAINBOW TeAAm HONORED WITH IGLTA HALL OF FAME AWARD
During the recent International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association Convention, held in Washington, D.C., the original Rainbow TeAAm members Rick Cirillo, Robbin Burr and Michael Fricke were honored with the distinctive Hall of Fame award. Rick Cirillo founded the GLBT marketing & sales program in 1994.
This award represents the Rainbow TeAAm’s outstanding contribution to the LGBT worldwide travel community. Current Rainbow TeAAm members include Betty Young and George Carrancho, who are part of the Specialty Sales team headed up by Robert Hosey. IGLTA is one of the world’s leading travel trade associations committed to growing and enhancing its members gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking. Witeck-Combs Communications is deeply proud of our friends and partners at American Airlines, and especially the honor of serving as their GLBT agency of record for the past 12 years. Be sure to visit their dedicated site at www.aavacations.com/rainbow, too. |
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BUSINESS INSIDE OUT: A NEW BOOK BY BOB WITECK AND WES COMBS
We're very excited to give you an advance peek at a brand new book on the gay consumer market, Business Inside Out, co-authored by Bob Witeck and Wes Combs. The book arrives in September from Kaplan Publishing and pre-orders are now being taken online at Amazon.com.
We are eager to infuse nearly 14 years of experience into the core insights of Business Inside Out. While other books have focused on specific dimensions of the gay market - political concerns, social issues, and identity, among other issues - this is the first-ever resource to provide a real-world and seasoned approach to targeting this often-misunderstood population. We are especially proud that our friend, Allan Gilmour, former Vice Chairman of Ford Motor Company, wrote our book’s foreword, saying in part: "As you pick up this first-of-its-kind book, you will learn much about the newest trends and opportunities in this evolving market. Grounded in state-of-the-art research and a trusted, seasoned eye, Business Inside Out describes not only the emerging gay marketplace and workplace, but also offers down-to-earth tips and expert resources that guide companies and organizations to understand, act and communicate confidently in this refreshing, new arena." |
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WHAT'S NEW AT WITECK-COMBS COMMUNICATIONS
Alyssa Friedland Joins Witeck-Combs Communications as a Communications and Marketing StrategistAlyssa brings to Witeck-Combs Communications an understanding of strategic communications and messaging gained through her work in both the federal and non-profit sectors. She formerly held public relations positions at NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Alyssa is a Bay Area native and graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. 
John Butler Receives Outstanding Alumni of the Year AwardJohn Butler, Jr. recently received George Mason University's New Century College Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award. The award was presented at the annual George Mason University Alumni Association Celebration of Distinction. John received his BA in Integrative Studies from George Mason University and was presented the award for his professional development since graduation and direct use of skills learned through his degree program while at Witeck-Combs Communications and in the community. |
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