Worth International Media Group

Company History

History

Principals

Mission Statement

Staff Directory

Resources

A brief history of Worth International Media Group:

1967: Recommend magazine debuts (all about Florida to the USA/Canadian travel agent market). The publication was created by Hal Herman to fulfill a need in the travel industry for destination and product information.

1969: Worth International adds two key publications promoting the state of Florida: Convention Resources Directory (now known as Florida Official Meeting Planners Guide) and International Travel Planner to Florida.

1970: Worth International is officially incorporated as the parent holding company with Hal Herman as its president.

1974: Laurel Herman joins Worth International’s editorial department.

1976: Worth International Custom Publishing takes off with the printing of the State of Florida’s official Bicentennial book, Born of the Sun.

1970s: Worth flourishes with more custom publishing projects such as the commemorative books for the opening of the Orlando International Airport, Orlando Convention Center and a project for The Miami Herald. Recommend Florida continues to grow under the direction of Laurel Herman, now appointed associate publisher of Recommend.

1983: Recommend magazine expands its editorial coverage to include the Caribbean, under the direction of Laurel Herman who is named publisher.

1985: Recommend magazine grows in popularity among travel agents and expands editorial coverage to include worldwide destinations. The magazine continues to be mailed to the North American travel agent community.

1990s-2000: This 10 year period has Worth International Custom Publishing expanding even further under the direction of Hal Herman. Products such as the Official Mexico Meeting Planners Guide, Ft. Lauderdale Meeting Planners Guide, Undiscovered Florida and a host of special guides for companies such as Walt Disney, Busch Entertainment, Universal Studios and the Kissimmee CVB are launched.

1991: Gary Herman joins Worth International as its chief technology advisor and launches the Worth Technology division, which today includes recommend.com, officialmeetings.com, and a host of special rewards and education programs.

2001: Hal Herman names Laurel Herman president and becomes chairman. Gary Herman is named executive vice president.

2002: Worth Custom publishing adds Bienvenidos to its portfolio. This Spanish-language full-color publication targeting Hispanics is inserted in key Spanish language newspapers across the country: El Diario La Prensa (New York), Hoy (New York), El Nuevo Hudson(New Jersey), El Nuevo Herald (Miami), El Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale), La Semana (Boston), El Exito(Chicago) and La Raza (Chicago).

2004: Worth Technology division launches Recommend Weekly, an e-bulletin sent to more than 25,000 opt-in travel agents and industry professionals, covering travel product and destination information and written by the editors of Recommend magazine. InsideTrack to Florida Meetings e-newsletter launches containing the latest meetings info on Florida.

2005: Worth Custom Publishing is given contract to publish Skylights, the official inflight magazine of Spirit Airlines. The magazine is being redesigned and revamped for launch with its May/June 2005 issue.

2007: Worth Custom Publishing expands the OMPG (Official Meeting Planners Guide) brand to include OMPG Golf, which offers planners practical tips for organizing golf meetings. Worth also publishes Celebrating Aruba, a special commemorative book released in honor of the opening of Paseo Herencia, Aruba’s premier themed shopping center. In October 2007, Worth also publishes Paseo, a custom lifestyle magazine designed to further the Paseo Herencia brand.

2008: Worth Custom Publishing further expands its OMPG (Official Meeting Planners Guide) brand with the debut of OMPG Incentives, a publication focused on the keys to organizing a memorable incentive trip. Worth also launches three new custom publications: Gaylord magazine, a lifestyle publication for Gaylord Hotels; National Harbor, which serves as a brand extension for a new destination in the Washington, D.C. area; and Broward Health, which offers expert health tips combined with pieces that showcase the cutting-edge resources offered by the Broward Health hospital system.