New ‘Community & Co.’ to Provide Salon-Style Home Interiors Experience; Charles Hollis Jones Selects Showroom as Exclusive L.A. Retailer

Grand Opening Event Oct. 6 with Entra Magazine

Los Angeles, CA (August 2011) – The new Community & Co. bears its mission in its name. Founder and interior designer Jennifer Ridel believes that a more perfect community transpires from a group effort, and she plans to have her Melrose Ave. interiors showroom be an inviting ‘salon’ to all.  With a Grand Opening event on Thursday, October 6th, Community & Co. (8259 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046) is comprised of a collection of carefully curated new and vintage furniture pieces, with a mix of home accessories, select fabric lines, as well as art and events.

The Grand Opening event, by invitation, is in partnership with new stylish online Entra Magazine, whose team of print-media veterans brings the best in international design and architecture to the Web. Please contact Julie@dubroworks.com or rosette@dubroworks.com for invitation.

Ridel is the heart, soul and businesswoman behind this endeavor that focuses on creating a “community” space where art meets home. She draws people in to her sphere with her uplifting attitude. Infusing humor and fun into her serious passion for quality modern and elegant design has paid off. After meeting Charles Hollis Jones and having what Ridel describes as “jam session-like” conversations with him where ideas just flew, the pioneering American artist and furniture designer selected the entrepreneur’s showroom to be the sanctioned Los Angeles retailer for his new and vintage pieces. They are the cornerstone of Community & Co.’s floor. Hollis Jones crafted the award-winning Edison Lamp, is recognized by the Smithsonian for his groundbreaking use of acrylic and Lucite, and has supplied Frank Sinatra to President Barack Obama with custom pieces.

“Original handcrafted, heirloom quality furnishings, decorative objects and art—each of which has a story—are paramount to the eclectic showroom,” says Ridel. “A chair is not just a chair, it’s a chair with a past, a history, and a soul.”

Community & Co. also has an exclusive deal with noted Brooklyn, NY, based design studio Eskayel, which uses imagery from owner/designer Shanan Campanaro’s paintings as primary source material for fantastically patterned bespoke wall coverings, textiles, pillows, and ceramics, all sourced/made in the Northeastern U.S. The showroom is also the exclusive retail outlet for the new sleek and modern outdoor fireplaces, Modfire, created by designer-artist Brandon Williams and fabricated by steel artisans. Modfire was named ‘Best Furniture and Accessory Design’ at the 2011 Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles.

Two other lines offered will be Fenix and Foundation. The eclectic Fenix line of functional art pieces has a sculptural feel and is designed by owner Ridel, who has long admired the work of Gio Ponti, Antoni Gaudi, Tony Duquette and Marcel Wanders. Foundation is Community & Co.’s line of stylish upholstery staples, manufactured in Southern California. Plus a well-curated, globally-sourced selection of additional designers and product will be represented throughout the showroom on an ongoing basis.

Hollis Jones, Campanaro and Modfire owners Williams and Marty Young will be in attendance on Oct. 6th.

Reflecting this diverse crossroad where individual ideas, stories, culture and design meet, Community & Co. features a space dedicated to events that will range from art shows to book signings, surprise musical events and community gatherings. The goal of the space is an effortless atmosphere where knowledge of design and the arts will inspire and influence.

In the end, says Ridel, “It really is the ability to manipulate space and curate environments with design and the overall atmosphere that changes your mood immediately. It is my goal that each person feels that change when they walk in to the space, and then wants to transfer that to their home.”

Community & Co. also offers in-house design for residential, hospitality and commercial projects.

www.communityandco.com
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityandCo

Media Partner: www.entramagazine.com

Teddy Thompson…’nuf said

I admit I rarely go out anymore to see performers that begin playing at 11:45pm, but last night at the intimate venue Bardot was a true exception and I was well rewarded.  Introduced by Chris Douridas of KCRW, who apparently wrote an email back that simply said “Holy shit!” to Teddy Thompson upon hearing his latest album Bella, Teddy headed off into a tight 35 minute set of past and new songs including In My Arms, Looking for a Girl, and The One I Can’t Have.  But the song that actually silenced the chatty L.A. audience (or at least most of ’em) was Delilah…you could just hear the slow dissipation of conversation and clinking glasses as the song proceeded…magical.  He is a beautiful songwriter with a pied-piper voice, and all-around engaging performer.  @Teddy Thompson

Entt. Biz Leader Emilio Diez Barroso is New Chair for Global NonProf that Supplies Books, Libraries, Schools

NON-PROFIT ‘THE WORLD IS JUST A BOOK AWAY’ APPOINTS LEADING BUSINESSMAN EMILIO DIEZ BARROSO AS NEW CHAIR

TWIJABA WILL END INAUGURAL YEAR PROVIDING OVER 10,000 CHILDREN WITH BOOKS AND LIBRARIES

Los Angeles, CA, USA (November 2009) – Non-profit organization The World Is Just A Book Away (TWIJABA)—which supplies books, and builds libraries and schools for children in developing countries—is honored to announce Emilio Diez Barroso as its new Chairman.  Overseeing an impressive Board gathered over the organization’s successful inaugural year and a half by Founder James J. Owens, Diez Barroso’s impressive resume, business acumen and contacts make him a premiere choice to lead the next phase. Chairman and Founder of NALA Investments, LLC, Diez Barroso is recognized as one of the most powerful Latinos by Poder Magazine (2009) and The Hollywood Reporter (2007).

“It is an honor and pleasure to be involved with The World is Just a Book Away,” says Diez Barroso, who is also an avid reader. “I believe in the vision of its founder, James Owens, and what the organization stands for. This is an opportunity to leverage my resources and collaborate with a great group of people with the intention of bringing value through books to the lives of children.”

Diez Barroso’s company is a private investment holding company with operations across various industries including communications, transportation, energy, consumer products, real estate, IT infrastructure, media and entertainment. He has held senior level positions and sat on the board of most NALA owned businesses including most recently NALA Films, a production company that produces and finances feature films, television content, and new media.  Diez Barroso was raised in a highly successful business world:  his family created the two largest Spanish-language media companies in the world, Televisa (NYSE:TV) and Univision (NYSE:UVN),

He has been recognized with multiple awards in Latin America and currently sits on the board of directors of Summit Entertainment, a worldwide theatrical motion picture production and distribution studio; of MLA Partner Schools, a non-profit organization working to improve schools and empower neighborhoods in some of the most disenfranchised communities in Los Angeles; and Affinity Mobile, LLC, a telecommunications solutions provider, to name a few.

The continued mission of The World Is Just A Book Away (www.JustABookAway.com) is to bring hope—in the form of books, libraries, and schools—to thousands of children in developing countries. The program was launched in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, site of the mudflow disaster that displaced more than 60,000 people and destroyed many schools.  By the end of 2009, TWIJABA’s first year: 10,000-plus children will have access to books, 20,000-plus books will be provided, 22 school libraries will be built, and one Mobile library will serve an additional 28 schools.

Diez Barroso, who reads two to four books each month and calls The Alchemist “one of the most impactful books for me”, is looking forward to picking up on Owens’ momentum and accomplishments. “I want to have a positive impact in everything we do, from our internal meetings to our outreach to the communities we touch. I want to help grow the organization into a self-sustained entity with a qualified team executing on every front and secure stable funding sources that allow us to implement long term strategies.”

TWIJABA has attracted a strong and varied list of supporters across business, entertainment and academia. Advisory Board members include Jenny Ming, former President of Old Navy and one of Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in American Business”; Jim Ellis, Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business; and Tim Monich, highly-respected dialect coach of Hollywood.  Prominent non-Board supporters include Queen Noor Al-Hussein, Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Lois and Buzz Aldrin, Shirin Ebadi (2003 Nobel Peace Prize), Yo-Yo Ma, Muhammad Yunus, and the late Natasha Richardson.

The non-profit also enjoys the enthusiastic support of students and young professionals, dispelling the idea that being on a Board is restricted to the over 40 age group.  TWIJABA’s Board has members in their 30s, and Owens created the “Ambassadors” program as a stepping stone for the younger participants.

With Diez Barroso taking on the day-to-day Chairmanship, Owens is able to focus on the overriding mission of TWIJABA and attend significant events where he is invited to participate, and spread the word about his organization. The first weekend in November, he will attend “Festival of Thinkers” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which brings thinkers together from across the world to share ideas, foster thinking, and inspire college-age men and women in the region.  In March, he attended Education Without Borders 2009 Conference in Dubai, UAE, as a Distinguished Guest and Mentor. Owens, who is assistant professor of clinical management communication at the USC Marshall School of Business Center for Management Communication, is also focused on the completion of his book featuring submissions from more than 70 of the world’s most prominent people about their love of reading and books that inspired them.  He plans to donate all the profits from the future book sales to non-profits, including TWIJABA.

###

Travelex Continues Support of ‘NT Live’ Pilot Season; No. of U.S. Theaters Hosting Broadcast Doubles

TRAVELEX BRANDS SELF THROUGH INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT OF ‘NT LIVE’, SUCCESSFUL LIVE SATELLITE DELIVERY OF NATIONAL THEATRE

OCTOBER 1^st ‘NT LIVE’ PREMIERE OF SHAKESPEARE’S “ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL” EXPANDS REACH THROUGH DOUBLE THE U.S. MARKETS

WHAT: Travelex, a leader in international payments and foreign currency exchange, for global travel and business, is the international supporter of the National Theatre’s (UK) bold pilot season foray into satellite transmission of their live stage performances filmed in high definition, called “NT Live”.  Having successfully premiered in June, delivering the broadcast of Phèdre to 50,000 people worldwide with rave reviews, NT Live brings William Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That Ends Well” to audiences on October 1^st.  Due to the highly positive response to this unique experience from the public and media—“remarkable” and “stunning”—this next performance will be shown in at least double the number of U.S. markets.

Travelex’s consistent, key support of the arts—providing value and service—through emerging opportunities and technologies, strongly aligns with Travelex’s business mission to consistently pursue new methods in easing transactions for consumers or business-to-business.

The broadcast is of the highly acclaimed production of All’s Well That Ends Well directed by Marianne Elliott, written by William Shakespeare. While the first broadcast outing, Phedre, was a success, the process is still experimental, with every play having its unique challenges, such as a different theater setting (the National’s largest, the Olivier, with open stage and fan-shaped auditorium), new cast, and in this case, how will Shakespeare transmit.

Travelex serves over 30 million customers every year.  In the Americas, TRAVELEX is the largest non-bank foreign exchange specialist, with trading floors in New York City and Toronto, serving over 6,000 commercial customers.  The three divisions:

• Global Business Payments features GlobalPay’s Payee Manager, the first vendor management system that offers the combined advantage of an electronic payment enrollment system, vendor management tool and payment platform in one simple web-based application.

• Retail Services—available at retail outlets and shopping malls, in airports and online—address key ongoing challenges encountered by travelers worldwide.  Travelex’s Cash Passport™ gives a new twist on the pre-paid currency card.  Other programs are Currency Return Guarantee and Rate Watch.

• Outsourcing Group provides financial institutions and travel agencies with a myriad of product offerings, including the Cash Passport™, CashPax™-prepackaged banknotes, drafts and wires.

The upcoming “NT Live” season includes “Nation” based on a novel by Terry Pratchett and adapted by Mark Ravenhill (Jan. 30, 2010), and Alan Bennett’s new play “The Habit of Art” (April 22, 2010).

WHY or  REACTION TO NT LIVE:

“The National Theatre made history last night.” – Guardian

“Thank you so much!! We live on a small island in Maine and saw your production of Phèdre last night – HD live in Damariscotta, Maine. Feels like the world has just opened up to us!… We will reserve tickets for all your HD productions!”

“I am a senior on a fixed income in Toronto, Canada and no longer able to afford to attend the

local theaters I used to. HD broadcasts are a godsend for me, and others like me. I saw

Phèdre last night in one of the local Cineplex theatres…I look forward to

seeing more of your productions on HD. This one was superb!”

“The biggest limitation for the remote audience was not being able to convey one’s profound

appreciation to the cast and production team by applauding at the end.”

“Never in my life have I seen a stage show been shot so professionally.”

WHEN & For a complete list of U.S. dates, times & locations, please check:

WHERE:                       www.ntlive.com, click on “Venues & Booking”

Many broadcasts occur on Oct. 1^st on screens across the United States; however some markets will be time-delayed, based on availability.

TICKETS:

Ticket prices vary by venue.  The average ticket price is $20.  Contact local venues for ticket information.

ABOUT TRAVELEX:

Global Business Payments: Travelex is a global foreign exchange specialist providing the payment and receipt of domestic and international funds for businesses of all sizes. For more than 30 years, Travelex has provided clients with sophisticated market knowledge, leading edge technologies and practical and innovative solutions tailored to individual requirements. The Travelex worldwide network handles one million beneficiaries on behalf of 38,000 businesses in 35 countries. For more information, visit www.travelexbusiness.com/na.

Retail: Travelex is the world’s largest foreign exchange specialist with over 700 retail branches in more than 20 countries, at key airport, seaport, rail and tourist locations. Over 40% of travelers – 1.7 billion passengers a year – pass through airports where Travelex operates including the major gateways at Amsterdam, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Rome, Sydney & Tokyo. Every hour, Travelex provides foreign currency to more than 2,000 customers.

Outsourcing: Travelex is the world’s foreign exchange, business payments specialist and leading provider of travel insurance, operating through subsidiaries and branches in these regions: the Americas, United Kingdom; Europe, Asia Pacific; and Middle East and Africa (EMEA). As one of the world’s leading providers of outsourced travel money to banks, travel agencies and other retailers it provides products including its prepaid currency card to over three million channel customers annually. Through its world-leading automation Travelex offers consumers a full range of delivery channel options including telephone and Web-based ordering. For more information about Travelex or Cash Passport visit www.cashpassport.com and/or www.travelex.com/outsourcing.

##

Travelex: B2B Proactive, Efficient Travel Offerings Highlighted Through Bold Arts Sponsorship

TRAVELEX’S BOLD ECONOMIC STEP IN PAIRING WITH BOLD TECH TO BRING UK’S NATIONAL THEATRE TO THE MASSES REFLECTS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO FUTURE

INT’L. PAYMENT CO. TAKES THEATRICAL SPONSORSHIP GLOBAL, ARTS/TECH CONNECTION UPS BRAND RECOGNITION IN U.S. MARKET

Louisville, KY  (August 2009) – In harsh economic times, TRAVELEX, the leader in international foreign exchange and payments for global business, took a bold step and supported use of a bold new technology to increase the company’s name recognition globally, and especially in the United States.  TRAVELEX told its longtime arts partner, the UK’s prestigious National Theatre, that it would help deliver its theatrical performances onto screens in movie theaters and performing arts venues worldwide this 2009-10 season via satellite. This has successfully been done for New York’s Metropolitan Opera the last few years.  But it is the first time live theatre has experimented with delivery to the mass audience, and is sure to be a predictor of the future. The first play of the season, PHÈDRE starring the great Helen Mirren, was seen on June 25^th by 28,000 people worldwide, and with additional screenings, audiences reached close to 49,000 across 19 countries.  The next play is “All’s Well That Ends Well” with an October 1^st initial live broadcast.

Lloyd Dorfman, Chairman of Travelex, says: “NT Live is a major innovation in theater.  We’re enormously proud to be part of it – the result of a seven-year partnership with the National Theatre, one of the world’s most respected theaters.  Day-to-day, Travelex is committed to helping connect people and businesses across the globe.  We really hope that this initiative makes world class theater accessible on a truly worldwide scale.”

The idea of using emerging technologies to innovate, providing value and service, strongly resonates with TRAVELEX’s mission to consistently pursue cutting-edge methods in easing foreign exchange transactions. This mindset has driven TRAVELEX’s Outsourcing Group to deliver foreign currency solutions to thousands of financial institution and travel agency customers every year.  In the Americas. TRAVELEX is the largest non-bank foreign exchange specialist, with trading floors in New York City and Toronto, serving over 6,000 commercial customers.

TRAVELEX Outsourcing provides financial institutions and travel agencies with a myriad of product offerings including:

• The Cash Passport™ prepaid MasterCard® and the Visa TravelMoney card
• Foreign Currency banknotes
• CashPax™-prepackaged banknotes perfect for tips and incidental spend upon arrival in a foreign country
• Drafts and Wires

This same type of support created TRAVELEX’s arts sponsorship initiative of a £10 ticket for the National Theatre, which began in 2003 and has since helped hundreds of thousands of British enjoy theater-going, making the theater affordable for the everyman/woman. The idea of the low-priced ticket has naturally progressed into their commitment to NT Live, reemphasizing their brand values of leadership, forward-thinking, value, and service to everyone.  TRAVELEX strongly believes in consistent, key support of the high arts through emerging technologies and opportunities, especially in a down market, when people need their spirits lifted most.

The pilot season of NT Live will next feature “All’s Well That Ends Well” (Oct. 1). “Nation” (Jan. 30, 2010), and “The Habit of Art” (April 22, 2010).  The average ticket price is $20, varying by venue.

ABOUT TRAVELEX:

Travelex is the world’s foreign exchange, business payments specialist and leading provider of travel insurance, operating through subsidiaries and branches in these regions: the Americas, United Kingdom; Europe, Asia Pacific; and Middle East and Africa (EMEA). As one of the world’s leading providers of outsourced travel money to banks, travel agencies and other retailers it provides products including its prepaid currency card to over three million channel customers annually. Through its world-leading automation Travelex offers consumers a full range of delivery channel options including telephone and Web-based ordering. For more information about Travelex or Cash Passport visit www.cashpassport.com and/or www.travelex.com/outsourcing.

Barclay Butera Chosen by Renowned Artist Ray Turner for Select Group in Portraiture Series

TOURING “POPULATION” EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN SANTA FE, TRAVELS TO  PASADENA, SAN FRANCISCO AND EUROPE

LOS ANGELES, CA (August, 2009) – National lifestyle designer Barclay Butera was selected a few months ago by artist and friend Ray Turner to be one of his portraiture subjects for the artist’s “Population” show, which opens in Santa Fe, NM, on August 7^th at the Skotia Gallery.  The 12”x12” paintings portray the designer in Turner’s signature bold style.  Two paintings of Butera—Turner chose only a few subjects to capture twice–will be part of 125-150 portraits shown.  Skotia Gallery is “Population’s” first stop in a traveling installation that will subsequently be exhibited at the Pasadena Museum of California Art (Oct. 2009 – Jan. 2010), in San Francisco at the Toomey-Tourell Gallery in January 2010, then on to Beverly Hills and Europe.  The show will have an accompanying 12”x12” hardcover book, reflecting the exact size of each likeness, and with essays by Rick Gilberts, James Scarborough, and Roberta Carasso, PhD.

“In doing business with Barclay, we immediately became friends and I knew I wanted to include him in the series,” muses Turner.  “I find him to be one of the complex human beings that many of us are and that I seek out, and I painted toward the soul in him that I perceive…a snap shot that tells part of his story. I have painted a few people more than once out of interest in capturing a different facet of their personality.  Barclay is one of these, and I consider him both friend and subject.”

Painted on panel and glass, each portrait in the series evinces a slightly different approach by the artist, while inheriting the same topographical quality seen in the brooding, epic landscapes he is known for.  A prescient interpreter, he is able to capture his sitters during “privileged instants” with skill and intimacy, using impasto (a la German Fauves and Expressionists), and violent color and exaggerated features, which recall influences as Vincent Van Gogh and Francis Bacon.

“I am very honored that Ray asked me to be one of his subjects,” says Butera, CEO and President of Barclay Butera Inc.  “I’m a big fan of his, and often recommend his work to clients.  The layering of colors and strokes he delivers moves me and appeals to my own sense of depth in layering and texture.  I also love that there are two different portraits—one being more lighter and ‘real’ to my eyes, and the other more dark with exaggerated features.  There’s also a bit of a Warhol flavor to this exhibition concept, which I enjoy.”

ABOUT BARCLAY BUTERA

Barclay Butera, Inc. is based in Newport Beach, CA, and entails the Barclay Butera collection showrooms in Newport Beach and Los Angeles, CA, and Park City, UT.  Barclay Butera Home, Inc. products (www.barclaybuterahome.com) are distributed through over 300 showrooms, his own collection showrooms, and To the Trade nationwide. Butera designs and manufactures his bench made upholstery products in Los Angeles, CA.  The book Living In Style (Assouline, 2008) presents a collection of Butera’s work since 2003, divided into five lifestyle themes: Beach, City, Desert, Mountain, and Town & Country.  The designer’s first line of textiles and trims for Kravet Collections is available now, also presented through four of his lifestyle themes. Please visit www.barclaybutera.com/media for a full introduction.

ABOUT RAY TURNER

Born in California in 1958, Turner attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he ultimately taught.  Turner has progressively crafted a versatile and acclaimed body of work of growing scope and importance.  Turner is included in many publications including American Art Collector, Art Times, and Artweek magazine. Turner’s work is exhibited, in solo and group shows, in New York, California, and New Mexico in the United States, and Internationally in Berlin and Montreal.  (www.rayturnerart.com)

TRAVELEX is International Supporter of ‘NT Live’ (UK Natl Theatre)

TRAVELEX IS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTER OF ‘NT LIVE’, THE ROYAL NATIONAL THEATRE (UK) LIVE SATELLITE PROGRAM THAT DEBUTS THIS WEEK ACROSS THE U.S.

BEGINNING JUNE 25^th ‘NT LIVE’ INITIAL PROGRAM FEATURES HELEN MIRREN IN ‘PHEDRE’

WHAT:   TRAVELEX, the international foreign exchange and payments provider for both consumers and B2B, is the international sponsor this year for the UK’s Royal National Theatre foray into satellite transmission of their live stage performances, called “NT Live”.  Since 2003, TRAVELEX has sponsored the National Theatre’s £10 ticket.  This award-winning and critically-acclaimed initiative has helped over 1 million British enjoy theater-going, making the theatre affordable for the everyman. The initiative is aligned to the TRAVELEX business, sharing their brand values of innovation, value and service. The idea of the low-priced ticket has naturally progressed into their commitment to “NT Live”, a bold technological opportunity that will deliver live performances from the most respected theatre in the world, to the world. 

TRAVELEX strongly believes in consistent, key support of the high arts through emerging technologies and opportunities, even and especially in a down market, when people need their spirits lifted most.

TRAVELEX has made a name for itself by providing both commercial entities and consumers with an extensive list of products and services to meet all of their foreign exchange needs, while offering unparalleled service. In the Americas, TRAVELEX is the largest non-bank foreign exchange specialist, with trading floors in New York City and Toronto, serving over 6,000 commercial customers.

The pilot season of “NT Live”, the new initiative by the UK’s Royal National Theatre to broadcast live performances of plays onto cinema screens around the world will launch with a broadcast of Phèdre, by Jean Racine in a version by Ted Hughes starring Helen Mirren (The Queen) & Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia! film), directed by Nicholas Hytner.

The upcoming “NT Live” season includes “All’s Well That Ends Well” (Oct. 1). “Nation” (Jan. 30, 2010), and “The Habit of Art” (TBD).

WHEN &                       For a complete list of U.S. dates, times & locations, please check: 

WHERE:                       www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/47486/venues-amp-booking/united-states.html

Many broadcasts occur on June 25^th on screens across the United States; however some markets will be broadcast a week or two later, based on availability.   Screening locations include the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Director’s Guild Theatre in New York; the Mann Theatre in Hollywood, CA; the Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C.; the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago; the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis; and many more.

TICKETS:        

Ticket prices vary by venue.  The average ticket price is $20.  Contact local venues for ticket information.

 

ABOUT TRAVELEX:

Travelex is the world’s largest foreign exchange specialist, with offices in 35 countries, nearly 700 retail branches and 16,000 commercial customers. The company’s retail branches are located at key airport, seaport and rail locations, in addition to worldwide tourist and business centres. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s airline passengers, over 1.3 billion people, pass through airports at which Travelex’s business operates. This includes the major gateways at London, New York, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Sydney. Travelex operates two North American foreign exchange trading floors – located in New York City and Toronto.

***

The Group’s principal activities are organised into three divisions: Global Business Payments, Retail and Outsourcing.

Global Business Payments: 
Travelex is the world’s largest non-bank provider of commercial cross-border payment services. The business provides international payment services for commercial and personal customers, with products comprising multi-currency spot contracts, forward contracts and options. The Global Business Payments division was enhanced by merging Ruesch International, which was acquired during 2007 for $440m, with Travelex’s Commercial Foreign Exchange (CFX) division.

Retail: 
Travelex is the world’s largest retail foreign exchange specialist, with over 700 branded retail branches, principally in airports and tourist locations. The business sells banknotes and other foreign exchange and travel related products and services to individuals travelling for business and leisure purposes.

Outsourcing: 
The business provides outsourced travel money services by supplying the foreign currency needs of financial institutions and travel agencies, as well as by fulfilling the individual orders of their customers. Products and services include banknotes, wholesale banknote fulfillment, the distribution of insurance policies and the issuing of prepaid cards.

The Group operates through its subsidiaries and branches in four regions: the United Kingdom; Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEA); Americas and Asia Pacific.

 ###

FIRST ONLINE WILDLIFE TV SERIES “EXTINCTION SUCKS” PREMIERES

Original six-part production aims to help save endangered species with expert help and guidance from the WWF

Environmental programming on “Our Earth”, one of network’s five main channels, hopes to instigate change, empower viewer

NEW YORK / LONDON (April 2nd, 2009) – “Extinction Sucks”, the first ever wildlife TV series produced especially for online viewing, debuts April 3rd on Babelgum Web and Mobile. Commissioned by Babelgum from Off the Fence Productions, with active involvement from WWF, the fast-paced show follows the real life capers of young Australian conservationists Aleisha Caruso and Ashleigh Young who are determined to present animal-protection issues in a fresh style aimed at engaging and empowering viewers. On Babelgum Mobile the series will be available in twenty-four 6 min. mobisodes; on Babelgum.com in six half-hour webisodes, published one every week. Off the Fence will be overseeing its distribution across a number of global television platforms. (http://www.babelgum.com/extinction-sucks)

In each episode, Aleisha and Ashleigh are challenged to find innovative and fun-filled, fund-raising stunts to help save an individual animal or an endangered species. This might entail taking a piece of much-needed equipment to a remote and underfunded conservation project, reintroducing a creature to the wild or releasing a rescued animal. More MTV than BBC, their “take charge, take action” approach involves good-hearted, off-the-wall schemes. The girls introduce us to everyone involved along the way, finally landing face to face with the animals they love and want to protect.

The six webisodes address the following subjects and destinations (in order): Asian Elephant (Mudamulai, India); Sea Turtle (Mapoon, Australia); Indian Rhino (Chitwan, Nepal); Asiatic Black Bear (Cat Tien, Vietnam); Tasmanian Devil (Tasmania, Australia) and Hector’s Dolphins (Akaroa, New Zealand).

WWF experts offered information and input on species and locations. “WWF is delighted to be a partner in this high-quality, full-length online production that will no doubt reach and engage a new audience,” states Martin Atkin, Director, External & Media Relations, WWF International. “’Extinction Sucks’ demonstrates that you can present serious environmental and conservation issues and have a bit of fun at the same time.”

Valerio Zingarelli, CEO, Babelgum, comments: “Extinction Sucks” is a series that tries not only to speak out on an issue, but also to propose concrete solutions: what each of us can do to really change things. You can watch and forget. Or you can act upon the problem by doing simple things that can change the course of life in the long term. This is the most significant point made in our new original series and it will be a constant motif in our future productions”.

“Our Earth” GM & Publisher, Laurence Billiet comments: “We are delighted with the response to “Our Earth” so far, and keen to build on the momentum that last week’s “Downstream” premiere has created by now launching “Extinction Sucks”. The show totally embodies the spirit of our nature & conservation channel: raising awareness for some of the world’s most endangered species andle to do something about it. It also makes conservation accessible.”

The show’s already-strong online presence includes supporting podcasts, a dedicated website, Facebook pages and background material. Fans and volunteers from around the globe are encouraged to join in and help “Extinction Sucks” raise more funds for vital wildlife projects.

The embeddable trailer for the first episode of “Extinction Sucks” can be accessed at http://babelgumwidgetkit.blogspot.com/2009/03/extinction-sucks-asian-elephants-viral.html

Babelgum entered the U.S. market last week with a redesigned Flash-based website and a mobile video application which has already proved very popular. After launching, the Babelgum application has maintained a steady position among the top 10 iTunes’ free “Entertainment” applications and in the top 25 across all applications in the US.

About Babelgum
A free-to-use integrated mobile and Internet TV service, Babelgum combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet, and offers innovative professionally produced programming on-demand to a global audience. Babelgum recently launched an original mobile application in the United States, UK and Italy, that brings regionally tailored programming to smart phones – at present iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Nokia (N96, N95 and 6210) and G-Phones (1 and 2) – via 3G and WiFi.

Babelgum’s editorial focus is on music, comedy, film, urban culture, nature and the environment. The company has set up two online contests to nurture independent film and music talent: the Babelgum Online Film Festival, chaired by Spike Lee (now in its second year) and the Babelgum Music Video Awards, judged by acclaimed director Michel Gondry. Babelgum also launched a Digital Studio initiative producing new, exclusive and original content. Two productions have already been completed: Downstream, focusing on the controversy over the development of the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, and Extinction Sucks, a wildlife series on the subject of conservation and protection, with the active involvement of WWF.

Babelgum’s content partners include, amongst others, EMI, Sony BMG, the Associated Press, PBS, BBC, VBS, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Shine Limited, Cinetic Rights Management, Content Republic, IndieFlix, Gong Anime, The Workbook Project, Cinelan, IMG and Off the Fence, as well as the Seattle, Encounters, Rushes, From Here To Awesome and Renderyard Film festivals. Babelgum is an independent and privately held company with offices in the United States, UK, Ireland, France and Italy.
http://www.babelgum.com

For further information contact:

Julie Du Brow, dubroWORKS PR
+1 310 921 2463
julie@dubroworks.com

Andrea Giannotti, Babelgum Media Relations Director
+44 7825 892 640
andrea.giannotti@babelgum.com

Martin Atkin, Director, External & Media Relations, WWF International
+41 79698 2985
matkin@wwfint.org

Controversial “Downstream” Docu Premieres on Babelgum Web & Mobile

CONTROVERSIAL OIL SANDS DOCUMENTARY “DOWNSTREAM” BY OSCAR® NOMINATED DIRECTOR LESLIE IWERKS

PREMIERES ON BABELGUM WEB AND MOBILE

First ever cross-platform online premiere takes place as Internet TV service enters the US market. Controversial environmental topics to become the editorial focus of “Our Earth”, one of network’s five main channels

 

LOS ANGELES / LONDON (March 25, 2009) – Controversial environmental documentary “Downstream” by acclaimed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks is a world-wide exclusive feature on independent Web TV service Babelgum which enters the U.S. market this week with a tailored version of its mobile video application and a redesigned Flash-based website. The 2008 Oscar shortlisted film is hosted on “Our Earth”, Babelgum’s channel dedicated to Nature and the Environment.

By launching with “Downstream”, Babelgum, the film’s Academy Award® nominated director and Emmy-award winning producer Philip Alberstat are expecting the modern day David and Goliath story of “Big Oil” in Alberta, Canada, to draw a new mass audience via the Web. This will expand upon the dedicated film buffs and socially-conscious audiences who have already seen the documentary in screenings and film festivals worldwide

Mark Cranwell, Director of Content at Babelgum and one of the producers of the documentary, speaks of the exciting possibilities ahead, “’Downstream’ is our first original production that serves as an example for future programming and complements our library of licensed programs. It is also our first effort to demonstrate the initial and ongoing value of programs released first, and exclusively, on the internet whether it be by mobile or the pc or both. We have a powerful and moving film, together with short clips and a full length feature film also on the way. We hope our film will raise the awareness of what is happening in Northern Alberta.”

“This opportunity for ‘Downstream’ to reach a large online audience is very exciting. We are thrilled to be the first to fulfill Babelgum’s vision in creating quality conscious films for people to debate, share, and align with, socially and environmentally,” states Iwerks.  “‘Downstream’ is a story of humanity and the real environmental issues facing our planet. This story resonates on both sides of the U.S./Canadian border, and we should all heed the warning signs.”

With Canada (not Saudi Arabia) as the U.S.’s primary source of oil, the film relates how one courageous doctor fights for the lives of the aboriginal people residing downstream from the oil sands of Alberta, one of the most polluting and burgeoning oil operations in the world (over a million barrels of oil per day to the U.S.).  The doctor spots a surprising increase in the rate of a rare type of cancer among the townspeople of Ft. Chipewyan, while the citizens have seen an increased amount of wildlife deformities in the river and ecosystem over the last 10 years.

“Our Earth” GM & Publisher, Laurence Billiet comments: “The channel aims not only to bring awareness to some of the greatest issues facing the planet, but also to actively support solutions-oriented programs and become an instigator of change.” The channel wants not only to encourage sharing and discussion, but also action, as expressed through the “Get Involved” links listed with the respective programs.

On Friday, April 3^rd, Babelgum will launch the fun, highly-anticipated action-oriented “Extinction Sucks”. Produced in partnership with the World Wildlife Foundation and Off The Fence, it is the first-ever wildlife TV series commissioned especially for on-line viewing.

Babelgum’s goal is to act as an international ‘social glue’, bringing a wide range of content and inspiration to a global audience – like a modern-day Tower of Babel. The bubble logo is a visual pun on the company name, but also reflects Babelgum’s commitment to a green, global future.

“Downstream” and “Extinction Sucks” embeddable trailers can be accessed at http://babelgumwidgetkit.blogspot.com.

The new, free-to-use mobile application is available for download on iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Since Friday’s launch, Babelgum is already ranked #4 in iTunes’ free “Entertainment” applications and #19 across all applications.

About Babelgum

A free-to-use integrated mobile and Internet TV service, Babelgum combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet, and offers innovative professionally produced programming on-demand to a global audience. Babelgum recently launched an original mobile application in the United States, UK and Italy, that brings regionally tailored programming to smart phones – at present iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Nokia (N96, N95 and 6210) and G-Phones (1 and 2) – via 3G and WiFi.

Babelgum’s editorial focus is on music, comedy, film, urban culture, nature and the environment. The company has set up two online contests to nurture independent film and music talent: the Babelgum Online Film Festival, chaired by Spike Lee (now in its second year) and the Babelgum Music Video Awards, judged by acclaimed director Michel Gondry. Babelgum also launched a Digital Studio initiative producing new, exclusive and original content. Two productions have already been completed: Downstream, focusing on the controversy over the development of the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, and Extinction Sucks, a wildlife series on the subject of conservation and protection, with the active involvement of WWF.

Babelgum’s content partners include, amongst others, EMI, Sony BMG, the Associated Press, PBS, BBC, VBS, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Shine Limited, Cinetic Rights Management, Content Republic, IndieFlix, Gong Anime, The Workbook Project, Cinelan, IMG and Off the Fence, as well as the Seattle, Encounters, Rushes, From Here To Awesome and Renderyard Film festivals. Babelgum is an independent and privately held company with offices in the United States, UK, Ireland, France and Italy.

www.babelgum.com

 

For further information contact:

Julie Du Brow, dubroWORKS PR , +1 310 821 2463, julie@dubroworks.com

Andrea Giannotti, Babelgum Media Relations Director, +44 7825 892 640,  andrea.giannotti@babelgum.com