The parent company of Club & Resort Business and the Chef to Chef magazine and conference has joined forces with the Cleveland, Ohio-based business-to-business media company that is an eight-time Inc. 5000 honoree.
Harbor Communications, a business-to-business (b2b) media company focused on the club and resort, foodservice, convenience store and petroleum industries, has merged with WTWH Media, LLC, an award-winning integrated b2b media company that has made the Inc. 5000 list eight times, starting in 2011.
Harbor, which represents the Club & Resort Business and Convenience Store Decisions brands and digital networks, also includes in-person events such as Chef to Chef, National Advisory Group (NAG), Young Executives Organization Conference, Convenience Directions Study Groups and Chain of the Year.
According to Scott McCafferty, Managing Partner of WTWH, “This alignment is an excellent opportunity and provides synergy for both organizations to expand brand footprints and leverage our industry-leading platforms and people.”
The deal provides C&RB and CSD with greater access to editorial resources and WTWH’s leading technology platform. The move comes at a time when new digital products and in-person opportunities represent a growing area of b2b media. The merger adds several fast-growing industry segments to WTWH’s portfolio of brands, which include Design World, MassDevice, Solar Power World and The Robot Report.
In addition to five print publications, WTWH Media LLC serves the design engineering, life sciences, robotics, electronics and renewable energy markets with more than 40 web sites, live and digital events, and custom digital services. More information about the company can be found at marketing.wtwhmedia.com.
“Harbor Communications has worked with WTWH for nearly five years and our professional relationship goes back much further,” said Tom McIntyre, Vice President/Group Publisher and co-founder of Harbor Communications. “Scott and his team share our values and I’m extremely excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead to be an even greater asset to our readers and supplier partners.”
Added Joe Barks, Editor of Club & Resort Business and also a co-founder of Harbor Communications: “We have worked hard to establish the Club & Resort Business and Chef to Chef brands as leading information sources in the club and resort industry, and look forward to how combining our two companies will help us provide even more timely and relevant content for our audiences.”
John Petersen, Publisher of Convenience Store Decisions, said: “We have known the principals of WTWH for 30 years and have tremendous respect for the organization they have built. We are beyond excited about this merger and the resources it will lend to the CSD brand—and ultimately what it will mean to our loyal customer community.”
Added John Lofstock, Vice President and Executive Director/Editor of Convenience Store Decisions and the National Advisory Group: “From an editorial as well as from a sales and strategy standpoint, this move will strengthen CSD’s reach in the industry. It will help us grow, not only print and online, but will solidify our in-person presence.”
The combined company will shortly be moving into state-of-the-art new headquarters in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
