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Excerpt from the Business Traveler Magazine online
Traveling Professionals Get Their Own Space
Published: February 7, 2008
Web sites like MySpace and Facebook may be hailed as networking goldmines, but what use is it to the business traveler if most of the users on these Web sites are preparing for their SATs or posting blogs about the latest party they’re planning? Enter SkyLounge (www.skylounge.com), the new Web site specifically created for the business traveler looking to network before, during and after trips. Built on the same principles as its youth-oriented predecessors, SkyLounge allows users to create personal profiles and make contacts through an online network. However, the average membership age is 35, and the majority of the members hold management positions, not parties. Another big differentiator is that there is no option to leave comments on people’s profiles, adding a more mature tone to the site and saving users from potential embarrassment. “Adding a comment to someone’s profile can seem like innocent fun, but it can have serious consequences,” said founder Marcel van Gemerden. “Banks, employers, business partners, etc. use this information on a daily basis. If they don’t like what they see, it could break the deal.” When making contacts through their online profile, users are able to see where in the world others are based and get tips from them regarding everything from local customs to restaurant recommendations. There is even the option to search for users based on their industry, a useful feature when making relevant business contacts on the road. Having a tool like this on hand certainly never hurt anyone in an unfamiliar city, especially when business is involved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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