Travel Channel Taps Amelie Tseng To Lead Communications Department As Vice President, Communications

Travel Channel, the preeminent lifestyle brand and travel category leader, has tapped Amelie Tseng to lead the Network's Communications Department as Vice President, Communications. In addition, Rick Gomes joins as Director, Communications. These key appointments follow on the heels of Travel Channel's plans in rolling out an aggressive programming and development slate for 2012 and will further augment the communications support of the Network's ambitious original programming mission. They will both be based at Travel Channel's New York office. The announcement was made today by Eleo Hensleigh, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Travel Channel.

"Adding these best-in-class communications experts solidifies our already strong and experienced team at Travel Channel. Amelie brings over 20 years of communications expertise and will help guide Travel Channel's messaging for both the linear channel as well as its digital extensions as the brand expands across media platforms," said Hensleigh. "Rick's smart and collaborative drive will strongly contribute to the support of the Network's near 100% original programming mission."

As Vice President of Communications, Tseng has oversight of Travel Channel's Communications department and will be responsible for developing the communications strategy for the Network and the implementation of the trade, business and consumer publicity plans for all of Travel Channel's tentpole programming. Under her purview, she will also help manage the Network's Talent Relations, which includes both existing and new talent being introduced to audiences in 2012 and beyond. Among the key talent currently featured on Travel Channel are Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, Adam Richman and Don Wildman. Tseng also oversees the development of all strategic planning for the communication of the brand's multiplatform initiatives across all of the Network's digital media brand extensions, including its partnerships with Tripology.com and Oyster.com to the launch of program specific apps.

As a specialist in multi-platform communications, Tseng most recently ran her own media relations consultancy for five years, providing strategic planning and oversight of communications priorities for multi-platform media companies including LIME, ION Television and Current TV. Previously, she held the position of Vice President, Public Relations at Bravo, where she lead the PR department and developed the communications strategy pegged to Bravo's rebrand as a pop culture network and developed the PR launch strategies for many of the Network's successful franchises including "Project Runway," "Top Chef" and "Real Housewives". Prior to Bravo, she led the U.S and International communications department at various networks including Trio Network and Nickelodeon International, respectively. Before that, Tseng worked at CBS Cable for over eight years, where she held various positions supporting the PR efforts of the Company's businesses in both the domestic and international marketplace including the pay-per-view network, Request TV; The Nashville Network; CMT: Country Music Television; CMT International; CBS Telenoticias; and Group W Sports Marketing. Tseng began her career on the agency side where she worked on entertainment accounts at Amy Alter Associates (CBS/Fox Home Video) and Bender, Goldman & Helper (USA Network's World Premiere Movies); and consumer product accounts at Manning, Selvage & Lee (Procter & Gamble; Ortho Pharmaceuticals). Tseng holds a B.A. from Vassar College and lives in Montclair, NJ. She reports to Hensleigh.

Also joining the Travel Channel Communications team is Rick Gomes as Director of Communications. Gomes is responsible for leveraging media to build Travel Channel's key programming and talent in key markets, a