from Islands Publishing, Santa Barbara, California. World Publications will also own Islands' companion title, Islands Weddings & Honeymoons, along with the magazines' related Web sites.

They fit perfectly into our existing portfolio of magazines that serve readers' passions," says Snow. "In addition, they strengthen our position in the travel and leisure market." World publishes 15 other award-winning special-interest magazines, including Caribbean Travel & Life, Saveur, Garden Design, Sport Diver, Sport Fishing and Cruising World.

All editorial, sales and marketing staffs of Islands, Spa and Resorts & Great Hotels will remain at the current office in Santa Barbara. Back-office operations, including accounting and circulation, will be integrated into World's corporate operations in Winter Park, Florida. The deal was brokered by AdMedia partners.

At World, Dave Freygang will assume the new role of Group Publisher of the travel division, to include Islands, Islands Weddings & Honeymoons and Caribbean Travel & Life, adding to his present duties as Group Publisher of the water-sports titles. "We now have a stable of magazines and related Web sites that allows us to provide an even greater range of services to our clients," Freygang says. "The integrated packages that our sales team will now be able to offer can match or exceed those of anyone in the market."

Islands is published eight times a year with a circulation of 200,000. Spa, published six times a year, has a circulation of 85,000. Published annually, Resorts & Great Hotels distributes more than 340,000 copies, and the twice-a-year Islands Weddings & Honeymoons distributes 200,000 magazines.

Islands is a passport to the world's most extraordinary destinations. From the South Pacific to the Mediterranean, the magazine stands at the crossroads of romance and adventure. With award-winning writing and breathtaking photography, each issue takes readers around the world to familiar exotic locations such as Bora-Bora and Bali, as well as to remote island outposts known only to a few.

With Spa, readers discover the latest advances in self-care, beauty, healthy living and relaxation plus thousands of wonderful ways to be pampered at home. Each issue travels behind the doors of the most luxurious and private retreats for an insider's look at their amenities and features. The magazine offers practical advice on how to select and plan a spa vacation.

Headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, and with offices in New York and Newport, Rhode Island, World Publications is a leading producer of special-interest media and entertainment. Employing more than 275 people, World publishes 15 magazines: Caribbean Travel & Life, Saveur, Garden Design, Sport Diver, Sport Fishing, Cruising World, Sailing World, Power Cruising, Boating Life, WaterSki, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, Kiteboarding, Marlin, WindSurfing and Wake Boarding.