• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, November 5, 2008

The Travel Ad Network has tapped geo-contextual ad network Lat49 to give its advertisers the ability to offer geo-contextual targeted display ads across various mapping sites online. 

"We see this as a new performance product for our advertisers and a compelling revenue opportunity for our publishers that goes beyond the banner," said Cree Lawson, founder and CEO of the Travel Ad Network.

As users zoom and pan through Web maps, relevant ads will change to reflect their interest and intent, allowing advertisers to reach consumers on multiple levels, from branding to local.

"It is a great step toward extending our reach deeper into the travel market," Keith Ippel, president and chief operating officer of Lat49, said of the partnership. "Maps are integral to travel."

The Travel Ad Network presently reaches 25 million worldwide unique users through Web publishers, including BBC's Lonely Planet, Rand McNally, Maps.com and 200 other travel Web sites.

Travel Ad Network offers advertisers such as American Express, Visa, Apple, Best Western, and Hilton a variety of ways to target travelers--such as by destination, demographics, purchasing stage and location.

Vancouver-based Lat49 is an online ad network that is optimized for interactive maps. The Lat49 network of online map properties provides local and brand advertisers with an interactive medium for delivering geo-targeted and contextual display ads to a large, actively engaged user community.

Founded in 2003, the Travel Ad Network is privately held and is headquartered in New York with branch offices in the West, Midwest, and Southeast as well as the U.K. Investors include Rho Ventures, Village Ventures and individual investors.