As the idea of location based experiences continues to emerge as "a potential multi-billion dollar idea" there is more and more interest in how to do it right.  CNBC explores some of those ideas and spent some time with Gowalla CTO Scott Raymond discussing privacy. (VIDEO) I made my cameo appearance in this piece as well as I debuted my modeling, shopping, and checking in skills at Paul Frank in New York City.

The highlight of that experience was after we finished shooting the B-Roll footage of me rocking my pocket square and Gowalla check-in, another shopper walked up to me and asked in all seriousness, "Are you Paul Frank?"

I recent had the chance to speak at the NYU Stern School of Business as a part of the L2 Mobile Clinic for Luxury Brands about Gowalla and how brands are choosing to engage.  The Huffington Post has recently posted the video of my speech. (WATCH HERE) As more and more brands have expressed interest in working with Gowalla, the creative ideas and engagements we have had the chance to build have been just phenomenal.

Andy Ellwood has joined Marquis Jet as VP of sales for Dallas and North Texas. He was previously a VP for West Coast sales with luxury vacation home provider One Key.

(read full "People in Aviation" article HERE)

May 18th, 2009 - "Andy Ellwood has joined Marquis Jet as the region Vice President for Dallas and North Texas." (Full text can be found in the 5/15/2009 edition. Their online edition is for paid subscribers only.)

Clubs offer fresh take on upscale travel
(as seen in Park Cities People Newspaper - 8/1/2008)

.... The deposits vacation clubs require may be a barrier potential members can’t overcome, but one company has taken that component out of the equation. The One Key destination club works on a debit system. Members charge up their membership 15, 25, or 45 nights at time. The days never expire, and can be used at any time.

“What we’re asking our members to do is make a vacation decision. Other clubs are asking their members to make an investment decision to go on vacation,” said Andy Ellwood, One Key’s vice president of membership at the company’s Preston Center location.

While One Key doesn’t require a deposit, its per-night rate is significantly higher, sometimes double, what a member at a deposit-required club would pay.

Ellwood said one segment of the vacationing market that’s finding One Key’s plan useful is families that have a second home, but don’t want to always go there to vacation.

“They use us as a sort of Home 2.5,” he said.

Destination clubs, in all their various forms, are providing travelers opportunities to relax in exotic locations around the world, without the hassles that comes with world travel....

To read the full article click HERE