For Immediate Release
Contact: Holly Botsford
Public Relations Manager
414-934-1163

The Mark Travel Corporation Receives History-Making Honor With Keys to the City of Cancun

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 19, 2003 - For the first time in the history of Cancun, the Keys to the City were awarded to a tour operator - acknowledging the importance of increased tourism through high quality vacation services to the region's economy.

Mayor Juan Ignacio Garcia Zalvidea awarded the keys on Monday, Aug. 18 to The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC) in recognition of the company's efforts to help build tourism in Cancun and provide jobs to the people of the region.

Bill La Macchia, Jr., chief operating officer of The Mark Travel Corporation accepted the key on behalf of Milwaukee-based TMTC.

"This is a tremendous honor for The Mark Travel Corporation and for all of our employees," said La Macchia, Jr. "The Keys to the City recognize our long-standing partnership with Cancun and the dedication of the team at Mark Travel to make our customers' vacation dreams a reality."

La Macchia added, "We fully intend to build on this relationship and continue to market Cancun as one of the premier leisure destinations in the world. On behalf of our employees, suppliers and travel agents, we thank the city of Cancun not only for this award, but for countless years of working together to deliver the excellent end-to-end customer service that makes this achievement possible."

TMTC began offering Mexico vacations in 1979 under Funway Holidays International. Funjet Vacations, the flagship brand of TMTC, began charters to Mexico in 1987. Today, the following Mark Travel vacation companies offer vacations to Mexico: Adventure Tours, TransGlobal Vacations, AeroMexico Vacations, MexSeaSun and Funjet Vacations, US Airways Vacations and Town & Country Tours. These vacation companies, with Funjet Vacations carrying the majority of passengers, bring nearly one million passengers a year to Mexico.

"We have been fortunate to have such a personal and long lasting relationships with more than 270 hoteliers and value the support of our more than 375 contracted service representative who are outstanding ambassadors of our vacation brands in Mexico," said Claudio Zboznouits, director of Destination Experience for TMTC.

In addition to the scheduled air programs, land-only and blocked seats, TMTC vacation companies operate more than 3,000 charter flights into Mexico annually with the majority going into Cancun from more than 15 major U.S. cities.

TMTC's commitment to Mexico also extends beyond making Mexico a preferred destination for vacation travelers to include making the communities in Mexico a better place to live and raise a family. For example, TMTC's employees enthusiastically supported La Casita, a children's home in Cancun by collecting boxes of new school supplies, clothes, household items and toys, which were delivered in September 2002.