MILWAUKEE, May 17, 2002 - The Mark Travel Corporation, parent company to Funjet Vacations of Bayside, Wis., proposed a challenge to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman a challenge of making a public appearance in a University of Wisconsin Badger jersey if the Badgers win against the University of Nevada Rebels on Aug. 31 in Las Vegas. Bill La Macchia, Jr. of The Mark Travel Corporation presented this challenge to Mayor Goodman, who, before accepting, made sure he was in a good position by choosing the Rebels plus 14 points.

This friendly bet took place while La Macchia, Jr. was being honored with the key to the city of Las Vegas and having Thursday, May 9, declared "The Mark Travel Corporation Day" in Las Vegas in conjunction with National Tourism Week. La Macchia, Jr. also, in true Wisconsin spirit, presented the Mayor with a gift box of Wisconsin cheese and sausage.

"We have an amazing partnership with the city of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the hotels of Las Vegas have been extremely supportive, along with our talented employees. We have been able to be very innovative in offering a diversified, quality product backed by superior customer service," said La Macchia, Jr.

Funjet Vacations, the flagship vacation company of The Mark Travel Corporation, will be sending more than 7,500 Badger fans nationwide to Las Vegas for the game Aug. 31. In 1996, the last time the UW football team played the UNLV Rebels in Las Vegas, 30,000 Badger fans took the city by storm. That year Funjet Vacations serviced 15,000 of those fans.

The UW Marching Band is planning a repeat performance on Fremont Street Friday, Aug. 30. The city is already preparing for the 15,000-20,000 fans expected by adding staging, dueling bands and plenty of food and beverage vendors. The event, billed as BadgerFest, is expected to be bigger than Fremont Street's New Year's Eve celebration.

Game day kicks off with the National W Club tailgate party featuring the UW Marching Band, cheerleaders, music and Las Vegas style entertainers. Funjet Vacations is the travel partner with the UW Athletic Department and official vacation company of the National W Club. To purchase tickets or complete vacation packages, fans can call their local travel agent or visit www.funjet.com for more information.

The Mark Travel Corporation, celebrating 28 years, began selling group-inclusive tours to Las Vegas in the early 1970s. With the tremendous support of professional travel agents and investment in technology, today, with its 14 vacation companies, it brings more than a million travelers annually to Las Vegas.