For Immediate Release
Contact: Tammy Lee
VP Corporate Affairs
414-975-2515

At TRAMS/Tech U in Las Vegas:
La Macchia Outlines Commitment to Travel Agents Emphasizing, "Partnerships Take Two"

LAS VEGAS, April 21, 2004 - Speaking at the TRAMS/Technology University 2004 in Las Vegas, Bill La Macchia, Jr., chief operating officer for The Mark Travel Corporation, outlined his commitment to travel agents but stressed that "all partnerships require two active, engaged, accountable parties in order to be successful."

The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC), which is celebrating 30 years in the travel industry this year, is the cosponsor of the TRAMS/TechU which is themed, "Reinvent Yourself," - a challenge to agents to change the way they do business and embrace technology as a means of competing with the giant online retailers.

In a morning speech to agents and later in a press conference, La Macchia cited statistics about the growth of online bookings and the need to compete in this new channel.

The latest report from Forrester Research states that, in 2004, leisure bookers - online travelers who research and buy leisure travel online - will buy $53 billion worth of airline tickets, lodging, rental cars, vacation packages and tours, cruises, and Amtrak tickets on the Web. By 2009, U.S. online leisure travel spending will reach $110.5 billion.

La Macchia said, "Customers are researching and buying vacation products online and all of us, whether we are tour operators or travel agents, need be prepared to participate in the e-marketing world."

To help agents compete, La Macchia noted his family's companies, which include The Mark Travel Corporation and Trisept Solutions, have invested heavily in providing leading vacation products and technology tools for travel agents.

Trisept Solutions is the technology powerhouse behind VAX VacationAccess.com, a web-based booking portal for vacation packages that has more than 60,000 registered travel agents and nearly 25,000 registered agencies. Of these, 25% are non-ARC.

Over the past 12 months 30,650 agents - more than 50% of those registered -- have made active bookings on the system.

VAX combines the best of online booking technology with more than 20 leading vacation brands, giving agents both breadth of product and superior technology to service their clients.

TMTC has also provided agents with tools to compete directly with online retailers, with fully commissionable booking links such as GoFunjet.com, GoTransGlobal.com and SellUSV.com. These are offered free to travel agencies and allow the travel agent's customers to book online, 24/7, and give the agent full-commission for the sale and control of the customer's information.

La Macchia emphasized, "We dedicate the vast majority of our marketing resources to travel agents and invest heavily in new technology tools that help travel agents be more competitive."

He noted last year Expedia.com spent $130 million advertising to consumers. This year, Travelocity.com plans to spend $80 million in its consumer media campaign.

"In contrast, over the past year, The Mark Travel Corporation invested over $100 million in support of travel agents for commissions and marketing expenses. This year we expect to pay upwards of $100 million in commissions alone," said La Macchia. "Through words, actions, and investments, we continue to support the agency community but we all need to do more together to change with the times and continue our successes."

La Macchia challenged the agents to get more engaged in the ongoing debate about discounting, rebating and commissions, because they have such an important stake in the outcome.

"I challenge each and every agent to help define why and how we pay commissions," said La Macchia. "Are commissions simply finder's fees, a bounty for delivering customers, or a reward for providing a greater level of service and better experience for the customer than they could have found on their own? It's up to all of you to help define that because it's your future - and ours -- at stake here."

La Macchia also cited some financial challenges that continue to plague the industry including credit card charge-backs and bad checks, and asked agents to also help take responsibility for collecting from customers.

"The more time and resources we have to spend chasing after bad debt, the less we have to spend on investing in a better future for all of us - with better technology, more product offerings and more tools to compete. If you help us, we can continue to help you. Partnerships take two. With your help, we can succeed together," concluded La Macchia.

Founded in 1974, the Mark Travel Corporation is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs more than 1,700 individuals in 15 offices worldwide. The vacation companies of The Mark Travel Corporation include such well-known names as Adventure Tours USA, AeroMexico Vacations, ATA Vacations, Blue Sky Tours, Funjet Vacations, Mark International, MGM MIRAGE Vacations, Mountain Vacations, Showtime Tours, Southwest Airlines Vacations, TransGlobal Vacations, Travel Charter, United Vacations, US Airways Vacations and lasvegasandmore.com. TMTC is a member of USTOA and ASTATOPS.