YTB International Partners with Shanghai Spring
International Travel Service for Exclusive 2008 Olympic Tour Packages
Alliance May Provide More Tours Than Any Other Travel Agencies
December 12, 2007: 04:56 PM EST
WOOD RIVER, Ill., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- YTB International, Inc. ("YTB" or the "Company"), a provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, today announced an exclusive partnership with Shanghai Spring International Travel Service to market and sell tour packages to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The packages will be available from YTB beginning on or before January 11, 2008.
In an effort to provide more tours to China for the 2008 Olympics than any other travel agency, YTB and Shanghai Spring International Travel Service, the largest privately owned travel agency in China, will offer exclusive 7 to 11 day tour packages and tickets for the Summer Olympics in August 2008. Through this strategic partnership, YTB's Referring Travel Agents (RTAs) are positioned to benefit from Shanghai Spring International Travel Service's dominant position within the Chinese market, and pass these savings on to their customers. YTB's customers will recognize value not only in terms of cost savings, but also in terms of the exclusive access to sold out events, attractions, and hotel accommodations.
"We are excited by our partnership agreement with Shanghai Spring International Travel Service, and welcome the challenge to become the largest tour provider to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Our RTAs have the resources needed to rise to this challenge, and we are confident that we will be able to provide our customers with the most professional service at the most competitive rates," stated J. Kim Sorensen, President and CEO of YTB Travel Network. "The Olympics remain the preeminent sporting event of our time, and serve as a major draw for travelers around the world to visit new destinations, and to enjoy live competitive sports. We look forward to providing our customers the opportunity to partake in history, as China holds its first Olympics."
The YTB and Shanghai Spring International Travel Service Tours will include round trip air to and from China via Los Angeles, Four Star accommodations including tips, baggage fees and taxes, daily meals, guided local tours, and admission from two to four Olympic events based on package and event preference. In addition, the YTB and Shanghai Spring International Travel Tours will also include safety insurance for visitors to China.
Shanghai Spring International Travel Service was founded in 1981 and started Spring Airlines in 2004, and currently operates eight aircraft traveling to 28 destinations in China and will be adding nine new airplanes to the fleet by 2009. The company is currently the only travel agency that owns and operates an airline in Asia.
"We chose YTB International because we wanted to work with the best Internet travel agency in the U.S. and one that would have access to thousands of potential customers," said Jenny Hu, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Spring Tours. "YTB's high standards and great reputation, combined with their innovative business model, made partnering with them an easy decision."
Shanghai Spring has successfully purchased event tickets more than six times the number of any other purchasing agent or travel provider worldwide. In addition, Shanghai Spring has also reserved more hotel accommodations than any other agency to date.
To get more information on YTB's Olympic packages, e-mail travelinquiries@ytb.com.
About YTB International
Recognized as the 35th largest seller of travel in the U.S. in 2006 by Travel Weekly, YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It operates through three subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies, Inc. YourTravelBiz.com division focuses on marketing online travel agencies through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as 'Reps.' YTB Travel Network division establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books travel transactions of online travel agents (RTAs, now numbering over 135,000), collects travel commissions and pays sales commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel website. The REZconnect Technologies division builds online reservation systems for suppliers within the travel industry. For more information, visit http://www.ytbi.com/investor.
About Shanghai Spring International Travel Service
Founded in 1981, Shanghai Spring International Travel Service has been engaged in diverse business activities, including travel, hotel, flight, conference & exhibition, sports & games, real estate, trade and transportation, etc. Spring International Travel Service is the first ICCA (International Conference & Congress Association) member in China. Spring International was appointed as the General Ticket Agency of 2004 F1 Shanghai Grand Prix of China. Persistent and concerted efforts by its more than 3,000 staff members (including tour guides) coupled with entrepreneurship have made it possible for Shanghai Spring International Travel Service to increase its asset value and sales revenue at an annual rate of 30% to 50% in the past years. Since 1994, Shanghai Spring International Travel Service has been doing so well in domestic tours that it has been commended as the No.1 travel agency in domestic tours in the country by China National Tourism Administration for 13 consecutive years. Shanghai Spring International Travel Service has established a network of branch offices in 33 major Chinese cities and 55 retail outlets in Shanghai and the surrounding areas, totally linked up by Internet. Seven overseas branch offices have started doing business in other countries around the world, with the U.S. being the most promising market with the announcement of YTB uniting as their exclusive U.S. partner.
Statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.
Media Contact:
Greg Wilson
Levick Strategic Communications for YTB International, Inc.
Phone: 202.973.1328
Mobile: 202.210.6201
Email: gwilson@levick.com
Investor Contact:
Garth Russell / Yemi Rose
KCSA Worldwide for YTB International, Inc.
Phone: 212.896.1250 / 212.896.1233
