AmericanTours International & Air China Join in Historic Strategic Partnership.

BEIJING -- In a move described as the first of its kind between China's leading airline and a major American travel company, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in Beijing Tuesday (10) between Air China Limited and Los Angeles based AmericanTours International (ATI). The signing was executed by ATI'S Chairman/CEO Ms. Noel Irwin Hentschel and Air China's Madam Zhang Lan, Chairman Commercial Committee, for the airline. Witnesses to the signing were Los Angeles' Mayor Antonio Villagairosa and Air China's co-CEO Cai Jianjiang. Also representing Air China was Mr. Zhihang Chi, General Manager of Air China's LA based office.

Working closely with the US Embassy in Beijing, the Department of Commerce in Washington DC, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and major Chinese tour operators, Hentschel frequently travels to and within China for tourism, trade and visa issues as part of her shuttle diplomacy efforts while strengthening personal relationships with Chinese business associates and government officials. Hentschel is currently in China with Mayor Villagairosa, facilitating and participating as a principal in meetings relating to tourism opportunities and the issue of the Approved Destination Status (ADS) as a delegate of the City of Los Angeles Asia Trade Mission.

Hentschel has been in negotiations for several months with Air China to consummate this agreement between their two companies. This Strategic Partnership between ATI and Air China is a leading example of public-private partnership, which is Hentschel's focus in the China market.

"This cooperation represents a joining of forces for increased travel between America and China. ATI is a preferred strategic partner of the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) providing travel services for their 50 million members. ATI is in the unique position of being the only American owned travel company with the ability to provide both inbound and outbound travel for China," Hentschel stated. "Based on our experience and the spending habits of the Chinese visitor to the US we conservatively estimate the value of this MOU of Strategic Partnership to be more than one-half billion to be generated into the US economy over the next 4 years, based on the US receiving an Approved Destination Status (ADS) by China within that time. Statistics show on average over a 4 day period the Chinese spend $1,250 per day on shopping. This does not take into consideration the revenue generated to our hotels, restaurants and attractions. This is clearly a deliverable to the US economy and will help drive more job opportunities."

A prominent voice for public policy issues that affect the tourism industry, Noel Irwin Hentschel was recently reappointed by the Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and continues as Chair of the Strategic Alliance Committee for the Department of Commerce.

ATI is the nation's largest American owned, privately held, inbound tour operator serving nearly one million visitors annually from more than 70 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ATI has regional offices located in New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Honolulu, and Maui.

Based in Beijing, Air China is the largest carrier by available seat miles and the designated flag carrier of China. Air China operates a fleet of 200 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, serving 80 domestic cities and 36 international destinations in 22 countries and regions. Air China is the official airline partner of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the preferred carrier for Chinese national leaders traveling abroad and for foreign government leaders who visit China. Air China has branch companies such as Southwest in Zhejiang, Chongging, Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Guizhou, Tibet, Huanan and Shangahi.