Business Travelers Feel Safe and Value Security Assurances.

NEW YORK -- American Express Business Travel E[acute accent]--Global Poll of More Than 1000 Business Travelers Unveils Expectations For an Increase in Travel, Coupled With Valued Security Assurances --

E[acute accent]- Majority of Business Travelers Want Their Company to Know Location at All Times -

E[acute accent]American Express Business Travel unveiled today its Global Business Traveler Survey of more than 1000 business travelers around the world, revealing that a large majority of business travelers expect to see an increase in business trips over the next year. The survey also found that while a majority of business travelers are comfortable with their personal safety and security while traveling, they valued security assurances. Survey results will be distributed in conjunction with the ACTE Global Conference in Vancouver, Canada, May 1-3, 2005. E[acute accent]"Business travelers worldwide clearly believe that their frequent travel will continue," said Marcella Shinder, Global Head of Marketing at American Express Business Travel. "However, this anticipated increase in travel appears to bring with it an upswing in the value for safety and security assurances. Solutions that help alleviate these travel concerns, such as, company traveler tracking, international travel specialist counselors, business travel insurance programs and expanded support for international travel necessities such as visa and passport requirements, can play an important role in helping to maintain the smooth flow of business travel worldwide."

E[acute accent]Business Travelers Continue Flying

E[acute accent]The American Express survey revealed that 86 percent of business travelers around the world expect to increase or maintain their number of business trips over the next year, led by nearly 69 percent of Chinese business travelers who expect to take more business trips next year. E[acute accent]By comparison 42 percent of Mexicans, 41 percent of Americans, 34 percent of Japanese and 33 percent of Australian business travelers are expecting increases in travel.

E[acute accent]Traveler Well-Being - A Constant Concern

E[acute accent]Security is still important, with 74 percent of global business travelers surveyed finding it important that their company know where they are at all times in case of emergency. E[acute accent]In addition, with growth in international travel comes an increase in the need for visa/passport support and traveler insurance. Forty-five percent of travelers said that they felt that online visa and passport support is very valuable. Both Chinese (65%) and French (63%) travelers rated visa/passport support as a priority. E[acute accent]"As the world's largest travel management company, which helps move more business travelers around the globe than any other organization, traveler safety and security is one of our biggest concerns," Shinder added. "By enabling companies to locate their travelers anywhere in the world at any time, offerings such as the American Express Global Security Suite can go a long way toward easing traveler worries while helping employers respond to the unexpected." Travelers are also finding personal travel insurance valuable. Specifically, 65 percent of business travelers around the world identified baggage loss insurance as the most valuable type of business travel insurance, followed by trip delay (61%) and trip cancellation/interruption insurances (61%), emergency medical evacuation/repatriation (57%), baggage delay (55%), air flight coverage for accidental death/injuries (52%) and emergency medical and dental expenses (48%). American Express offers solutions to address these business traveler safety concerns. Availability varies by market due to regulatory and other factors.

E[acute accent]About the American Express Global Business Traveler Survey

E[acute accent]Lightspeed Research conducted the survey of 1040 business travelers from ten countries on behalf of American Express Business Travel during March 2005. Business travelers were surveyed in each of the following countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Norway and the United States. Each respondent was required to have taken at least two business trips in the past 12 months with one trip including an air component and overnight stay. Survey results will be distributed at the ACTE Global Conference in Vancouver, Canada, May 1-3.

E[acute accent]About American Express Corporate Services 

E[acute accent]American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks, recording $18 billion in worldwide travel sales in 2004. More information on expense management tools from Corporate Services can be found at http://www.americanexpress.com/corporateservices. E[acute accent]The American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

E[acute accent]American Express acts solely as sales agent for travel suppliers and is not liable for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. CST# 1022318-10, TA# 002- Registered Iowa Travel Agency, TA# 149- Registered Ohio Travel Agency, NV# 2001-0126, ML#1192, Washington UBI# 600-469-694