Carlson Travel Group's Associate & Leisure company opens first travel agency in Russia.MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1997--Carlson Travel Group's Associate & Leisure Travel company has taken another bold expansion move with the announcement that it has opened its first travel agency in Moscow, with plans to open several more this year. Carlson's first office, located on Moscow's main shopping street, Tverskaya, opened May 21, under the new brand name Carlson Vacations. The Carlson Vacations brand will be used initially for new Carlson travel offices in the Russian Russian associated in some way with Russia. Russian blue a breed of cats with short, dense, silver-tipped blue-colored coat and vivid green eyes. and East European European emanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. markets. An additional seven Carlson Vacations offices will be added in the Russian capital by 1998. Expansion to St. Petersburg is scheduled for 1998 and other cities will follow. By the year 2000, Carlson intends to operate 20 to 30 Carlson Vacations agencies throughout Russia. Theses agencies will concentrate on selling air tickets, inclusive premium packages, cruises, car rentals, hotel arrangements, travel insurance, and provide visa assistance. The Carlson Vacations offices are operated by A.T. Mays, Carlson's leisure travel agency based in Scotland. A.T. Mays operates more than 1,000 offices in the U.K. "We are certain we will make a significant mark on the Russian holiday and travel business," said Michael Batt, president, Carlson Associate & Leisure Travel. "We believe Russia is a hugely untapped market and we want to take full advantage of its potential." Batt noted that Russia, with a population of nearly 150 million, only 3.5 million people traveled in 1996. The key destinations that Russians visit include the U.K., Germany, Cyprus, France, Asia, the Middle East and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Most working Russians have four weeks annual vacation, with two weeks in the summer, which, Batt said, is very similar to the U.K. package holiday business. The move into Russia is being co-ordinated by Jan Nordstrom, director, Development--Eastern Europe, Carlson Vacations. Nordstrom has moved from Carlson's head office in Minneapolis to Moscow to manage the project. In addition, three A.T. Mays employees have moved to Moscow to work full time in the new office. They are currently training 10 bi-lingual Russian staff. Carlson Associate & Leisure Group is in an aggressive growth mode, having finalized See finalization. the purchase of Florida-based Travel Agents International (T.A.I.) in May. With the T.A.I. acquisition, Carlson becomes the largest travel agency franchiser in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. with nearly 1,300 locations. Note to Editors: Carlson Travel Group's Associate & Leisure Travel company is headquartered in Minneapolis and is a wholly-owned division of Carlson Companies Carlson Companies (sometimes referred to as Carlson) is a privately held international corporation in the marketing, service, travel, and hospitality industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, as of 2005 Carlson Companies owned 5,300 travel , Inc. Carlson leisure and franchise brands include: Carlson Wagonlit Carlson Travel Network Carlson Travel Network can trace its origin back to a travel agency that was founded by Ward Forster in the United States in 1888 and named Ask Mr. Foster. Travel Associates; Carlson Travel Academies; Travel Agents International; A.T. Mays (U.K.); Neiman Marcus Neiman Marcus U.S. department-store chain. It was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1907 by Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband, A.L. Neiman. Travel Services; Carlson Vacations; and Carlson Destination Marketing Services. The Associate & Leisure Travel company is a sister company of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, one of the world leaders For a list of heads of state, see . World leaders is a MMORPG. The game involves creating a state, joining an alliance and going into war. It is mostly played by players from Israel, China, USA, Britain, Brazil and Saudi-Arabia. in business travel management. It is backed by a network of $13.3 billion in annual sales with more than 4,100 locations in more than 135 countries. Carlson Companies has played a pioneering role in the development of travel and tourism in Moscow and other parts of Russia. Carlson Associate & Leisure Group's sister division, Radisson Hotels Radisson Hotels & Resorts is a worldwide chain of 435 hotels, with a total of 102,000 guest rooms, in 61 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named for the 17th century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson. Worldwide, opened the first American-managed hotel in Moscow, Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel Moscow, in 1991. CONTACT: Barbara Hemberger 612/449-2267 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion