Golf in the Kingdom: itineraries for U.K. & Irish links a success.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1997--If British golfers are lining up for it, chances are American golfers will, too.

Crystal Holidays' new program for golf in Britain and Ireland is proving to be such a success that the company is expanding it, something that will add further appeal for those on the North American side of the pond.

"We have seen a significant increase in our bookings for the Premier Golf program," said Simon Box, product director for Crystal Holidays. "We originally started out with it as an extension of our Premier Britain product, but it has really taken hold, and we are busy rolling it out as a more complete and separate product."

Box says the program is the first to offer top golf courses across Britain and Ireland, something that not even British golfers had access to until now.

"What's interesting is that the success of the program has other golf clubs and courses inquiring about how to get into our brochure," said Box.

Crystal Holidays is rapidly becoming one of the United Kingdom's top travel companies. The company is Britain's largest packager of ski holidays, and it offers unique holidays at the finest hotels and cottages in Britain, Ireland, France and Italy. The company's relationship with many of the best properties throughout Europe has jump-started the golf program.

For American golfers, the names of these courses offered in the Premier Golf program are those which can usually only be dreamed of--St. Andrews, Gleneagles, Turnberry, the Kildare, the Belfry.

Crystal Holidays takes care of all the arrangements, including hotel and tee time scheduling. Crystal will also help you "hire" (rent) clubs or make arrangements for a "buggy" (electric golf cart) or a "trolley" (a pull cart).

For the North American golfer, the expertise of Crystal Holidays is a major benefit.

"We can custom-design an itinerary, make all the arrangements, and you are secure in knowing that everything is taken care of as you travel," said Box.

All of the accommodations in the golf program are four- and five-star hotels and they are located throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

Prices start as low as 55 U.K. pounds (about $90) per person for a Sunday night stay, breakfast, dinner and round of golf at the De Vere Blackpool and Herons Reach Golf Course.

Besides the famous courses like St. Andrews, there are a variety of picturesque courses which also feature castles and country houses. The Dalmahoy ($146 per person per night and one round of golf), near Edinburgh, is a regular European tour venue. The Murrayshall Country House ($103 hotel and golf), has magnificent oaks along the fairway and 200,000 tulips on the course. Just 25 miles north of London is Hanbury Manor ($239 hotel and golf), and features a course redesigned by Jack Nicklaus II. The Manor was originally built in 1890 and once was an abbey.

In Ireland, the Kilkea Castle ($176 hotel and golf), 40 miles outside of Dublin, is one of Ireland's finest castle hotels. Dromoland Castle Club ($151), north of Shannon, is one of the finest examples of baronial residence in Ireland and has an award-winning restaurant. Luttrellstown Castle is an imposing Gothic castle dating back to 1436. The entire castle sleeps 28 and can be booked for exclusive use. The golf course is set in 560 acres of parkland on the estate.

Box says the advantage of working with a British travel company when traveling in Great Britain and Ireland is that the company has close contacts with all aspects of your vacation.

"We live here, so we have first-hand knowledge of the properties and the itineraries that American companies can't match," he says.

American customers get the benefit of having a British company with the financial muscle and stability of a hometown company. Crystal Holidays is owned by Viad Corp, a major U.S. corporation with $2.3 billion in annual revenues (Viad's New York Stock Exchange symbol is VVI). More information on Viad can be found on its Web Site at www.viad.com.

For more information on Crystal Holidays, try its Web Site at http://www.crystalholidays.co.uk . The company can be phoned directly at 011-44-181-390-8513.

CONTACT: Viad Corp, Phoenix

Brad Parker, 602/207-1049

[e-mail]