America's Vacation Center / American Express accomplishes industry first - booking a cruise from 30,000 feet

SAN DIEGO — May 5, 2006 — America's Vacation Center / American Express (AVC) continued to break new ground last week, when agency co-president Brad Anderson booked a Royal Caribbean cruise while on a commercial flight.

Using America's Vacation Center's exclusive Agent Power(TM) software and the satellite Internet connection on the Lufthansa 747 airplane, Anderson successfully booked a deluxe balcony cabin aboard the Freedom of the Seas.

"Our software covers everything from availability and booking to customer relationship management and commission tracking. It's the ultimate testament to AVC agents' freedom," said Anderson. "We've had a number of agents make bookings and speak with clients from cruise ship web lounges, so AVC is now able to book travel from land, sea, and air!"

Anderson was on his way back to the United States from Norway, where he was one of 9 travel agents invited to join Royal Caribbean executives as they took delivery of the line's newest ship, Freedom of the Seas.

While at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet, and somewhere over Greenland, Anderson used his laptop to access AVC's live inventory of cruise availability and book the cabin. Among the options Anderson had at his fingertips were the ability to select dining, change bed configurations, add insurance, and make a deposit.

Imagine being able to earn commission while aboard a cruise or while flying at 30,000 feet," said Anderson. "AVC agents have that kind of freedom — the freedom to work wherever, whenever, earning the highest commissions in the industry!"

America's Vacation Center is familiar with setting the pace for travel agencies. As one of the most successful travel agencies in the American Express Representative Network, America's Vacation Center was a pioneer in the host agency business, being the first agency to provide home-based independent contractors with Live Leads(TM) — live, incoming cruise and vacation requests sent directly to agents over the phone and Internet. America's Vacation Center was also recently named the recipient of the American Express Travel Representative Excellence award for 2005 and has been inducted into the American Express Travel Worldwide Hall of Fame, an honor given to only one agency a year.

Travel agents interested in learning how they can get access to Agent Power and the ability to book travel from home, while at sea, or in the air should call 866-520-2133 or visit www.JoinAVC.com. Customers interested in booking their next trip with America's Vacation Center should call 800-646-4319 or visit www.AmericasVacationCenter.com.

PR contact:
Evan Rutledge
760-233-7630 ext. 267

About America’s Vacation Center
With more than 40 years of experience and a half-million customers served, America’s Vacation Center® / American Express (www.AmericasVacationCenter.com) is one of the top travel agencies in the American Express Travel Service Representative Network. America’s Vacation Center is a leading seller of cruises and vacation packages from leading suppliers such as Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises, Classic Vacations, and more. With hundreds of independent contractors, America’s Vacation Center is America’s Leading Host Agency™ (www.JoinAVC.com), providing technology, support, and Live Leads(TM) to travel agents across North America.