Visa Is Named 'World's Leading Credit Card' For Fifth Consecutive Year At World Travel Awards
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (ots)
Travel And Tourism Industry Leaders Honored At Prestigious Annual Event
For the fifth consecutive year, the World Travel Awards, the prestigious awards ceremony that acknowledges significant achievements in all areas of the travel and tourism industry, has named Visa the "World's Leading Credit Card."
Visa was recognized by the travel community for its commitment to the traveller and the travel industry, and is considered by many as "the World's Best Way to Travel." Criteria used in evaluating companies and organizations include scope of distribution, convenience, and overall best services.
"We are delighted that Visa has once again had the distinction of being selected as the 'World's Leading Credit Card' by the World Travel Awards, for a fifth consecutive year," said Tom Shepard, executive vice president, Global Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorships, Visa International. "With Visa's acceptance at more than 29 million locations worldwide and with travel and entertainment programs linked to Visa cards around the world, our cardholders enjoy the convenience and confidence that Visa provides. It is a true honor to receive this accolade from one of the industry's most important awards programs."
The online voting took place throughout 2002 at www.worldtravelawards.com. This enabled over 500'000 frontline agents and 80'000 travel agencies worldwide the opportunity to let the world know who they think are the world's best in the Travel Industry, further enhancing the value of the World Travel Awards as the professional's choice.
"The World Travel Awards have become the event for the who's who of the global travel community," said Manon Han, Vice President, World Travel Awards. "We're extremely proud to play a role in both celebrating the past achievement and encouraging innovative product and services in the industry. The World Travel Awards is now being acknowledged as the best endorsement that any travel product could receive."
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards held its ninth-annual World Travel Awards Ceremony on Friday, 25 October 2002, at Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. The World Travel Awards honors leading travel-related organizations in worldwide and regional categories that range from airlines, hotels, beaches and cruise lines to credit cards, car rental companies and hotel reservation services.
Visa International is a strategic partner with many of the leading global corporations and merchants, creating retail and T&E promotions that deliver extraordinary values to Visa cardholders worldwide. Visa's extensive merchant relationships and marketing partnerships, as well as its unsurpassed acceptance around the world, are driving Visa's growth in the retail and T&E arenas.
Visa also has created an innovative, interactive, online travel portal, "Visa Destinations," which provides Visa cardholders with exclusive offers and values from a select group of global travel, retail and entertainment merchants.
Featuring a wide range of valuable offers and information, this user-friendly travel planning Website can be accessed at www.visadestinations.com. The site contains retail, travel and entertainment offers from more than 600 merchants in key destination markets or by designated category around the world.
For more information on the 2002 World Travel Awards or for a complete list of winners, visit www.WorldTravelAwards.com.
About Visa
Visa is the world's leading payment brand. Visa-branded cards generate more than US$2.3 trillion in annual volume and are accepted at more than 29 million physical locations around the world, including more than 800'000 ATMs. The Visa organization plays a pivotal role in developing innovative payment products and technologies to benefit its 21'000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce - the ability to conduct commerce anywhere, anytime, and any way. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com. ots Originaltext: Visa International Internet: www.newsaktuell.ch
Contact:
Michael T. Sherman
Visa International
Phone: +1/650/432'3923
mailto:sherman@visa.com
Anna Gouldman
World Travel Awards
Phone: +44/207/925'0000
mailto:anna.gouldman@worldtravelawards.com