YTB
International Expands to Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
Online
Travel Agency Continues Growth
WOOD
RIVER, IL, January 16, 2008
- YTB
International, Inc. (OTC PK: YTBLA)(“YTB”
or
the “Company”), a
leading
provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and
home-based independent representatives in the United States, announced today
that the Company is expanding its services into Canada, the Bahamas, and
Bermuda.
YTB
Bahamas opened on January 11, 2008, and YTB Canada and YTB Bermuda are scheduled
to open in early February, 2008. With YTB’s expansion, reps and Referring Travel
Affiliates (RTAs) living in these locations can sell travel through YTB
websites, and market online travel agencies to others in the U.S., Puerto Rico,
the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.
“We
are
pleased to take ‘international’ to a whole new level at YTB,” said J. Kim
Sorensen, President and CEO of YTB Travel Network. “We have done international
trips from day one, but now we can expand the reach of our team to cover all
of
North America and into the Caribbean. This means even better opportunities
for
our RTAs and reps, and solidifies YTB’s travel agency status.”
YTB’s
executive and legal teams worked diligently with the regulatory bodies in each
country to ensure that the Company meets or exceeds the standards in each
region. In addition, new RTAs are able to take advantage of the same extensive
training available to U.S.-based RTAs. YTB will also be holding onsite
certification training in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.
“This
is
a truly exciting time for YTB executives, RTAs, and consumers buying travel
through YTB. It also shows that people are embracing the idea of buying online
travel and taking advantage of fantastic trips, including YTB’s exclusive
package for the Beijing Olympics,” said Derek Avera, Vice President of
International Business Development at YTB. “The addition of Canada, Bermuda, and
the Bahamas represents the first step in YTB’s international expansion plan. We
look forward to adding even more countries to the YTB International family
over
the next year.”
YTB
International is now recognized as a bonded travel agency in Canada and will
add
three offices in Canada. The Company will also hold kick-off meetings in
Vancouver on February 9, 2008 and Toronto on February 16, 2008 to provide more
information about the Company and the opportunities.
About
YTB International
Recognized
as the 35th largest seller of travel in the U.S. in 2006 by Travel
Weekly,
YTB
International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel
agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto
Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It operates through three subsidiaries:
YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies,
Inc. YourTravelBiz.com division focuses on marketing online travel agencies
through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as 'Reps.'
YTB Travel Network division establishes and maintains travel vendor
relationships, books travel transactions of online travel agents (RTAs, now
numbering more than 135,000), collects travel commissions and pays sales
commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel
website. The REZconnect Technologies division builds online reservation systems
for suppliers within the travel industry. For more information, visit
.
Statements
about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings,
and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts
are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933,
Section
21E of the Securities Exchange of 1934, and as that term is defined in the
Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company's
actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequently occurring events or circumstances.
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Media
Contact:
Lauren
Barker
Levick
Strategic Communications for YTB International, Inc.
