FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VAX Contact: Robin Shea, Public Relations
414-934-1358 rshea@vaxvacationaccess.com

VAX VacationAccess announces one-of-a-kind online vacation expo to tout travel agents

- “Plan a Vacation Week” drives consumers to travel agents & VAX vacation offers -

MILWAUKEE, WI – Jan. 4, 2010 – VAX VacationAccess will present the first-ever virtual vacation event of its kind, called “National Plan a Vacation Week: A Travel Agent-Powered Extravaganza,” March 15-21, 2011. Unlike virtual trade shows that only showcase suppliers to travel agents, this event provides travel agents that participate the opportunity to create individual micro-websites, featuring exclusive supplier photos and videos, helping them to better market themselves to consumers.

At the same time, consumers will be matched with travel agents through a website. Participating travel agents will be given access to limited time offers from VAX VacationAccess suppliers, which can then be provided to interested, qualified consumers. Suppliers or travel agents interested in participating in “National Plan a Vacation Week” should visit www.vaxvacationaccess.com/vacationweek for more information.

“This event is unlike any other virtual promotion because it drives consumer leads to travel agents and gives them the tools, including rich media and the most complete and attractive supplier offers available, to market themselves,” said Becky Capper, director of vendor and partner development for VAX VacationAccess.

VAX VacationAccess is the largest online distribution platform for leisure travel agents and gives vacation suppliers a variety of ways to reach qualified travel agents. Now in its 10^th anniversary year, VAX develops innovative technology to help travel agents and agencies become more productive and profitable.

Participating vacation suppliers will be given the opportunity to provide offers, photos and videos in “experience” categories. The categories for “National Plan a Vacation Week” are: Tropical Adventures, Fun for Families, Occasions for Amazement, Viva Mexico, Pacific Paradises, and American Discoveries.

“Plan a Vacation Week will have some amazing depth of product available for travel agents to sell,” said Capper. “By positioning the product offers and content into these categories, we better match consumers with travel agents that specialize in the experiences and destinations that appeal to them.”

Travel agents will be able to create micro-websites focusing on one or multiple categories, though VAX VacationAccess encourages travel agents to specialize as much as possible. Participation in “National Plan a Vacation Week,” like VAX, is free to travel agents.

“Travel agents that provide expertise in specific destinations and experiences will be most successful in this campaign, and beyond,” said Capper.

Consumers will be matched with travel agents based on experiences of interest, and geography. Travel agents will be connected with consumers based on those preferences. Consumers are encouraged to work with travel agents to plan their vacations at just the right time for summer and fall getaways, knowing those travel agents have the experience and access to offers to provide time savings and value above anywhere else consumers could look.

“Suppliers will want to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their content to highly engaged and loyal travel agents, connecting with qualified consumers,” said Capper. “It is the first time that an organization has been able to connect the dots between great content, active agents and qualified consumers.”

VAX VacationAccess Worldwide brings together leisure travel professionals, suppliers and destinations in one easy-to-use online platform. Powerful booking engines for vacation packages, hotels, cruise vacations and air consolidator give travel professionals the flexibility to easily shop and sell custom vacations. Rich content and hundreds of timesaving reservation management, sales, and marketing tools allow travel professionals to succeed in today’s competitive leisure travel industry. Used by more than 100,000 leisure travel agents, VAX VacationAccess was voted “Best Technology Provider” by Agent@Home Readers’ Choice and “Best Supplier/Destination Website” by Recommend Readers’ Choice. Visit www.vaxvacationaccess.com for more information.