Group Travel Planet LLC Named Travel Partner of Choice by Travel South USA
PIGEON FORGE, TN, and ATLANTA, GA, October 13, 2005. Group Travel Planet, LLC, the pioneer of online group travel booking, and Travel South USA, the oldest and largest regional tourism marketing organization, today announced a strategic partnership that names Group Travel Planet the travel partner of choice for Travel South USA.
Coinciding with the launch of the new Travel South USA Web site, www.travelsouthusa.com, travelers can now access discounted group hotel rates for five or more rooms at more than 10,000 hotels throughout North America using Group Travel Planet's unique group-booking engine.
Travel South USA has a long history of working with tour operators and group travel through its annual Travel South SHOWCASE. "We are very proud of the new Travel South website," said Liz Bittner, Executive Director of Travel South USA. "The site is rich in content and showcases the varied travel options available throughout the southern region of the United States." The site features trip ideas organized by state and travel packages based on travellers' personal interests. "Our partnership with Group Travel Planet lends one more utility that will make it easier to bring groups to our area to Discover the Southern Way," Bittner said.
"We are very excited about partnering with Travel South, especially since our company's roots and headquarters are in the south," said Scott Harness, President and CEO of Group Travel Planet. "Not only will this partnership help us reach the thousands of tour operators and group leaders that use the Travel South site, but it will also help us attract thousands of additional group-friendly suppliers that Travel South represents."
In addition to great group rates, travelers booking groups on the Travel South USA web site will have access to unique, online features that make it easy to manage their group hotel reservations:
o Ability to search live group inventory and discounted group rates, and receive instant online confirmations at thousands of hotels across the U.S. and Canada
o Detailed hotel information including amenities and standard, group-friendly terms & conditions that are important to group travelers
o Ability to manage entire booking online including adding or dropping rooms, assigning names to each room, and making payments, as a group or as individuals, by check or credit card - all without ever having to make one phone call
o Email updates about payments and rooming lists to make travel planning as easy as possible
o Group customer care assistance available 24/7 at (866) 216-3010 for groups who need to speak with a live agent
Travel South USA's new group booking functionality can be accessed through the Travel Trade link on the top navigation bar of the site.
About Group Travel Planet
Group Travel Planet, which operated as CoachQuote.com, LLC from March 2000 to September 2004, is the pioneer and first company to fully-automate group booking online from start to finish. Started by industry professionals with extensive knowledge of the group travel industry, Group Travel Planet has led the way in developing and providing leisure group travelers (School Groups, Sports Teams, Family Reunions, Church Groups, and more) with an easier way to plan, book and manage all aspects of their group trips online, saving them valuable time and money. The company has one of the largest online networks of supplier partners throughout North America, including over 10,000 "group-friendly" hotels. For more information, visit www.GroupTravelPlanet.com or call (866) MY PLANET.
About Travel South USA
Travel South USA is America's oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization. The non-profit company promotes travel to and within its member states and is funded by the tourism offices of the member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kendra Thornton
773-525-6110
Fran Poole
Travel South USA
404-231-1790
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
