American Express Travel named Universal Travel / American Express a Representative Excellence Award winner for 2011. The award was established to recognize members of the American Express Travel Network who achieve exceptional preferred supplier sales and also excel in specific operational responsibilities of membership, established by American Express in support of the AMEX Brand.

“We are honored to receive this award for the third time in our many years of affiliation with American Express. We are proud to be one of the Top Five Representatives in achieving high marks for overall participation in the American Express program. We congratulate and thank our staff for their hard work in achieving this award - They all deserve the credit!
Training, new technology and partnerships continue to bring value to us and our customers - and these are the areas that American Express judges on as well.
Our staff has taken this very seriously - some volunteering to beta test new software or research new partners' programs. By becoming engaged, a 'bigger picture' of the travel business emerges. This knowledge increases our client's options - as well as savings.” says Brian Howes, owner of Universal Travel.

Universal's sister company Accent Travel in Austin, TX was awarded as well.
In 2009 Mr. Howes was selected to be on the American Express Business Travel Advisory Board for 3 years.

Some of the benefits that come from our participation are:

• An increased knowledge of reliable tour, hotel, cruise and destination operators and their offerings
  
• Technology to assist in finding the best pricing and values for our clients
  
• Understanding developments around the globe that effect our clients' travel
  
• Developing personal relationships with people who can intervene if a problem arises.
  
• Offering AMEX card holders unique and exclusive opportunities
  
• Offering all travelers, not only AMEX cardholders - worldwide purchasing power and personalized service.

As a result of our concentrated effort in engaging in American Express products and programs and selling preferred suppliers, a member of the Universa / Accentl Travel management will be hosted on a week long trip to Beijing, China this spring. The trip will provide an indepth view into one of China's oldest cities.

The Formal Award Ceremony will occur the last night of the trip in Beijing.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL- April 4 (NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Travel announced today that it was named winner of this year's prestigious American Express U.S. Consumer Travel Network Representative Excellence Award. Universal Travel joined the American Express network in 1985 with their sister company Accent Travel located in Austin, TX. American Express is presenting this award to both Accent Travel and Universal Travel.

Universal Travel is one of only 27 members of the American Express U.S. Representative Travel Network to receive the award, which recognizes strong performance in sales and customer service. The owners of Universal Travel and other winning agency owners were recognized by American Express with a seven-day trip to Egypt as the guests of American Express and our travel partners from April 12-19, 2007. An award ceremony in Cairo ends the week of Nile cruising, archeological touring and "best business practices" sharing.

"I am pleased to recognize the excellence that Universal Travel has achieved," said Ellen Bettridge, vice president of the U.S. Representative Travel Network. "Universal Travel worked hard and delivered extraordinary results. They are a great representative of the American Express brand."

The Representative Excellence Award honors the accomplishments of outstanding members of the Representative Travel Network who have been exemplary supporters of the American Express brand. Universal Travel has achieved superior sales results, driving cruise and tour supplier goals and was among the top agencies in highest year-over-year sales growth. American Express' cruise and tour suppliers are among the most respected names in the travel industry known for providing excellent customer service and travel experiences.

Universal Travel is one of Florida's largest full service travel agencies, serving both corporate business customers and a wide variety of leisure customers daily. Sue Ann Slater, the general manager of Universal Travel comments: "It is truly amazing the incredible diversity of travel arranging we manage here at Universal. Our travel professionals have their own areas of specialty who share their expertise and experience with others. Learning is a way of life here at Universal."

The American Express Travel organization provides a rich environment for education, elevating customer service standards and providing information resources that compliment our own internal programs.

American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915 and today is one of the world's largest travel agency networks. The company has more than 2,200* travel and foreign exchange services locations worldwide in more than 140 countries. American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel network and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, and international banking.

Links to learn about destinations:

CIA World Factbook

Maps, statistics and much more for countries around the world

ABYZ News Links

Newspapers around the world - check out where you're traveling!

Timeline History of Art

Art around the globe by the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Library of Congress Travel Research

This is a great site for countries and region research.

Overseas Security Advisory Council

Country political and security warnings

Air Security International

Geopolitical analysis of the world including risk assessments

Maps of the World

Great map collection from University of Texas, Austin