The Timeshare Beat Home | Today's Headlines | Back to Previous Page
|
The Timeshare Beat Home | Today's Headlines | Back to Previous Page |
|
|
|
Press Release: FAR&WIDE Travel Corp.
October 25, 2002
MIAMI, FL -- Further strengthening its extensive global destination management infrastructure within Europe, FAR&WIDE
Travel Corporation today announced plans to acquire leading Hellenic destination management company Tourlite Hellas
in Athens, Greece.
Established in 1973, Tourlite Hellas provides a level of personalized service to travelers unparalleled in the
industry. The company directs all elements of travel throughout Greece, the more than 20 Greek Isles and Turkey
-- including accommodations, transfers, tours and excursions, inter-island transportation (air and cruise), management
of tour directors, hotel and restaurant negotiations, etc. -- for typically 15,000 independent and group travelers
annually.
With the imminent acquisition of Tourlite Hellas, a leading destination management company based in Athens, Greece,
FAR&WIDE's ability to personally anticipate and fulfill travelers' needs during their time abroad is greatly
enhanced. Destination specialists at Tourlite Hellas, now FAR&WIDE staff, are with travelers every step of
the way to manage all of the day-to-day details of their trips while offering a shared customer relations culture
and uniformity of superior service levels throughout their FAR&WIDE experience.
"Tourlite Hellas has been serving FAR&WIDE travelers in Greece since the acquisition of U.S.-based Tourlite
International in 1999," said Phil Bakes, Chairman and CEO of FAR&WIDE. "This acquisition will strengthen
our alliance and enable us to accelerate our strategy and drive an increase in market share by offering travelers
more choices."
The Athens office has been in successful operation for 29 years and will carry on under the skilled leadership
of Managing Director Stefanos Hatzakis, who will continue to oversee all supplier negotiations and contracting
in Greece and Turkey.
"The key to any successful working relationship is that of teamwork, dedication and respect. With Stefanos
I am confident that our operation in Greece is running like clockwork and with the hospitality we Greeks pride
ourselves on," commented Tourlite International President, Yannis Papaioannou. "Stefanos is truly my
best man. He is the person I can count on to manage our entire operation in Greece."
Stefanos began working with Tourlite Hellas in 1979 as a Tour Manager. Today he is the Managing Director responsible
for product development, contracting and operations of the Athens office, where he and his staff successfully deliver
a distinctive level of quality service catered to American travelers.
One of the nation's largest providers of value-added leisure travel, FAR&WIDE offers the greatest and most
diverse array of travel experiences. These include independent, group, escorted, Fly & Drive and Cruise &
Land programs that range from traditional sightseeing to completely customized itineraries, providing a lifetime
of enriching travel experiences to exhilarating destinations in over 90 countries worldwide. To learn more about
FAR&WIDE or to book a FAR&WIDE travel experience, contact your local travel agent or visit http://www.farandwide.com
FAR&WIDE's roster of leading travel companies includes: Adventure Center, African Travel, Brian Moore International
Tours, Central Holidays, FAR&WIDE-London, Grand European Tours, High Country Passage, Intercontinental Travel
Company, IST Cultural Tours, Journeys Unlimited, Lion World Travel, Pacific Bestour, Peter Voll Associates, Prism
Holidays, Regina Tours, Spanish Heritage Tours, Swain Tours and Downunder Direct, Tourlite and Zeus Tours &
Yacht Cruises, as well as several destination management companies in key locales.
----------------------------------------------------
Contact:
FAR&WIDE Travel Corp., Miami
Marlene Oliver-Sosa, 305/908-7543
moliver@farandwide.com
or
Sandra Mackesy-Reyes, 305/908-4319
smackesy@farandwide.com
Source: FAR&WIDE Travel Corp.