The Timeshare Beat Home | Today's Headlines | Back to Previous Page

Court Sides with Sun Country Travel in Naming Dispute

Judge Denies Request for Temporary Restraining Order by Minnesota-based Airline

Press Release: Sun Country Travel
November 26, 2002
CARROLLTON, TX -- Sun Country Travel, an exclusive full-service travel club with more than 9,000 members, received a favorable ruling Thursday in a trademark dispute filed in federal court by Sun Country Airlines.

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty denied a motion for a temporary restraining order brought against Sun Country Travel, a business unit of Carrollton, Texas-based Vavro-McDonald & Associates, by the Minnesota-based airline.

"We are very pleased that Judge Doty found no merit in the motion brought against us by Sun Country Airlines," said Jerry McDonald, president of Sun Country Travel. "While the two companies currently use the words `Sun Country' in their names, our mission to provide Sun Country Travel members with the highest possible value in discounted travel services differs greatly from that of the airline."

Before opening the Sun Country Travel office in Eden Prairie, Minn., McDonald said his company had filed all the necessary paperwork and was in full compliance with State of Minnesota requirements to operate there under the Sun Country Travel name.

Prior to any complaint by Sun Country Airlines, Sun Country Travel had set in motion plans to change the travel club's name, which is due to be launched in early 2003. "Last summer, the principals of Sun Country Travel agreed to change our name to better describe the service we offer our members," said McDonald. "I'm happy to report we're on schedule to launch that new identity very soon."

About Sun Country Travel

Based in Carrollton, Texas, Sun Country Travel, a business unit of Vavro-McDonald & Associates, provides worldwide travel-related services at very favorable rates to its membership. With more than 9,000 members, Sun Country Travel pools the travel purchasing power of its members to achieve economies of scale and reduce members' travel costs.

--------------------------------------------

Contact: 
     Pierpont Communications Inc.
     Erin Herrera, 512/448-4950
     eherrera@piercom.com

Source: Sun Country Travel