Star AllianceTM launches global solution for convention travel

GENEVA, May 23, 2000 - Star Alliance – the airline network for Earth – has launched the first ever global travel solution for organizers and participants of international conventions and exhibitions. Called Star Alliance Conventions Plus, the product was announced today at EIBTM, the European Incentive, Business Travel & Meeting Expo in Geneva.

"Star Alliance Conventions Plus is flexible and simple to use. Consisting of many different modules it can be individually tailored to the organizer’s needs," said Ingegerd Olsbro-Fehrm of SAS, who has been heading the development project. "Star Alliance is the first airline alliance to offer a product exclusively targeting convention travel, thus responding to a high demand in the market."

A main feature of Star Alliance Conventions Plus is that a conference organizer will need only one point of contact for all air travel arrangements, no matter how many Star Alliance airlines will be involved. One designated Star Alliance representative will act on behalf of all participating member airlines and serve as the organizer’s only link with the entire network, considerably simplifying the work it takes to set up an international conference.

The Star Alliance network covers over 800 destinations in more than 130 countries. By tapping into this vast system through Star Alliance Conventions Plus, conference organizers will be able to take their delegates to and from the chosen venue wherever they are in the world. Delegates who are members of a Star Alliance airline‘s frequent flyer program will earn mileage flying to and from the event.

Star Alliance, a partnership of independent airlines, was established in May 1997. Current members of Star Alliance are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways – ANA, Ansett Australia, the Austrian Airlines Group (consisting of Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways), Lufthansa German Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines - SAS, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, United Airlines and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. British Midland and Mexicana Airlines are slated to join the alliance later this year.