TSG Stars Group Inc

Sabre Travel Network, the world's largest and most rewarding marketplace for buying and selling travel, today announced travel agent Yannick Gonzalez of Luxury Travel and Vacations as the winner of �The Power of You� Award, an awards program created by Sabre to recognize exceptional travel agent performance. Gonzalez, based in Connecticut, is a 31-year industry veteran and is described by her colleagues as the essence of the ideal travel agent. �Yannick Gonzalez is the epitome of what every agency wants working for them. She goes above and beyond for her clients,� said Elissa Fallo, owner, Luxury Travel and Vacations. �She is truly an example of dedication and passion, and she deserves to be rewarded for all the time and dedication she puts into her job. She doesn�t just book vacations � she books experiences and memories for her clients.� Starting in February, travel professionals nominated other industry veterans who personify a commitment to excellence, dedication to client service, a deep well of travel industry knowledge, and, above all, a passion for travel. Judges looked for a nominee with customer service that garnered loyal customers, use of innovative technologies to bring quantifiable benefits to the agency and customers, and leadership among peers leading towards a shift in customer perception. �I am very honored to have been nominated for this award,� said Gonazalez. �This is very meaningful to be recognized this way. What an unexpected surprise! I am truly blessed to be doing what I love.� Some specific examples of Gonzalez�s dedication include: Developing creative solutions like individual luggage tags and travel packets to make clients happy and better meet their needs. Coming in every day urging co-workers to consider what the agency can do to better serve clients and drive business to the agency � actions that result in potential clients seeking Gonzalez based on word-of-mouth recommendations. Getting up in the middle of the night to make a last minute change to bookings and remaining connected with clients and their travel needs even while on vacation. �Yannick exemplifies all the characteristics it takes to succeed in the ever-changing travel marketplace � drive, dedication and embrace of change and technology. We�re proud to recognize and celebrate her commitment to her agency, customers and the travel industry,� said Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network. Other nominees also showed dedication, creativity, and, most importantly, a customer-focused approach. Below are just a few of their examples: One agency cited an agent�s resourcefulness and vast experience as the only reason the company survived the recent changes in the travel industry. When a wholesaler failed to get a customer's airline tickets to the office in time, a nominated agent arranged for courier delivery to the client at the airport. When this failed, the agent relentlessly tracked the package to cargo at the international airport, collected the package, and personally presented it to the customer at the check-in counter. The customer was absolutely blown away at how far above and beyond her duty the agent had gone to ensure no further disappointment was associated with the situation. Another agency cited one of its agent�s customer dedications by noting that she behaves in a way that leads her co-workers to believe she would change weather patterns for her clients if at all possible. While planning a vacation for a couple who wanted to go to South America, a nominated travel agent dealt with her client�s indecision on the exact destination by immersing herself in information on tour companies and sightseeing tours for each considered destination. Once the destination was settled, the agent pulled together a travel kit for the clients including often forgotten items like a pen, travel first aide kit, journal, disposable ponchos, photo album, flash light, whistle, mosquito bite medicine and translation book. Yet another agent was cited for the fundraising travel programs he offers to non-profit organizations. In one year alone, the agent raised $75,000 through his program. �These examples from the nominees of �The Power of You� award is another way Sabre is constantly expanding our commitment to building a better agency community through knowledge, networking and fun,� added Kroeger. Sabre Travel Network announced the winner of the contest during Kroeger�s keynote speech at the American Society of Travel Agents� (ASTA) International Destination Expo on March 25 in JeJu, South Korea. Prizes awarded to the winners include a trip voucher for TripTailor, Travel Institute training dollars, an office lunch, and a one-year ASTA membership. About Sabre Travel Network Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions for corporate and leisure travel. The Sabre GDS is the foundation for these solutions, providing a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects travel suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, for corporate travel reservation technology; Jurni Network, a consortium of leisure travel agencies providing marketing and promotion services; Nexion, a host agency; SynXis, for hotel reservation management, distribution and technology services; and TRAMS, mid- and back-office solutions and marketing services for travel agencies. Sabre Travel Network also markets TripTailor, a travel�wholesaler�providing dynamic packaging for the travel agency marketplace. Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG) connects people with the world�s greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.