For Immediate Release:                  Ron Luczak, Director of Marketing
                                                              716 862 7610 (p) 716 862 7603 (f)
                                                              rluczak@ thetravelteam.com

The Travel Team, Inc. named to Top 30 Companies

Jean McDonnell Covelli, President of The Travel Team, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rich Products Corp. announced that the company has been named the 26th largest travel management company in the United States by Business Travel News.

Following the procedure first devised in 2003, Business Travel News asked travel agency chief executives to sign release forms and send them to Arlington, Va.-based Airlines Reporting Corp., authorizing the U. S. bank settlement plan organization to release for publication each agency’s 2007 ARC air ticket transaction and sales data.

 BTN emailed agencies that booked more than half of their sales for business travel to authorize ARC to release summarized 2007 transaction and 2006 sales transaction and sales counts for wholly owned home offices and legal entities, including all branch and satellite ticket printer sales data and the percentage of tickets purchased for domestic travel.

“The Travel Team, Inc. is thrilled to be included in this prestigious listing of the largest travel management companies in the United States.  The fact that each participants reporting numbers were verified by ARC adds tremendous creditability to the process.” Noted Jean Covelli.

 While some travel management companies grew by acquisition only, The Travel Team grew organizationally and through acquisition of Carlson Wagonlit Travel WNY with offices in Western New York and Erie, PA. Covelli also attributed the business growth to increased optimization of online and offline service via the company’s Buffalo call center.  “We had more active RFP’s in the works for 2007 than the company has had in the past. She also noted that a great deal of business is obtained through the relationships of the parent company, Rich Products Corp., a multibillion-dollar food enterprise.

“This ranking places The Travel Team, Inc. in the top 30 travel companies nationwide which gives us added clout and buying power as we negotiate the best deals in the marketplace for our clients.” Added Covelli.

The Robert E. Rich Family, owners of Rich Products, a multi billion dollar food company, founded the Travel Team, Inc. (www.thetravelteam.com) in 1989.  Developed on the premise that business and leisure travelers need and appreciate highly personalized travel services provided by a company that is locally responsive and internationally strong, The Travel Team is an affiliate of American Express, the largest travel services management company in North America providing innovative solutions in managing corporate travel.

Rich Products Corporation – (www.rich.com) is known around the world as the founder of the non-dairy segment of the frozen food industry and a leading supplier and solutions provider to the foodservice, in-store bakery and retail marketplaces. As an international food manufacture Rich’s posts $2.6 billion annual sales, employees 7,300 associates worldwide and sells more than 2,000 products in over 70 countries. 

 With manufacturing facilities, R&D capabilities and sales offices spanning the globe, Rich’s is able offer its customers a unique combination of global food knowledge, production expertise, and personal attention.  The Travel Team embodies the Rich philosophy in all aspects of account management.  Establishing agreements with leading domestic and international air carriers, preferred hotels and car agencies clients receive the best in class fares and value added benefits. 

Having learned from Rich Products that a company succeeds through specialization, The Travel Team business plan is focused on exceeding performance standards in corporate, leisure, athletic - both professional (Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bisons) and collegiate – travel, as well as academic, cultural, motor coach, motorcycle and senior citizen tours.  The meeting and groups’ division services corporate meetings and incentives on a national and international basis.

Throughout history, Rich’s has been committed to developing food solutions that raise the bar on quality, convenience, and efficiency for customers. The same theories apply to the business acumen of The Travel Team. As an advocate for the business traveler, The Travel Team was recently recognized as the Buffalo/Niagara regions “Creative Company of the Year” The recognition cited the company’s’ ability to bring creativity, innovation and awareness to the most prominent business travel issues.