News Releases

    SHANGHAI, Oct. 31 /CNW/ - American Express Business Travel, one of the
world's largest travel management companies, has announced a number of
innovations for its Chinese customers during the 4th annual China Business
Travel Forum, held in Shanghai from 28 - 29 October 2008.
    In a first for Chinese corporations, customers of American Express
Business Travel will receive exclusive access to pre-trip data. This means
that for the first time travel managers and procurement professionals can view
booked and scheduled travel before it actually takes place which will help
companies better enforce travel policy compliance and act more proactively to
manage travel budgets. Furthermore, China Ticket TRAX has been launched to
ensure companies don't lose money on unused tickets. Globally, American
Express Business Travel has identified US$85 million for clients by
identifying unused e-tickets that would otherwise have been lost to the
airlines.
    In addition, American Express Business Travel will be launching an
enhanced version of Trackpoint in China and across the entire Asia Pacific
region. Trackpoint 2 helps corporations quickly and easily locate their
travellers that could potentially be impacted by an unexpected event or
crisis, such as severe weather or terrorist acts, wherever they may be in the
world. Travel managers, risk managers and security personnel alike can use
this internet application and quickly drill down to the country, state and
city level to view an individual traveller's itinerary and take the necessary
actions to ensure their safety and security.
    Speaking at the China Business Travel Forum in Shanghai, Charles
Petruccelli, President, Global Travel Services, American Express said, "We
welcome the opportunity to introduce these important innovations into China
which is become increasingly sophisticated in the way it views travel
management. American Express is committed to its investment in China and is
proud of its leadership position in this market. In today's volatile
environment it is absolutely critical for us to give our customers the tools
they need to not only keep their budgets in check but to also ensure the
safety and security of their travelling employees."
    By way of example, within just two hours of the ill-fated Garuda
Indonesia Boeing 737-400 crashing in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 7 March 2007,
the employers of the travellers whose bookings had been made through American
Express Business Travel had been given precise details regarding their
employees' safety and whereabouts thanks to the Trackpoint tool.
    "In times of crisis it's important that our clients know that we care
about them. It's our responsibility to source accurate information about their
travellers as fast as we can and let people know. It's simply part of our
job," commented Mr. Petruccelli.
    "Our customers in China realize that American Express Business Travel can
deliver more than just an air ticket to their business. It is important to
manage the entire travel process right from the booking process, during the
trip and post trip reconciliation. The introduction of Pre travel data is
really the last piece of the puzzle for Chinese companies to start working
with and I'm thrilled we have been able to deliver this to our customers."
    In a further sign of the progression of travel management in China and
across Asia Pacific, American Express Business Travel will also be launching
its ECO tool for customers. This tool allows an organization to measure the
carbon emissions generated as a result of their travel program thereby helping
them to meet their corporate social responsibility goals.
    "The issue of carbon emissions and environmentally responsible business
is not going away. If an organization has not yet evaluated the impact of its
business travel on the environment, it is opening itself up to risk from the
impact of negative perceptions. Shareholders and stakeholders no longer
measure a company's performance by the bottom line alone, but by the way that
bottom line was achieved. Every business has a responsibility to understand
the consequences of their business travel and to create a pragmatic travel
program that allows business and financial objectives to be achieved, while
minimizing environmental impacts," concluded Mr. Petruccelli.

    About American Express Business Travel

    American Express Business Travel
(www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel), a division of the American Express
Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realize the greatest possible
value from their investment in travel through increased cost savings,
outstanding customer service and greater spend control. For small businesses,
medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, American Express
Business Travel provides a combination of industry-leading booking technology,
travel management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier
negotiation support and customer service available online and offline, around
the world.
    American Express operates one of the world's largest travel agency
networks with US$26.4 billion in global travel sales in 2007.
    American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global
payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.