Package Holidays Out, Packed Lunch Holidays In

London, UK July 11, 2009

Forget package holidays. This year, 72 per cent of people in the UK will take &39;packed lunch holidays&39; - packing food in their suitcases - to make their travel money and foreign exchange go further.

According to the study conducted by Post Office&174; Travel Money Card and Foreign Exchange, 30 per cent of cash-strapped holidaymakers say taking food from home will be their number one way of saving money, compared to just 18 per cent who will be drinking less alcohol.

The study predicts that the average saving made by taking basic food supplies is &163;34 over the course of your holiday, which can help travellers get more for their money, considering the current foreign exchange rates and a weak pound.

The most popular items stashed in suitcases include tea bags (58 per cent) and crisps (36 per cent). Over a third (35 per cent) will be carrying cornflakes as they head to sunnier climes and one in five (20 per cent) won&39;t leave without their jar of Marmite.

More than 40 per cent holidaymakers also admit to lifting items from the hotel breakfast buffet and stashing in their beach bags to eat later in the day. 55 per cent of under 25s admitted to this.

Post Office head of travel services Sarah Munro said: "While the majority of us plan to reduce our summer holiday spending this year, some are going to extreme lengths to reduce their food bills while away, possibly at the expense of their luggage allowance. By using the Post Office Travel Money Card, which allows you to lock your holiday cash away at a favourable exchange rate, there&39;s less need for cheap food and more room for suncream and souvenirs in our suitcases."

The Post Office Travel Money Card allows holidaymakers to preload a card with currency for use in shops, restaurants and at ATMs abroad, helping save on costly foreign exchange rate conversion fees. With no credit or debit facilities, it&39;s impossible to overspend and money can be loaded on to the card in instalments making it an ideal budgeting tool for holidaymakers keen to save on foreign exchange rates.

For further information, please contact Clare or Rhiannon at Eulogy! on 020 7927 9999 / clare.ridley(at)eulogy.co.uk or rhiannon(at)eulogy.co.uk

Notes to editors:

The Post Office Travel Money Card is one of the easiest and safest ways of taking your money abroad. There&39;s no purchase fee and it can be used in millions of shops and restaurants worldwide.

The card is available in euros, US dollars, or sterling and offers holidaymakers.

The Post Office Travel Money Card is issued and administered by Bank of Ireland.

CSI Fleet Card Controls Offer Creative Ways to Save as Gas Prices Continue to Rise

Bonita Springs, FL April 25, 2008

Creative financing is no longer a phrase heard only in large corporate boardrooms. In today&39;s world of unrelenting gas prices, finding creative new ways to save money is essential. Businesses across the country that rely on fleets know this all too well, and are looking to solutions such as CSI&39;s Universal Fleet Fuel Card to offer the much needed relief.

"Fuel has always been a major budget item for fleet businesses," said Keith Stone, CSI President. "Today, it too often dwarfs most every expense except payroll."

With gas prices continuing to rise, the CSI Universal Fleet Fuel Card provides discounts at tens of thousands stations, but that&39;s just the beginning. "Today&39;s business climate is overwhelming," noted Stone. "Discounts are a good first move, but to make a credible impact on the bottom line, so much more must be done."

That so much more is what CSI uses to differentiate themselves from the rest of the fuel credit card companies.

First, the CSI Universal Fleet Fuel Card is accepted at almost all fuel locations in the United States, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. With the price of fuel so volatile, being able to take advantage of the lowest price station on any given day is critical.

Finding the lowest price is also critical, and CSI uses a number of sources to bring that information to their cardholders including Smart Buy and CSI Gas Prices, two of the best online fuel price locators.

Perhaps the greatest cost savings comes with the card controls the CSI Universal Fleet Fuel Card offers. Cards are assigned to either a driver or a vehicle and are limited to purchasing either fuel only, or available for fuel and maintenance. The fleet manager may also request different prompts before a purchase is approved.

Other controls a fleet manager may choose to employ include setting a limit on the number of transactions per day, the time of day or day of week a transaction may occur, as well as limiting the dollar amounts spent either by day, week or month. With CSI, all of these card controls are managed and updated online in real time.

Of course practicing good fuel card management is only as good as it is trackable. Every CSI Universal Fleet Fuel Card can be monitored and tracked, as well as reports run and analyzed, all online and in real time. "We want our cardholders to be able to see the results of their good work immediately. And if card privileges are being abused, tracking transactions will make that apparent, and immediate action can be taken," said Stone.

To learn more about the CSI Universal Fleet Fuel Card, visit http://www.csi-gascard.com.

About CSI Enterprises, Inc
CSI Enterprises Inc. provides a specific line of controlled financial payment products including business fleet fueling/maintenance payment cards, a corporate virtual payment MasterCard and card solutions for corporate purchasing, travel and entertainment spending. Today CSI and its products operate in all fifty states including Canada, Mexico and Caribbean with operating subsidiaries involved in municipal tax reclamation, venture capital and real estate development activities nationwide. Since 1988, CSI Enterprises Inc. was the first and largest U.S. organization to have a successful corporate asset management and payment network throughout the U.S. and Latin America.

International Visa Cardholders Increased Tourism Spend in the U.S. by 18 Percent in 2010

San Francisco, CA April 25, 2011

According to the new Tourism Outlook: USA report from Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), Visa cardholders seemed optimistic in 2010 and took more trips and spent more on international purchases accordingly. VisaVue Travel Data from 2009 and 2010 showed that spending by international cardholders traveling to the U.S increased by 18 percent, from $29 billion to more than $34 billion. The report also indicates that spending by U.S. Visa cardholders traveling internationally increased by six percent, from $29 billion in 2009 to $31 billion in 2010.

“Despite economic uncertainties, the United States continues to be a major contributor to the global tourism economy, both as a destination of choice and as a critical source of tourism revenue for many countries,said William M. Sheedy, group president, Americas, Visa Inc. “Tracking this spend data and turning it into actionable information enables our tourism partners, both domestically and internationally, to prepare for visitor business and create targeted tourism marketing programs that help sustain long-term growth.

Where Travelers are Coming From
In 2010, the global tourism industry showed signs of strength. With an overall 18 percent increase in 2010, visitors from Canada ($9.2 billion), the United Kingdom ($2.5 billion) and Mexico ($2.0 billion) rounded out the top three inbound source countries, increasing tourism spend in the U.S. by 18 percent, 11 percent and 18 percent respectively.

Visa cardholders from China, Australia and France also had a notable 2010 travel year. Cardholders from each country broke into the billion-dollar tourism spend category with increases of 64 percent, 32 percent and six percent respectively. Other top source countries for inbound tourism to the U.S. during the calendar year are detailed below.

Top 2010 Inbound Source Countries
Issuer Country 2010 2009 Percent Growth (+/-)
Canada $9.2B $7.8B 18%
United Kingdom $2.5B $2.3B 11%
Mexico $2.0B $1.7B 18%
Brazil $1.9B $1.2B 63%
Japan $1.8B $1.7B 6%
China $1.1B $700M 64%
Australia $1.1B $861M 32%
France $1.0B $975M 6%
South Korea $824M $651M 27%
Germany $800M $769M 4%

When visiting the U.S., the most popular destinations for international Visa cardholders were Florida, New York, California, Texas and Nevada, with each state experiencing tremendous double-digit growth compared to 2010.

Where U.S. Travelers are Headed
Similar to previous years, Canada and Mexico remained the top two most popular destinations for U.S. Visa cardholders in 2010. Canada, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic games, was the most popular destination for U.S. travelers, as they spent $3.5 billion on their Visa payment cards (up eight percent from 2009). Mexico was a close second, as American travelers spent $3.1 billion in 2010, followed closely by popular European destinations, including the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany.

Top 2010 Outbound Destination Countries
Issuer Country 2010 2009 Percent Growth (+/-)
Canada $3.5B $3.3B 8%
Mexico $3.1B $2.9B 7%
United Kingdom $1.6B $1.5B 7%
Italy $1.3B $1.3B 4%
France $1.3B $1.2B 4%
Germany $1.1B $1.2B -2%
Puerto Rico $1.1B $967M 9%
China $741M $626M 18%
Spain $731M $695M 5%
Japan $659M $614M 7%

As the economy steadily recovers and the use of digital currency continues to play a significant role in the everyday lives of travelers, Visa will continue to work with its partners in the tourism industry to ensure that both residents and visitors to the U.S. enjoy the benefits of electronic payments.

For more information on VisaVue travel data and to view a complete copy of the Tourism Outlook: USA report, please visit corporate.media.com.

About Tourism Outlook: USA
Visa cardholder spending data cited is based upon VisaVue&174; Travel data, which reviews tourism spending on Visa-branded payment cards by international visitors from key source countries while visiting the United States during the calendar years 2010 (Jan. 1 Dec. 31, 2010) and 2009 (Jan. 1 Dec. 31, 2009). These findings are based upon VisaVue&174; Travel data. Visa introduced the VisaVue&174; Travel tourism reports to a pilot group of U.S. tourism organizations in early 2008 and have continued to produce reports on a variety of popular tourist destinations every year since.

About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world’s most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit http://www.corporate.visa.com.

Make Extra Income from Your Home Away from Home

March 22, 2006

Do you own a ski condo with incredible views, a sunny house at the beach, or a faraway apartment that sits vacant most of the time Rent your getaway to travelers and let them enjoy it too, while you enjoy extra income.

A new Web site called Global Vacation Rental Listings solves some of the biggest problems homeowners and property managers can experience when they decide to rent to travelers how to manage property availability and take reservations and payments from guests. And, perhaps most importantly, how to find people to rent your property.

The site provides tools you can use to take reservations and payments from any Web site. The GVRL Total Reservations System/a> includes a property availability calendar that shows when your rental is available and when it’s booked and a system that lets owners and managers accept checks and credit card payments. Travelers visit the site to find lodging, make and pay for reservations and to create free online photo albums and travel blogs, or journals.

GVRL.com also includes tools to manage reservations and communications with travelers, including an "auto-confirm" feature that lets you confirm a reservation with the click of a mouse. Homeowners and property managers can use the GVRL Communications Center to answer questions from prospective customers without revealing private contact information. You can even supplement your listing by posting more information in your blog and in the free online photo albums.

"Just sign up at GVRL.com and in 25 minutes you can be online and ready to take reservations," says company president David Lampe. "The GVRL Total Reservations System/a> is the easiest, most cost-effective way for vacation rental owners and managers to manage availability, take reservations and payments online, and communicate with prospective renters. It&39;s better than most of the more expensive software that’s out there."

Lampe says, "To prove the GVRL Total Reservations System/a> is a great way to attract renters and manage reservations and payments, we’re offering homeowners and property managers the chance to try GVRL.com free for six months," adds Lampe. "After that, if they don’t like it, it’s easy to cancel. But I bet most people will renew, which is easy and inexpensive."

Tom Grant, a producer at GVRL.com says, "We have unique features you won&39;t find on other sites, including free travel blogs and vacation photo albums, where our members can share travel stories and images. They can rate and review places where they stay, which helps other travelers evaluate their own lodging opportunities and brings travelers back to the site more often.

Grant adds, "Our online software costs much, much less than similar reservations management systems. It also comes with an audience of avid travelers who want to rent from you. We’re also offering free six month listings for advertisers. There’s nothing to lose by trying it."

As they roll out the Web site, Lampe and Grant plan to promote it aggressively to develop an audience fast. In the coming weeks, they&39;ll add more features, including the ability for owners and managers to offer last minute discounts.

Post your own travel blog or photo album at GVRL.com or sign up and advertise that vacant condo, cabin or house free on GVRL.com. Start making money from your home away from home, rather than just spending money on it.

Swing Ltd. to Launch Stylish Travel and Business Accessories at the August 2006 New York International Gift Fair

Concord, MA July 31, 2006

Widely recognized for its innovative photo accessories and stationery products, Swing Ltd. is set to unveil its new Ventura collection of travel and business accessories, along with an expanded selection of photo frames and stationery items. Swing’s excitingly fresh designs will be introduced at the New York International Gift Fair, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from Sunday, August 13, through Thursday, August 17.

The Ventura collection offers chic but affordable business and travel items made from vibrant shades of faux leather accented with simple embroidered stitching. The business card case with invisible magnetic closure holds fifteen cards. Zippered carrying cases, designed to transport pens, pencils, cosmetics, or any other necessities, are available in small and large sizes. The pocket-size Ventura notepad offers white, lined paper while the memo pad holds self-stick notes; both styles include a small pen. The travel wallet accommodates a passport, airplane tickets, credit cards, and other important travel documents. A luggage tag, deck of playing cards, and travel and magnetic photo frames round out the new Ventura collection.

Painted glass accents are paired with walnut-stained solid wood to create the sophisticated new Margin photo frame collection. Available in aqua, canyon, fern, and natural, Margin frames are sure to complement any home d&233;cor. Each frame holds one 4x6 photo.

Letter boxes, each containing a pen and twenty note cards plus envelopes, are the latest addition to Swing’s Camilla and Wander collections. Constructed from luxurious bonded leathers, Camilla is accented with distinctive bookcloth and Wander is detailed with tatami, a Japanese material made from handwoven grasses. Photo albums, storage boxes, and journals complete the Camilla and Wander collections.

Sacchi has once again expanded its line of mailable greeting card frames. The Classic mailable frames combine high-quality mats with faux-leather borders and are available in gorgeous shades of aqua, black, fern, and sport red. Because Classic frames are text-free, they are suitable for any occasion.

Swing Ltd., a wholesale company, designs and produces innovative home products ranging from office and travel accessories to tabletop and dining items. Through its two brands, Swing and Sacchi, Swing Ltd. has been creating stylish home products for fifteen years. Swing Ltd. products are sold at fine retailers nationwide. To contact Swing Ltd., visit http://www.swingdesign.com or call 978-371-2211.

Australian Online Marketing Company Launches by Giving Away Free Carbon Credits

Gold Coast, Australia April 9, 2008

Soul Arch Media&Marketing is a small boutique marketing service with big ambitions. Apart from supplying web video production and copywriting services to lifestyle brands, web designers, travel and real estate companies, small to medium enterprises, and even other marketing and advertising firms, Soul Arch Media&Marketing is initiating a groundbreaking scheme where clients are offered free carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions instead of regular discounts.

How does this work Every time a customer orders more than one service or refers the company to a friend, Soul Arch Media&Marketing will offer them a 10 percent discount. The point of difference from regular run-of-the-mill discount schemes is instead of simply taking the cash - which might be an insignificant amount for many companies - clients can instead opt to have the same monetary amount transferred into a carbon credit certificate made out in their individual business&39;s name.

"As a company that strives to be energy efficient ourselves, we understand that small steps like these can help other environmentally-conscious companies reach their carbon offset goals. Plus it&39;s a real win-win for clients; they get a gift that keeps on giving as well as a job well done," said Carolyn Ridings Emge, Soul Arch Media&39;s Marketing Manager.

"We hope our carbon credit certificate offer draws like-minded clients to consider our services, which are also geared to their various eco-friendly marketing needs. But if clients prefer the discount in a different form, we can also suggest donations to the myriad of charities we admire instead. Whichever option they choose, we hope this simple scheme will spur an influx of donations that may never have otherwise happened," continued Emge.

About Soul Arch Media&Marketing:
Soul Arch Media&Marketing is based on the Gold Coast, Australia, and specializes in creating effective online campaigns for any budget with a strong focus on emerging technologies like web video production, online video tours, podcasts, vodcasts corporate video business cards and social media newsletters, whilst also incorporate tried-and-true marketing and P.R. tools like news and press releases, direct marketing e-newsletters, and customer loyalty schemes. All of these services give clients big results without breaking the bank, and are more socially responsible than mass flyer mail-outs or junk mail pamphlets destined for the trash pile. Apart from offering clients &39;greener&39; marketing solutions, they also endeavour to minimize their own ecological impact. Soul Arch Media&Marketing uses green energy, recycles paper and waste, and keeps its own advertising material to a bare minimum.

Visit them online at http://www.soularchmedia.com.

The Son of Dr. Maulana Karenga, Who is the Creator of Kwanzaa, Turns Inventor When He Creates the Worlds First Organizer Frontpack - This Changes Everything

Union City, CA December 13, 2006

A revolutionary recreation, business and travel accessory invented by the son of Dr. Maulana Karenga, who is the creator of the African American holiday of Kwanzaa, is vying to create a whole new industry as it now enters the market. Strapak, pronounced "strap pack" is an innovative upper torso frontpack that finally makes it possible for you to easily and conveniently organize, protect and keep all of your important items like a cell phone, cash, credit cards, drivers license, keys and more with you at all times and is the first and only one of its kind. Says one product developer "It&39;s sure to be a huge success. It&39;s so original." (He was given a demonstration of the new invention when Karenga attended one of his seminars on bringing a product to market.)

Strapak is made from durable 1000-D Cordura&174; fabric with water resistant backing and has pockets positioned for carrying items upfront in full view of wearer, for easy access, comfort and security. Strapak is available in the colors black, navy, burgundy and khaki all embroidered with the trademark name surrounded by a gold cartouche which is a symbol that was traditionally used only by the African kings of ancient Egypt known as the Pharaohs. Karenga chose the cartouche because first it ties Strapak to Africa&39;s great legacy of excellence and achievement and second because the cartouche is among other things a symbol of strength and leadership which conveys a message to one who wears it that "Success begins with realizing the leader in you". Strapak can be ordered online at http://www.strapak.com . Strapak, get in the forefront!

Tarik Karenga, son of Dr. Maulana Karenga who is the creator of the African American holiday of Kwanzaa is a professional speaker, inventor and the founder of two companies. He is also the author of "Libation for our Ancestors: A family and communal activity at Kwanzaa" and "The Pharaohs&39; 5 Laws of Success" coming in 2007.

For more information: http://www.strapak.com

Contact Information:
Tarik Karenga
President
Strapak Inc.
P.O. Box 489
Union City, CA 94587
http://www.strapak.com