Arlington, VA, July 16, 2007 – ARC Verified Travel Consultant (VTC) is a new tier of participation in ARC set to launch on July 18. The ARC Verified Travel Consultant program addresses the needs of a significant and growing segment of travel professionals within our industry that can benefit from ARC’s unique systems and services. The ARC Verified Travel Consultant will have access to ARC traffic documents for ancillary travel-related purposes, such as the issuance and settlement of Travel Agent Service Fees. A Verified Travel Consultant may book airline reservations, but not issue ARC traffic documents for air transportation. ARC Verified Travel Consultants will be able to generate revenue through ARC’s Travel Agency Service Fee Program, which provides the ability to assess their clients’ favorite credit card a fee for travel services rendered and get paid weekly using ARC’s Interactive Agent Reporting (IAR) system. In addition, the ARC Verified Travel Consultant will have the same access to the thousands of commissionable products and services offered to existing ARC-accredited agents through ARC Marketplace. Reporting and settlement of service fee transactions are available electronically through IAR, making collection and reconcillation of sales and commissions easy for the busy travel professional.

ARC Verified Travel Consultants will enjoy a streamlined application process and there will be no requirement for a bond or letter of credit. Participating VTCs will be shown on the ARC Agency List, and travel suppliers around the globe will be able to identify a VTC as a verified travel professional. “Travel Suppliers have made it very clear to us that they value their relationship with the ARC travel professionals,” said Lauri Reishus, General Manager – Industry Products & Services. “Given the shifts within many travel service providers’ business model away from airline ticketing, it’s simply common sense to also open up ARC’s valuable services to the substantial community of non-ticketing travel professionals so that they, too, may enjoy the benefits and recognition that are associated with all ARC programs,” adds Reishus.

ARC will begin accepting applications from new VTC locations on July 18 as well as transitioning existing ARC- accredited agent locations whose current business model may be more representative of the new VTC tier of participation. “The essence of this unique new program is the recognition that ARC’s value extends well beyond the historical constituencies of those with a significant focus on air sales and ticketing, “comments ARC President and CEO, David Collins. “Our state of the art systems and services have a much broader application and we are pleased to be able to extend access to new and growing segments of our industry,” added Collins.

ARC is proud to bring this new level of participation to the travel industry. Suppliers will appreciate knowing that the ARC VTC will have been verified against ARC’s standards, and VTCs will benefit from access to revenue-generating products and services, while joining the largest community of travel professionals in the U.S.

Link to Additional Product Information

• ARC Verified Travel Consultant: www.arccorp.com/join/join_arc_VTC.html

About ARC
ARC is the premier provider of financial settlement solutions and data and analytical services for the travel industry. Airlines, travel agencies, corporate travel departments, railroads, and other travel suppliers process more than $77 billion annually through ARC’s world-class settlement system, making it the financial backbone of travel distribution. ARC COMPASS®, the leading, trusted source for travel transaction information, powers data and analytical tools that help ARC customers make confident business decisions. ARC is an airline-owned company that builds on values of integrity, teamwork, innovation, cost-effectiveness, and excellence. For more information, please visit http://www.arccorp.com.