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 "PositiveSpace" Chosen As Name Of Agent-Friendly Website
 
EVANSTON, Ill., April 16, 1998 -- Travel agents who want to take advantage of the Internet for doing business can find an agent-friendly resource at a newly named site, PositiveSpace, at http://www.positivespace.com.

After reviewing more than 300 entries submitted during last month's contest, Travel Technology & Magic president Greg Merkley selected the name suggested by Cheryl L. Nuenthal of Travel Scope, in Janesville, Wis.  The former site name was "Hyde's Travel Agent Resource" and was located at http://www.hyde.com.

"We were pleased with the level of interest in the contest and we're very happy with the new name," Merkley said.  "Positive space is an industry  term that is instantly recognized by travel agents, who are our target users. The new name also fits well with our vision of the Internet as an area of tremendous opportunity for travel agents."

In the travel industry, "positive space" is a common term for a confirmed reservation.  It is the opposite of a "stand-by" or "space available" reservation.

"With PositiveSpace our goal is to help agents take advantage of the  Internet as a business tool, whether or not they are currently Web-savvy," Merkley said.  "We offer links selected for their value to travel agents, such as major travel suppliers, trade organizations and publications and State Department advisories.  For agents who want to tap into the Web's potential, PositiveSpace is the place to start."

Nuenthel said she suggested "positive space" because it epitomizes the way travel agents want to be treated.  She has visited the Website frequently over the years and has found it useful in her business.

"The World Wide Web is a big place and sometimes it seems as if all the  travel information is geared to help travelers bypass travel agents," she said.  "At the PositiveSpace Website agents and travel agency business are given top priority, just like a positive space booking compared to a space available one."

As contest winner, Nuenthel will receive a free weekend trip for two anywhere in the continental United States or Canada, including airline tickets and hotel accommodations.

PositiveSpace led an intriguing field of Website name entries.  Among the most popular suggestions were names involving the acronym "STAR,"using the initials from "travel agency resource."  Many entries also played off the former name of the site or the name of the new owners, proposing candidates such as "Hyde and Seek" or "Agent Magic."

"The originality, diversity and level of participation were impressive," Merkley said.  "We plan to find more ways to tap agents' creativity."   The most entries were received from agents in California, Florida, New  York, Illinois and Texas, with Sabre and Apollo/Galileo users outpacing  other computer reservation system subscribers.

The PostiveSpace Website, created in 1995 by a Vancouver-based consulting firm, features more than 300 links to agent-relevant Websites.  It draws about 1,000 hits per day from all over the world.

Travel Technology & Magic, based in Evanston, Ill., was founded in 1994.  In addition to owning and operating the PositiveSpace Web site, it provides on- line consulting and marketing services, plus on-line connectivity products and software development services to clients in North America, Europe and Asia.

Travel Technology & Magic also is the former North American marketing  representative of Spy Travel Net, Inc., an Internet-based travel  wholesaler headquartered in Singapore.  Travel Technology & Magic has ended that relationship to focus more on activities with PositiveSpace.

For more information about PositiveSpace, agents can call 847/676-0269, fax to 847/869-1583 or e-mail to [email protected].

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Contact:
Chris Allen 
Premier Group
847/427-7710
 
 

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