Travel Team Joins The Travel Management Alliance

The Travel Management Alliance recently announced that Buffalo, N.Y.-based The Travel Team has become the ninth member of the idea- and cost-sharing agency organization.

"I've known many of the members over time and it was really just a great fit for the Travel Team," said Travel Team president Jean Covelli. "TMA collectively has so much talent and such a wonderful reputation in the industry. They're constantly brainstorming and bringing innovative solutions to multiple topics. There's really been a tremendous exchange in a very short time."

The Travel Team, which in 2004 had more than $44 million in ARC air sales, reported that 96 percent of the company's air sales last year were derived from business travel. A wholly owned subsidiary of Rich Products Corp., a privately held company with more than $2 billion in worldwide sales, the agency last year claimed that it served 954 separate corporate accounts.

"Jean's been a great member so far and we're glad to have her," said TMA chairman Larry Austin, noting that The Travel Team officially joined the Alliance at the group's meeting seven weeks ago.

"It's really been an exchange of ideas and information. Jean's also the travel manager for Rich and she's been able to share the circumstances she encounters in both roles," Austin said.

TMA adds The Travel Team to its roster, which, the organization notes, collectively generates more than $2.5 billion in gross sales, with 500 ticketing locations in the United States and Europe. TMA partners are Liberty Travel of Ramsey, N. J.; Austin Travel of Melville and Linden Travel Bureau of New York, N.Y.; Colpitts World Travel of Dedham, Mass.; Robustelli World Travel of Stamford and Worldtek Travel of New Haven, Conn.; Executive Travel Associates of Washington, D.C., and Tower Travel Management of Oakbrook, Ill.