WTSG Acquires MSW - 2001-01-29

<B>WTSG Acquires MSW</B>

By Megan Hjermstad

<I>New York - </I>The World Travel Specialists Group/The Lawyers' Travel Service this month announced it acquired MSW Travel, another New York-based travel management company that specializes in entertainment travel. MSW in the short term will retain its name and operate as a division of WTSG.

MSW, which has an annual air spend of $50 million, roughly half of which is corporate travel, has a number of entertainment industry clients and specializes in high-touch clientele. It will complement WTSG's focus on providing travel management services to demanding travelers in professional services firms.

"MSW has similar client needs," said Paul Moskowitz, president and co-owner of WTSG. "Their people have the same customer service philosophy and a similar way in which business is run."

This was the first acquisition by the owners of WTSG. Moskowitz said the company is interested in further acquisitions that would complement the existing business. WTSG has more than 12 offices in key U.S. business destinations and offers specialized service in six divisions: The Lawyers' Travel Service, The Advertisers' Travel Service, The Bankers' Travel Service, The Consultants' Travel Service, The Recruitment and Relocation Service and Clix & Brix Travel Management.

WTSG, which was ranked the 22nd largest travel agency in BTN's 2000 Business Travel Survey with annual air sales of $196 million in 1999, said it grew its business organically to bring in air sales of close to $300 million in 2000.