Kicks off LARGEST CANADIAN MEDIA CAMPAIGN EVER FOR THE PALM BEACHES

Integrated Nation-wide Promotional Campaign Offers Air and Hotel Packages

In The Palm Beaches, Specific to the Canadian Market

The Palm Beaches, Fla. (Feb.23, 2011) – In an effort to increase visitation from  all Canadian provinces, The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) launched a four-month, national marketing campaign this week with its state tourism promotion counterpart, VISIT FLORIDA, for travel through one of Canada's leading online travel retailers, itravel2000, a Travelzest Company.  The itravel2000 program includes a 30-second television spot appearing on Rogers TV channels in the Greater Toronto area, 30-second radio commercials in five major markets, several E-newsletters to the retailer's database of nearly 400,000 opt-in subscribers in Ontario, social media posts on various itravel2000 channels, and an extensive microsite on itravel2000's online Florida Super Store highlighting specific activities and experiences within each participating Florida destination.  For The Palm Beaches, the features include golf, eco-travel and beaches, shopping and dining, romance and weddings, and accommodations. 

According to the most recent research available from VISIT FLORIDA, Canadian visitation to Florida was at 2.6 million in 2009, and nearly one out of every four dollars spent in the United States by Canadians is spent in Florida.   In addition, 34 percent of all nights Canadians spend in the U.S. are spent in Florida – the most of any state.

“This is an aggressive move for our destination, and is expected to generate even more travel from our neighbors to the north,” stated Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “With the new nonstop service from Niagara Falls/Toronto and Montreal into the Palm Beach International Airport, the timing of this initiative is ideal.”

The new airlift into PBIA, paired with the more than $7.5 million in improvements at the award-winning airport last year make this an ideal time for a more aggressive approach into this market.  Offering weekly, non-stop flights from Montreal via Air Canada, and Toronto via Direct Air (from Niagara Falls), PBIA allows visitors to experience truly stress-free travel with its convenient location in the heart of Palm Beach County, minutes from top resorts, pristine beaches, and West Palm Beaches' thriving downtown district.  The boutique international airport was voted the third best airport in the U.S. and sixth best in the world by Conde Nast Traveler readers.

VISIT FLORIDA's Vice President of Sales & Marketing Eileen Forrow, said the campaign “encourages visitors to explore more of Florida, in addition to comparison shop – all at one location.  It's a great compliment to our nine-week Your Florida Side is Calling campaign that just ended with itravel2000.”

Promoting its Florida Super Store, itravel2000 was designated VISIT FLORIDA's Canadian retail call-to-action in 2009, and has seen its business to Florida increase 30 percent year-over-year for 2010. With more than 140 travel agents in its Toronto call centre, this leading Canadian travel retailer is considered a pioneer of online travel for the continent.  itravel2000 provides customers more travel options than any other Canadian travel retailer through a full-product suite for vacation packages, cruises, airline tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars. 

About Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Palm Beach County, Florida. Tourism is Palm Beach County's leading industry, generating a direct annual economic impact of $2.8 billion in the local economy, producing $24 million dollars in bed-tax revenue and lodging sales of approximately $623 million. Tourism employs over 50,000 people in Palm Beach County.

About itravel2000

itravel2000.com a leading travel retailer in Canada was a pioneer of online travel and has over 140 travel agents. itravel2000 provides customers more travel options than any other Canadian travel retailer through a full product suite for vacation packages, cruises, airline tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars.  To see how we're fighting to save you money, visit www.itravel2000.com.

About Travelzest

Travelzest plc (LSE: TVZ.L) is a dynamic travel group, with a collection of online travel retailers and specialized tour operators, with operations in over 5 countries in Europe and North America.  Included in the Travelzest family of companies is holiday.co.uk, flight.co.uk, travelzest.com, itravel2000.com, The Cruise Professionals,  Best of Morocco VFB Holidays, Peng Travel, Faraway Holidays, The Malaysia Experience, Tapestry Collection, The Wow House, Captivating Cuba, JMB Travel, and Fair's Fare.  Travelzest is traded on London's AIM Exchange under the symbol TVZ.

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Media Contacts:

Carli Smith/Palm Beach County CVB                                                                           Maria Hayworth/Hayworth Creative PR

csmith@palmbeachfl.com/561-233-3030                                                            maria@hayworthcreative.com/386-677-7000

1555 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite 800, West Palm Beach, Florida  33401

561.233.3000    Fax 561.233.3009

Website Media Center: PalmBeachFL.com