In 1999, Vacation.com^® was acquired by Amadeus Global Travel Distribution and today, Amadeus and Vacation.com represent a unique partnership in the North American marketplace, a partnership focused on evolving and promoting the value of the travel agency communities in the U.S. and Canada.

As a technology provider, Amadeus Global Travel Distribution delivers the products and services that enable success for the travel and tourism industry in over 210 countries around the world. Founded in 1987, Amadeus provides traditional travel distribution services to over 60,000 travel agency locations and e-Commerce technology that powers the Web sites of travel agencies in 90 countries. Amadeus is also a leading IT solutions provider to the airline industry from sales and reservation systems to new generation customer management solutions for inventory and departure control.

Amadeus provides an innovative range of "high tech" solutions that leverages an agency's "high touch" with its clientele. From our host system that has a comprehensive inventory of travel providers, to an array of market-leading automation solutions interfacing with that system, Amadeus is focused on deploying leading-edge products and services that utilize the latest in Internet-based technology. Through the Amadeus GDS, travel agencies and airline offices are able to make bookings on more than 95 percent of the world's scheduled airline seats. The system also provides access to 63,000 hotel properties, 50 car rental companies serving some 25,600 locations, and other provider groups including: ferry; rail; cruise; insurance and tour operators.

As the largest network of travel agencies in North America, Vacation.com combines superior member benefits with market-leading technology and value-added services to create a more efficient way for an agency to operate and grow its business. As an Amadeus company, Vacation.com is able to draw on the technology expertise and financial resources of a GDS company that understands the importance of the retail agency in travel distribution.

Together, these two organizations represent a powerhouse in the U.S. and Canadian travel markets. Amadeus, with its longstanding reputation for delivering technology solutions that enhance the value of the travel agent and Vacation.com, with its mission of delivering the best marketing and financial services and programmes to its members are helping agencies redefine and evolve their value to the traveling public.