Press Release

The Regence Group expands Christopherson Travel Contract to include Oregon and Washington

November 1, 2001, Salt Lake City - Christopherson Travel Group, operating a dedicated on-site travel office at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah since August 2001, was recently awarded an expanded contract to handle additional travel for The Regence Group of BlueCross and BlueShield Affiliates in Oregon and Washington. The Christopherson Travel Group will manage their combined annual travel budget of $2.5 million. "Having all the systems, procedures and agents on-site has been a real advantage," said Michelle Pino, Travel Coordinator for The Regence Group. "They really go the extra mile. For instance, our three top executives were at a conference in Washington, DC on September 11th, and our Christopherson agent, Terry Money, came in over that weekend to get the guys home." "We are better able to maximize our travel dollars as well as take greater advantage of the technology and experience on which Christopherson Travel has built their reputation," said Brad Parkin, Communications Manager for The Regence Group. The Regence Group provides health insurance for more than three million customers throughout the West while enhancing national capabilities through a nationwide health maintenance organization. The BLUECARD program provides access to the BlueCross and BlueShield network of doctors and hospitals across the country. These plans give customers an unparalleled flexibility when operating businesses in multiple states. Christopherson Travel continues building its unique market niche of dedicated on-site travel offices, located in businesses throughout Utah and Idaho. "We combine high-touch service attitudes with seasoned travel consultants, and then provide powerful travel technology to make it beneficial for our clients," said Michael Cameron, President, Christopherson Travel. Established in 1953, Christopherson Travel Group has become the market leader and premier business travel experts by securing travel contracts with its unique style and focus on meeting all the needs of the business traveler. The company has experienced significant growth over the past ten years. They have expanded their annual travel booking volume from $1 million to over $75 million. The agency now provides travel management for more than 650 companies from 18 offices in Utah and Idaho, employing 80 professional team members.