THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300455
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVE MAYFIELD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
C.I. Travel, the Norfolk-based travel agency, said it has won its largest-ever contract - to book an estimated $185 million worth of travel over the next five years for personnel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
The contract - which will generate an estimated $15 million to $18 million in commissions for C.I. - is the cornerstone of an expansion that could more than double revenues for the company over the next two years, said Kevin McElroy, a C.I. vice president.
C.I. is also planning to expand its presence in Florida and branch into Richmond. And the travel agency is a finalist for several other Defense Department contracts as far away as California, McElroy said.
C.I. will hire as many as 40 employees in Dayton to handle thenew Air Force contract there. The company already provides travel services at Langley Air Force Base and three other Air Force facilities in North Carolina and Florida.
The travel agency's stronghold is Hampton Roads. McElroy said C.I. will branch into a few corners where it still has no local presence - like Williamsburg and Gloucester - before it moves into Richmond.
C.I. may open its own offices or buy existing agencies to accomplish the planned expansion, he said.
C.I. Travel will pull in more than $10 million in commissions this year, McElroy said. It employs 170 workers at more than 35 offices. A sister company of C.I.'s, Cruise International, markets cruises.
C.I. Travel, the Norfolk-based travel agency, said it has won its largest-ever contract - to book an estimated $185 million worth of travel over the next five years for personnel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
The contract - which will generate an estimated $15 million to $18 million in commissions for C.I. - is the cornerstone of an expansion that could more than double revenues for the company over the next two years, said Kevin McElroy, a C.I. vice president.
C.I. is also planning to expand its presence in Florida and branch into Richmond. And the travel agency is a finalist for several other Defense Department contracts as far away as California, McElroy said.
C.I. will hire as many as 40 employees in Dayton to handle the new Air Force contract there. The company already provides travel services at Langley Air Force Base and three other Air Force facilities in North Carolina and Florida.
The travel agency's stronghold is Hampton Roads. McElroy said C.I. will branch into a few corners where it still has no local presence - like Williamsburg and Gloucester - before it moves into Richmond.
C.I. may open its own offices or buy existing agencies to accomplish the planned expansion, he said.
C.I. Travel will pull in more than $10 million in commissions this year, McElroy said. It employs 170 workers at more than 35 offices. A sister company of C.I.'s, Cruise International, markets cruises. by CNB