FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Par Avion Media Contact:	Active International Media Contact:
Grabiner/Hall http://www.grabinerhall.com Kande Hall email: Kande@grabinerhall.com cell: 310-850-7307 Victoria Hurley email: Victoria@grabinerhall.com cell: (310) 993-1840	Laurenn Vertal Peppercom 212-931-6141 lvertal@peppercom.com

PAR AVION & ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL REMEDY ATTRITION FEES WITH LAUNCH OF ATTRITION SOLUTIONS™

LOS ANGELES, Calif. U.S.A (Feb. 3, 2005)---For event organizers and hotels, attrition and attrition fees are one of the most significant problems in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. To remedy that issue, Par Avion Meetings & Conventions (PAMC), one of the world's leading conference housing, travel and registration companies, and Active International, the world's largest corporate trading company, today announced a new program called Attrition Solutions™ that will reduce or eliminate financial risk and alleviate the strain between event organizers and their hotel partners. Through the joint venture, Par Avion and Active International’s program can provide a potential solution for up to 100 percent of the liability for the attrition costs of hotel room blocks.

“Attrition fees create undue stress on the relationship between event organizers and hotels. They also create direct financial hardships for both parties,” said Toby Brenner, president and CEO of Par Avion Meetings & Conventions. “To help remedy attrition fee difficulties, Par Avion is pleased to partner with Active International to present this innovative financial solution to the industry, which offers many benefits to the hotelier and the event organizer or association.”

According to a survey report by the Convention Industry Council (CIC), the percentage of those who have been assessed attrition fees rose dramatically to 32 percent in 2002/2003 from just over four percent in 1998. In 2003, 32% were assessed fees and 41% of groups with a multiple hotel block were assessed fees. Only 52 percent of respondents have a formal organizational policy to cope with attrition, according to the study.

“Active International’s unique trading abilities can provide a solution to a high-profile problem within the conference and travel industry. Combined with Active’s proven ability to generate incremental revenues and introduce new clients to hotels and convention centers, this new solution creates a unique proposition within the travel marketplace,” said Dominic Bencivenga, Active’s senior vice president Worldwide Travel Services.

Key Benefits
While research shows that attrition fees are an escalating problem, Par Avion and Active International’s new Attrition Solutions™ program is the answer.

The hotel benefits by:
• Potentially collecting 100 percent of the liability upfront
• Avoiding steep litigation expenses
• Maintaining client goodwill

The event organizer or association benefits by:
• Significantly reducing or eliminating attrition fees
• Satisfying contractual obligations with the hotel
• Maintaining goodwill with the hotel partner

According to David Korse, president and CEO of IDG World Expo, this new solution is an important new opportunity for the industry. “As an experienced event organizer of conferences and exhibitions for technology markets, we believe we have a strong business understanding of the attrition issue. A program like this has the potential to provide an important sense of security and reduced financial risk.”

“I only wish this program had existed a few years ago, “said Scott Welker, chief operating officer of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). “It would have saved us quite a bit of money when our association had to pay attrition fees.”

To inquire about the Attrition Solutions™ program from Par Avion and Active International, call Par Avion at 800-826-5977 or e-mail attrition@paravion-inc.com.

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About Par Avion Meetings & Conventions
Founded in 1984, Par Avion Meetings & Conventions specializes in providing integrated convention housing, registration and travel packages to both corporate and association clients. For the past 20 years, Par Avion has presented a complete menu of services as part of its Convention Housing and Travel program, including: Site Selection, Hotel Contracting, Customer Service/Call Center, Attrition Management and On-Site Assistance. Through the help of Par Avion’s dynamic management team, clients have significantly increased meeting room count, reduced or eliminated attrition fees and greatly improved customer satisfaction. Par Avion’s corporate headquarters are located in Los Angeles with satellite offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Phoenix. Visit www.paravion-inc.com.

About Active International
Founded in 1984, Active International is the world’s largest corporate trading firm, with gross trading volume of approximately $1.5 billion. Its clients include industry leaders and Fortune 1000 companies in the apparel, automotive, electronics, financial, food and beverage, health and beauty, retail and travel industries. Active International’s travel division, staffed by travel and meeting professionals, services the sales meetings and event requirements of Active’s clients. Headquartered in Pearl River, N.Y., Active is an employee-owned company. For more information, please visit www.activeinternational.com/travel.