Atlas Travel International's 2009 Transactions up 15%: Management Team Recruits Madia Sargent for Client and Brings on Kim Castro for Key Position

MILFORD, Mass., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Travel International has announced that, while much of the travel industry has suffered losses, they have continued to grow.  In fact, their year-end numbers show they have increased transactions 15% over 2008.  This success has allowed Atlas to expand their management team and also help recruit a key employee for a client in need of travel management assistance.

The first is Madia Sargent, who brings 25 years of experience in strategic outsourcing, travel expense and meeting procurement strategies.  Ms. Sargent will service the Millipore Corporation, a leading life-science and bioscience research company, as their Global Commodity Leader of Travel, Meetings and Fleet.  This is the first time Atlas has recruited and placed someone in such a critical position on behalf of a client.  Ms. Sargent will be working out of a virtual office in Chicago, in keeping with Millipore's efforts to be more "green" in 2010.

"Madia is a vibrant thought leader on the travel landscape," said Atlas Travel International CEO Elaine Osgood, "She is a great communicator and savvy about travel savings solutions. I am thrilled that Millipore has embraced her knowledge and travel acumen and that she is now serving this new corporate travel customer."

"I am thrilled to have been recruited for this global travel procurement opportunity," said Ms. Sargent.  "I think this arrangement shows Atlas' willingness to be innovative and invest in solutions that provide much needed travel, meeting, and fleet services to meet their global customer's needs.  Having been a member of the Atlas Advisory team I've always been impressed with Atlas' willingness to innovate."

As a sign of Atlas' intention to stay ahead of the curve on emerging technologies within the travel fields, Kim Castro has been hired as Atlas' Director of Technology and Automation.  Ms. Castro comes to Atlas with 20 years experience in the travel industry, primarily focused on technology for major travel management companies.  

"I have conducted an extensive search to find the right person for this key position, because we have always been a travel technology leader and I truly believe that customized technology, coupled with personal expertise, is the best way to add value to corporate travel offerings," said Ms. Osgood.  "Kim is intricately familiar with emerging technologies, global reporting and the changing distribution system.  We believe she will be an excellent asset to our team and to our customers."

The new hires underscore a phenomenon that seems unique to Atlas.  The company continues to seek opportunities even when external economic conditions appear to contradict such a strategy.  In this case, Atlas has expanded its management team while, at the same time, managing to increase their number of transactions over the previous year.

"I feel that during times of a weak economy it is actually a good time to seek out opportunities rather than cutting things to the bone," said Ms. Osgood.  "In this case, it was the right time to find the right talent we needed to offer more services for our clients and to secure ourselves for the future."

About Atlas Travel International, Inc.:

Celebrating more than 20 years in business, Atlas Travel International serves more than 500 corporations nationally and throughout the world and more than 15,000 vacation travelers.  Atlas is honored as a leading business in New England, in the travel industry and is a recent Ernst & Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year award winner.  Additionally, the company provides meeting and incentive services as well as luxury vacation planning.  For more information about Atlas, please visit www.AtlasTravel.com or by calling 800-362-8626.

SOURCE Atlas Travel International