Swiftrank Changes Name to TravelShark Because It's a Better Name

In a corporate "aha" moment, online travel startup sheds old name for much cooler name and gets a mascot, t-shirts, and really pumped employees

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TravelShark

Jun 16, 2011, 08:00 ET

SINGAPORE and BOULDER, Colo. , June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Weary of constantly explaining the meaning of the name "Swiftrank" and of having to spell it out to everyone, Swiftrank today announced the launch of its new moniker, "TravelShark." The company still owns and manages the same leading global travel network of 12,000 destination-based websites, but it now has a much cooler name. TravelShark also introduced its new online presence today at www.TravelShark.com, where you'll find video coverage of the dramatic and touching stories behind the name change.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/swiftrank-changes-name-to-travelshark-because-its-a-better-name-123956049.html

Underscoring the depth of its commitment to the new identity, TravelShark added what it believes will be the fiercest mascot for any online travel company on land or sea – "Mako Mark the TravelShark" (pictured). Company officials are confident that in a duel, Mako Mark would dispense with a garden gnome, claymation figures, or any original Star Trek cast member with minimal effort.

"Sure, I can list a wealth of complex strategic reasons for the rebrand and depict the forecasted impact on detailed graphs, but the truth is, we had a less-than-optimal name and found a better one," said CEO Sue Heilbronner. "Having a resonant name has opened the door to new possibilities for marketing and brand development unavailable until now."

On the business front, TravelShark is developing new branded online products and services in travel. Internally, having TravelShark t-shirts that employees actually wear doesn't hurt either. The spike in team morale is unprecedented; employees look and feel cooler already. The sales team has expressed relief at having to deal with fewer questions on cold calls, like "huh?" or "what's a swift?" (it's a bird). The marketing group is happily wading through a list of potential shark giveaways for the upcoming HITEC show.

By any name, the company is serious about continuing the rapid growth of its global online travel business. TravelShark has been experiencing significant growth since its official launch in June 2010. The company now works directly with more than 600 hotels, hotel ownership groups, brands, and hospitality agencies to feature select hotels on TravelShark sites and drive consumer bookings to Featured Hotel Program partners. TravelShark operates in every major and middle market city in the world, generating traffic and revenues for hotels on every continent.

About TravelShark | TravelShark (formerly Swiftrank) is the world's largest online travel network, with more than 12,000 location-based travel websites for destinations around the globe. TravelShark's optimized websites facilitate transactions from more than 100 countries, generating profitable revenue for travel companies by driving direct bookings to hotels, resorts, spas, and more through its Featured Hotel Program. The TravelShark network includes major-market, content-rich sites like www.LasVegasHotels.com, www.SingaporeHotels.com.sg and www.HotelLondon.com. TravelShark is headquartered in Singapore, with a U.S. office in Boulder, Colorado. To learn more about how TravelShark can work for your property or travel company, please visit www.travelshark.com, call toll-free 866-308-7265 or +1-720-239-1285.

Media Contact: Sherri Giguere, +1-407-905-0608, [email protected]

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