Virginia Beach's Bruce & Carol Horner Named Carlson Wagonlit Travel's "associate Of The Year"

One of the National Travel Agency Network's Two Top Annual Awards Honors Virginia Agency

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL (Friday, September 15, 2006) - The Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division today proudly presented its "2006 Associate of the Year" Award to its dynamic duo from Virginia Beach—D. Bruce and Carol Horner—during a special ceremony at the franchise organization's 2006 National Meeting at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL (outside of Tampa). As one of the organization's top two annual awards, recipients are judged on a point basis, precisely determining the level of commitment that nominees have to Carlson Wagonlit Travel's many exclusive training, marketing and cutting-edge technology programs.

"The Horners exemplify what success looks like in today's travel agency industry thanks to their bold strategies, ability to adapt quickly and continual commitment to do what's best for their customers," stated Roger E. Block, executive vice president of the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division that includes 600+ agencies throughout the United States. "By specializing in niche areas—including group travel, incentive travel and destination weddings—the Horners have built their full-service business into one that enjoyed $6.5 million in gross sales last year."

The Horners' business started out as a Travel Agents International (TAI) franchise in September 1990. In 1994, Bruce and Carol Horner became partners in the agency, which was converted to Carlson Wagonlit Travel in 1997 when TAI was acquired by the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Program.

"We love what we do," explained Carol. "I guess (it's) because we are in an industry that changes all the time, we have a knowledge that is important and valuable and we like to share it. That's how it works so well. We work well together, we travel well together and it's fun, too!"

In order to be eligible for the Associate of the Year Award, recipients must first be among those franchisees nationally to receive Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates' Award of Excellence for the year. Yesterday, for their fourth year in a row, the Horners were among twenty distinguished Carlson Wagonlit Travel franchisees honored with the 2006 Award of Excellence. Additionally, Bruce Horner has served as an elected member of Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates' Advisory Board.

To find the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate location nearest you, call 1-800-CARLSON, or visit www.carlsontravel.com. For information on joining the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate program, please call 866-248-3499 or visit www.carlsontravel.com, and click on "Franchise Information."

Carlson Travel Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson. Brands include: Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Cruise Holidays, Results Travel, SeaMaster Cruises, Carlson Leisure Travel Services and Carlson Destination Marketing Services. In 2006, for the tenth consecutive year, a Carlson Travel Franchise Group brand was named the top travel business franchise by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500®; Franchise Times ranked the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Program as the 3rd top franchise overall in 2005 for the fifth year in a row.

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