16 Georgia Counties Named Camera Ready Communities

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), launched the state's Camera Ready Community Program today as a part of the state's ongoing efforts to bolster Georgia's growing film and television industry. The first 16 Georgia counties were designated Camera Ready at a special ceremony at one of Georgia's newest production facilities, EUE/Screen Gems Studio in Atlanta. Camera Ready is a designation put in place by the state to offer film and television production companies easier, faster and better access to local resources and information. A Camera Ready Community must designate a liaison who can assist film and television production companies on a local level.

"More than 50 Georgia counties hosted a film and/or TV production this year, making this a banner year for the industry in our state," said GDEcD commissioner Heidi Green. "Hollywood A-listers including Robert Duvall, Katherine Heigl, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston have all experienced our unique locations, talented crew base and world-class southern hospitality, helping make Georgia the top filming location in the south."

Bibb, Carroll, Chatham, Coweta, DeKalb, Dougherty, Emanuel, Floyd, Fulton, Hall, Houston, Lowndes, Morgan, Newton, Walker and Wilkes counties were recognized by the Georgia Department of Economic Development as the first 16 Camera Ready communities at the kickoff event.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Kris Bagwell, executive vice president, EUE/Screen Gems Studio; Heidi Green, GDEcD commissioner; Clara Deemer, Director of Tourism Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce; Craig Dominey, locations specialist, Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office; Lee Thomas, director (film), Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office; and Joe Genier, Film Producer.

Georgia's film and television industry is thriving with more than 348 productions shot in Georgia in FY10, with combined production budgets increasing from $647.6 million in FY09 to $744.3 million in FY10. Altogether, the industry's economic impact in the state in FY10 came in at $1.33 billion, up from $1.1 billion the previous year. Georgia is now ranked number one in the Southeast, and among the top five states in the nation for film and TV productions.

Georgia's communities offer TV and film productions a variety of unique and authentic landscapes including beautiful mountains, rural farmlands, coastal beaches and islands, swamps and marshes, scenic rivers and lakes, small towns, major metropolitan cities and more. In 2009, productions were shot in 50 counties in Georgia impacting local communities throughout the state.

To learn more about Georgia's Camera Ready Community Program please visit www.georgia.org/cameraready.

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Georgia Showcases Bioscience Advances at Industry's Top Global Conference

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia will continue to accelerate the growth of its bioscience industry at the annual BIO International Convention in Chicago, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry. The event attracts the biggest names in biotech and offers key partnering opportunities as well as insights into major trends.

"This strategic industry for the state continues to experience significant growth in the wake of last year's convention in Georgia," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The research coming out of our universities combined with Georgia's top-notch business environment has generated increased interest from the industry as a result of their heightened exposure over the last year."

Georgia's groundbreaking research, combined with top-ranked universities and a supportive business climate, have propelled the state's development as the crossroads of global health. More than 300 bioscience companies in fields like pharmaceuticals, biotech, diagnostics and bioenergy call Georgia home, making it the most industry-diverse state in the U.S. Southeast. Institutions like Emory University, Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the world's top public health agency, keep Georgia in the top 10 states for research and development.

Among the most significant developments following the BIO International Convention, which was held in Georgia for the first time in 2009, was the August announcement by Seattle-based Dendreon Corporation that it would locate a $70 million facility in Union City, Georgia. This plant will manufacture Provenge, an aggressive treatment for prostate cancer that won FDA approval last week. The company is in the process of creating several hundred jobs in Georgia.

Other biotechnology companies recently announcing locations, expansions or funding partnerships in Georgia are Sepmag Technology of Spain (in-vitro medical devices), Iverson Genetics of Washington (genetic testing), Qualtex Labs of Texas (blood testing), Cancer Treatment Centers of America (hospital) and a number of bioenergy-focused enterprises.

Numerous biotechnology companies in the state are developing, testing and implementing ground-breaking discoveries. For example, Georgia-based Geovax Labs, which has licensed and is testing one of the world's most promising therapeutic vaccines for HIV/AIDS, received FDA approval in March to begin Phase 1 clinical trials. The vaccine was created by the Emory Vaccine Center, renowned for its discovery of the breakthrough HIV drug Emtriva. Altea Therapeutics, which is developing a proprietary technology enabling drug delivery, including insulin, through transdermal patches, currently has five products in development and several clinical and preclinical studies underway with pharmaceutical companies.

Georgia universities like the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) are fueling this pipeline with new findings in cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, immunologic and vision science and children's health. Research funding per basic scientist at MCG ranks second in the nation among similar-sized institutions, and MCG was named among The Scientist magazine's top 15 places in the U.S. to work in academia.

Incubators at MCG and the Georgia Institute of Technology have been recognized by national publications as among the nation's top facilities. Last month Forbes magazine named the Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech to its new list of "10 technology incubators that are changing the world." ATDC, one of around 20 state-funded incubators in Georgia, now has more than 300 companies in its program.

Georgia Tech is also a new member of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and joins Emory University as two of just 63 public and private universities inducted into this elite group based on academic and research credentials.

Joining the Georgia Tech-affiliated Technology Enterprise Park and other bioparks around the state in the future will be a public-private "Crossroads Institute for Global Health" at the former Fort McPherson. This 165-plus acre campus will be able to accommodate companies working in vaccines, infectious diseases, neurosciences and other targeted sciences.

Under Governor Perdue's leadership, Georgia has been a leader in improving life sciences education and workforce development. The Governor's Office of Workforce Development has launched a comprehensive program to create an articulated life sciences career pathway from high school to technical colleges to universities; create training for the existing life sciences industry workforce; eliminate the skills gap using Work Ready Certificates and Work Ready job profiling; and increase high school graduation rates through Certified Work Ready Communities.

Georgia's Innovation Crescent, which organized two years ago to focus on the bio-rich cluster identified by Governor Perdue's workforce study, has just announced its formalization as an economic development entity called the Innovation Crescent Regional Partnership. The Innovation Crescent is a 13-county region from Atlanta to Athens containing numerous bio-focused colleges and universities, as well as industry leaders like Merial, Ciba Vision and Kimberly-Clarke.

The Innovation Crescent is one of five Georgia Work Ready Regions established to bring together bioscience assets and leaders from multiple counties to create regional talent pools. Other regions include Augusta Bioscience, Bioscience Technology Circle of South Georgia, Renewable Energy Front, and the Southwest Georgia Agribusiness Consortium. To date, Georgia has invested in $2.1 million in developing these regions, their workforces and industry networks.

Professionals at Georgia Quick Start, the state's program for customized workforce training, has deep experience in FDA-regulated process and has helped many major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in Georgia find, assess and train team members. A recent example is the customized, 20,000-training hours program Quick Start developed for 400 workers at the new world laboratory headquarters of Quintiles, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

Georgia's Center of Innovation for Life Sciences (http://lifesciences.georgiainnovation.org/), part of a network of six Centers of Innovation aligned with the state's strategic industries, makes it easier for early-stage companies to thrive by connecting entrepreneurs and emerging companies around Georgia to industry experts and university research in order to accelerate innovation and commercialization. To complement its work, the public-private Georgia Bioscience Commercialization Center has launched a Web site, www.georgiabcc.com, that will likewise give entrepreneurs access to mentoring assistance from company CEOs and university faculty.

At last year's BIO conference, Georgia debuted a first-of-its kind searchable database called iResearchGeorgia, a partnership between the state and academia. Managed and funded by the Georgia Research Alliance, the online database connects innovative companies with Georgia's top bioscience experts, intellectual property assets and much more. (www.gra.org)

iResearch is just one focus of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), whose existence is a testament to the unified commitment of industry, government and academia in Georgia to grow a technology-based economy. The GRA has recruited over 60 eminent, enterprising scientists to the state, developed 28 nationally recognized Centers of Excellence, and helped leverage $2.6 billion in federal and private investment.

Georgia's 2009 No. 1 ranking for entrepreneurial activity by the Kauffman Foundation attests the strong regional entrepreneurial culture. The state continues to develop a compelling environment for such companies to grow and succeed.

The Centers for Innovation program helped sponsor the Venture Atlanta conference last fall, which drew nearly 500 people and attracted more than 100 VCs from top firms around the country to hear investment opportunities from 21 Georgia companies. More than $410 million in venture capital was invested in Georgia in 2008, ranking the state 14th in the country.

Support for biotech entrepreneurs has also increased in the state with the 2009 implementation of a revised Research & Development tax credit that is tied to the federal calculation and can also be used against payroll withholding. Small, innovative companies now have a longer time period and greater opportunity to position themselves for success.

Other financial incentives for the industry are the Advanced Technology Development (ATDC) Seed Capital Fund, which has invested about $4.6 million since 2004 into life science companies in Georgia that have raised nearly $58 million in total capital, and the Georgia Research Alliance Venture Capital Fund, which provides $30 million of seed and early stage capital for companies growing research coming out of Georgia's universities. Bio companies can also benefit from the Quality Jobs Tax Credit, created in 2009, which rewards companies who create jobs paying higher-than-average wages for the community in which they locate, and has a component that can be monetized against employee withholding taxes.

The bioscience industry in Georgia created almost 18,000 jobs in 2007, the most recent year for which data is available. According to other statistics from the "Shaping Infinity" report released by Georgia BIO, the industry was responsible for the creation of more than 62,000 jobs in Georgia, created $16 billion in output and contributed $6.2 billion to the state GDP as well as $517 million in tax revenues for state and local governments. In addition, life sciences research at the state's colleges and universities generated $1.3 billion in output and nearly 15,000 jobs in fiscal year 2006.

"The high-wage jobs created by this industry generate economic growth in Georgia and help drive the innovation so necessary to success in the global marketplace," said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Our participation in this conference is a key component to our long-term strategy to raise Georgia's profile in this sector and attract companies and venture capital to the state."

The state is hosting 12 Georgia universities, companies and agencies in its exhibit hall booth this year, including Aderans Research, Altea Therapeutics, Emory University, Georgia Bio, Georgia Innovation Crescent, Georgia Tech, Georgia Quick Start, Georgia Work Ready, GeoVax Labs, Medical College of Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine and Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

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USDA Urged To Heed Producer Testimony and Scrap The National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to actually listen to and honor the comments offered by the nation’s livestock producers during the USDA's multi-city listening tour on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and scrap the program.

"A common thread that ran through much of the testimony at the USDA hearings was that existing prevention and tracking programs for animal diseases together with state laws on branding and the existing record-keeping by sales barns and livestock shows provide the mechanisms needed for tracking any disease outbreaks," said Pete Kennedy, acting president of the Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.

"NAIS is simply not needed," he added. "The USDA continues to confuse industry support for efforts to identify and eliminate animal diseases with support for NAIS, despite the fact that some 80 percent of the people who testified during the hearings testified against USDA's animal identification program," he said.

Kennedy’s comments came as the USDA wrapped up its 14-city listening tour with a session in Omaha last week. During the tour more than 1,600 people attended listening sessions; almost 500 people testified; and more than 400 of those stated their opposition to NAIS.

"Even the U.S. Congress has grown impatient with the NAIS," commented Fund board member Taaron Meikle, "with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro calling continued investment in USDA's NAIS ‘unwarranted.’ "

De Lauro’s comments came in a release explaining the cuts in the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill her subcommittee recommended.

Instead of pouring more money and effort into NAIS, the Fund is urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to re-focus the nation’s animal disease and food safety efforts on several alternatives including:

* Decentralizing the livestock industry and encouraging local, diversified farms, which would increase animal health, food security, and food safety;
* Increasing inspections of imported animals and agricultural products and barring the entry of animals from countries with known disease problems; and
* Improving enforcement of existing laws and inspections of large slaughterhouses and food processing facilities, including unannounced spot inspections at those large facilities.

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, along with six of its members from Michigan, last year filed suit in the U.S. District Court – District of Columbia against the USDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to stop the implementation of NAIS. An amended complaint was filed in January 2009 with the Fund adding a member from Pennsylvania as a Plaintiff.

The MDA has implemented the first two stages of NAIS – property registration and animal identification – for all cattle and farmers across the State under the guise of its bovine tuberculosis disease control program. MDA’s implementation of the first two steps of NAIS was required, in part, in exchange for a grant from the USDA.

The Fund’s suit asks the court to issue an injunction to stop the implementation of NAIS at both the State and Federal levels by any State or Federal agency. If successful, the suit would halt the program nationwide.

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Handgun Manufacturer GLOCK, Inc. Announces their Mid-Year Guidance Concerning the Sales Efforts

Handgun Manufacturer GLOCK, Inc. Announces their Mid-Year Guidance Concerning the Sales Efforts for U.S. Law Enforcement, Commercial and Federal/Military Markets

With more than half a year in the books, handgun manufacturer, GLOCK, Inc. announced today industry guidance on the firearms market and the success of the company for the fiscal year. Coming off of five years of record sales both in the Civilian, Law Enforcement and the Federal/Military segments of their business, the U.S. based manufacturer revealed that demand for their product has been unprecedented. With the downturned economy and the jump in sales activity for sport shooting and personal defense, the company is making plans to expand for future sales similar to the ones generated at the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) show.

Despite GLOCK Inc.'s good fortune, other manufacturers are falling on hard times. "We are seeing that certain categories of the firearms industry are severely depressed, and the companies who lack sales in those specific categories are finding their bottom line adversely affected and are not maximizing owner profitability," commented Gary Fletcher, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Over the last couple of years we saw a certain amount of consolidation in the industry, yet we also witnessed more and more companies expand their product line on the weight of their brand and take on tremendous amounts of debt. And in certain cases we saw companies do both. As in any industry, companies that incurred massive debt, especially in the last few years, who are expanding based on their brand are now seeing that debt as an anchor. They fail to have the necessary capital to invest and make their product more valuable and it further impinges on their bottom line. And the folly of this management style is showing, as the competition has been forced to offer costly incentives, which are difficult to fulfill, so they can boost their unit sales at the expense of their bottom line. To further degrade their profit margin and brand, many of these same companies will take losses against their more popular and profitable products to gain market share based on price rather than product capabilities, which in turn forces them to record Unit Sale increases while taking Gross Margin decreases. All of this further weakens their economic viability in this tight credit market."

But as other companies struggle with incremental gains, GLOCK, Inc., with over 65% of Law Enforcement using their handguns featuring the highly regarded "Safe Action System" continues to set a blistering pace in agency conversions. More and more agencies are determining that rock solid reliability and world class customer service combined with an economical price tag win out over marketing and pricing schemes dreamed up to move excess inventory. In the last eighteen months GLOCK, Inc. has converted over eighty (80) agencies in the United States from a single competitor. This success has carried over to the conversions of agencies from other competitors as well.

Not to be outdone, the Federal Law Enforcement and Military segments continue to gain market share to put GLOCKs into the hands of U.S. Government forces serving domestically and overseas. Unlike some competitors, GLOCK, Inc.'s focus has been and will remain on those who go in harm's way to protect and serve. They use a bottom-up end user compared to a top-down business model. "This sales strategy is proving itself on a daily basis as GLOCK replaces other manufacturer's pistols as their respective pistol of choice," commented Joshua Dorsey, Vice President of Operations and Federal/Military Sales. "We have worked diligently with our contacts to make sure that the units that are outfitted with our product have the best equipment configured in the manner they specifically request. We stand ready to not only meet U.S. Government requirements, but to exceed them."

The Commercial segment remains GLOCK Inc.'s focal point as made evident at NASGW. Having been the past recipient of the 2005 Manufacturer of the Year and the 2006 Chairman's Award, the highest award given at the show, GLOCK, Inc. once again took high honors in 2008 with its second Chairman's Award. "The NASGW award system is based upon certain criteria that wholesalers in the Sporting Goods industry define as crucial," stated Craig Dutton, Director of Commercial and Law Enforcement Sales. "Being the recipient of this award is a culmination of the hard work and effort of the entire organization. Our employees are honored to be the recipient of this award that is voted on, and presented by, our customers."

The Firearms Industry expects that economic uncertainty will remain for some time and GLOCK, Inc. is prepared for growth. Being privately owned, and with no debt on their books, GLOCK, Inc. will soon break ground and expand its manufacturing capabilities beyond its current state. As businesses flourish and flounder, the survivors will be those companies that practice sound, conservative business practices, leveraging their ability to delight customers beyond their desired expectations. GLOCK, Inc. has been perfecting that practice for the past 22 years and envisions even better days ahead.

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Georgia's Forest Industry Contributions Recognized

Governor Sonny Perdue has proclaimed October 19-25 National Forest Products Week,
highlighting the Georgia Forestry industry’s $28.5 billion impact on the state in 2007. According to statistics released by The Georgia Institute of Technology, the Forestry industry also provided
employment for more than 141,000 Georgians and compensation of $6.7 billion to employees and proprietors.

“Our state is one of the nation’s leading pulp and paper producers,” said Nathan McClure, Forest
Marketing Director for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “While the building products industry is being affected by downturns in real estate, the outlook is for positive future growth in relation to bioenergy.”

According to the report, the “Manufactured housing” economic impact sector posted the greatest
loss between 2006 and 2007 at 14.7%. “Pulp and Paper” and “Packaging” were two sectors that
experienced gains during 2007, reflecting increases in wood products exports.

Georgia ships more than $16 billion of forest products, such as lumber, paper, paperboard and
allied products every year. The report shows local economies of 37 Georgia counties are “very” or
“critically” dependant on the forest manufacturing industry. The Forest Industry ranks second in Georgia behind food processing when considering compensation to employees and proprietors. Forestry ranks third behind textiles and food processing when considering number of employees.

“Construction is continuing on the state’s first commercial scale pine-to-ethanol production plant in Soperton,” said McClure. “Plans have also been announced to build five pine-to-electricity plants in the state. Our rural forestry economy can be expected to improve as more investments are made in Georgia’s Bioenergy Corridor.”

The complete 2007 Economic Impact of Forest Products Manufacturing in Georgia report can be
viewed at GaTrees.org/Forest Marketing/Doing Business in Georgia.

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Cruise Industry Spending Tops $676 Million, Generates 9,147 Jobs in Georgia in 2007

PRNewswire/ -- The North American cruise industry contributed $676 million in direct spending to the state of Georgia's economy in 2007, a 1.4 percent increase over the previous year according to a recently released study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

This spending, in turn, generated 9,147 jobs paying $437 million in wage income. This represents 3.6 percent of the industry's total U.S. direct expenditures, ranking the state seventh in the nation in terms of cruise industry spending. State business sectors most impacted by the industry's direct spending included: business services and government, $327 million; manufacturing, $177 million; and information services, $63 million.

With no direct cruise operations, Georgia is a major source market for cruise passengers. Resident cruise passengers totaled 337,000, 3.7 percent of U.S. resident passengers. The state also supports the cruise industry with a wide range of goods and services.

"The cruise industry continues to make an impressive contribution to the economic well-being of the country and Georgia plays a significant role as one of the leading beneficiaries of industry spending and job creation," said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA.

The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2007 study was conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) in Exton, Pa., and analyzes the economic benefits to the U.S. economy from five principal sources: spending by cruise passengers and crew; shoreside staffing by cruise lines in U.S. cities; expenditures by cruise lines for goods and services; U.S. port services; and vessel maintenance and repair.

Among other key Georgia findings:
-- Tourism-related businesses such as tour operators, airlines, hotels,
restaurants and providers of ground transportation were the
beneficiaries of 20 percent of the cruise industry spending, receiving
$134 million.
-- Another $166 million was spent with businesses in the following
sectors: food processors, computer and electronic equipment
manufacturers, advertising agencies, insurance companies and
management and technical consultants in the non-manufacturing sector.
-- Direct expenditures in Georgia also impacted such industries as
telecommunications, financial services, software publishers and
textile and apparel manufacturers.


Nationwide, the North American cruise industry continued to have a significant and growing impact on the U.S. economy in 2007, positively affecting every state in the country. Cruise line and passenger spending generated a total of $38 billion in gross economic output, a 6.4 percent increase over 2006, and generated 354,700 American jobs paying $15.4 billion in wages and salaries. Direct spending by cruise lines, their employees and passengers totaled $18.7 billion.

The full economic study and summary can be downloaded from CLIA's Web site, www.cruising.org .

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GamePlan Financial Marketing Selects McRae

GamePlan Financial Marketing, an industry-leading field marketing organization for independent life insurance agents and financial advisors, has retained McRae as its integrated marketing agency of record. McRae will develop a comprehensive communications program that includes significant advertising, public relations, and interactive components.

GamePlan Financial Marketing (www.gameplanfinancial.com) is one of the world's leading field marketing organizations (FMOs) for independent life insurance agents and financial advisors. More than 20,000 agents and advisors nationwide use GamePlan Financial to write more than $1 billion in life insurance, long-term care, and fixed index annuity premiums each year. GamePlan is the nation’s leading FMO for Allianz, the world’s largest insurance carrier, and one of ING’s top ten National Marketing Organizations (NMOs). Founded in 1992, GamePlan Financial is headquartered in Atlanta and was listed on the Inc. 500 list of the country’s fastest growing companies in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

McRae (www.mcrae.com) is one of the southeast’s largest integrated marketing agencies and one of the only firms in the region to provide comprehensive advertising, public relations and interactive services on an in-house basis. McRae is a member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest network of independent public relations firms, the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and the Technology Association of Georgia.

Travelport makes Atlanta its North American GDS headquarters

Travel Conglomerate to add up to 300 jobs, invest $33 million in two metro area locations

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced recently that Travelport will make Atlanta its North American global distribution system (GDS) headquarters, adding up to 300 jobs and investing $33 million.

“Travelport’s decision to locate a division headquarters in Atlanta signals that our position as a hub in the travel and IT industries is second to none,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The addition of these high-paying jobs will provide more opportunities for Georgia’s best and brightest to stay in the state and continue to grow our economy.”

Travelport acquired Atlanta-based Worldspan in August 2007. Travelport will make the former Worldspan location in Cobb County at 300 Galleria Parkway N.W. its North American GDS headquarters, adding up to 200 jobs. The company will consolidate operations across its current North American locations of Rosemont, IL; Parsippany, NJ and Denver, CO. Travelport is also expanding its data center in Hapeville and plans to add up to 100 jobs to that facility. In addition to the new jobs created, the company will retain the existing 325 metro Atlanta based jobs.

Travelport is a world leader in the provision of automated travel reservations for airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines and rail operators, providing service to on-line and off-line travel agencies in over 145 countries. It also runs most of the internal reservations and related systems used by carriers such as Delta, Northwest and United Airlines, as well as more than 40 other airlines globally.

“The consolidation of our business into a North American GDS headquarters is a significant step in building upon synergies between our existing Galileo and recently acquired Worldspan GDS businesses,” said Gordon Wilson, CEO and president, Travelport GDS. “The State of Georgia, Cobb and Fulton counties and the city of Atlanta have demonstrated strong support for our move and we look forward to growing our business and serving our customers from our new North American GDS headquarters. Atlanta has an excellent geographic position, continually growing international direct airline services and a well educated, technologically literate work force.”

A number of agencies worked together on the Travelport project, including Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Development Authority of Fulton County, the Cobb County Office of Economic Development, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, the Department of Revenue, QuickStart, ICAPP, Department of Labor and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

“We are proud to welcome Travelport’s GDS North American headquarters to a growing list of industry leaders headquartered in Cobb County,” said Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens. “Travelport will bring new jobs, new technologies and its broad global connections to Cobb County.”

“The City of Hapeville is excited to welcome Travelport to our town,” said Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman. “Our city enjoys the luxury of being the front door to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and we benefit greatly from the economic activity generated by the airport. We look forward to a long and bright future with Travelport.”

About Travelport GDS
Travelport GDS is one of the world’s largest global distribution system (GDS) providers operating both the Galileo and the Worldspan brands, providing real-time travel information and booking capabilities to online and offline travel agencies in over 145 countries. It also operates Travelport Business Intelligence providing marketing and other critical data to the global travel industry through Shepherd Systems and Travelport Airline IT Services and Solutions, which provides mission critical reservations and related software and services management to the world’s leading airlines. Travelport GDS is a convergence of traditional and online travel distribution services that empower airlines, travel suppliers, travel agencies, Web sites and corporations to provide informed choice to travelers on a global platform. Travelport GDS is a division of Travelport, one of the world’s largest service providers to the travel industry. More information is available at travelportgds.com.

About Travelport
Travelport is one of the world’s largest service providers to the travel industry. The company operates two primary businesses - a global distribution system business, which comprises the Galileo and Worldspan brands and a group travel and wholesale hotel business through its GTA brand. Travelport also owns a significant interest in Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. With 2006 revenues (including Worldspan) of approximately $3.4 billion, Travelport operates in 145 countries and has approximately 7,500 employees. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, Technology Crossover Ventures and One Equity Partners.