European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday october 28,1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 travel firm Sites by Mark Kinkade staff writer new signs carpets and computers Are obvious clues that the army s association with sat travel is Over and a new one with Carlson Wagon lit travel has begun. But the real difference said Daniel Parks Carlson Wagon lit travel contract manager will be in trip selection and convenience. We Are in a position to offer things sat could never do because of our combined Pur chasing Power Parks said thursday. We Are too big and too professional to be  As of today Carlson Wagon lit employees will begin changing furniture installing computers and hanging the Wagon lit signs on the 35 for Mer sat travel offices across Europe. Carlson Wagon lit travel is the largest trave management group in the world Parks said. In july the . Based Carlson travel network and the France based Wagon lit travel merged creating a supera Geney with 4,000 worldwide offices 50,000 major commercial clients and a Revenue of More than $11 billion. For military travellers that Means the new Agency has More contacts with hotels car rentals airlines and other travel agencies Parks said. The Impact that Carlson Wagon lit has on the . Military is the background the Purchas ing Power and the experience that comes wit basically the whole organization Parks said. Because of our size and economic clout they will be anxious to do business with  Carlson Wagon lit Hopes to Corner the . Army Europe s travel Market by undercutting off base Competition where sat travel could to Parks said. Company officials recently estimate that 30 percent of sat travel s potential custom ers go off base for cheaper rates. Under its us a eur contract the company will pay 3.15 percent of official travel purchases and 6.15 percent of Leisure travel purchases tothe army morale welfare and recreation system Parks said. There s nothing that s available in German agencies that we won t have Parks said. We May not be the cheapest ticket but nobody will be  As part of the takeover Carlson Wagon lit has signed Short term contracts with nine bus tour agencies to provide trips in Europe including deals with longtime sat travel Staples to Tours and enjoy Tours. Thet company has con tracts with most major tour operators in Ger many.-. " ,. Parks claimed that his company gives traveler Success to better rates and hard to find bargains in the travel Industry. Using a worldwide travel Agency computer net work Carlson Wagon lit can find and sell wholesale or Gray Market airline tickets Park said. A Gray Market ticket is similar to a Char Ter flight ticket he said. Consolidates buy air line tickets in bulk at a discounted Price. Usually the customer pays less than published fares. Although sat travel lost the Usa eur con tract the travel Agency will continue to sell air line tickets and travel packages on air Force and Navy bases in Europe As Well As most military installations in the United states. Task Force Leader promoted at ceremony in Vicenzo Vicenza Italy Brig. Gen. Jack p. Nix jr., com Mander of the . Army s Southern european task Force was promoted to major general tuesday during a ceremony at Vicenza that also marked the com Mand s 39th anniversary. Host of the ceremony was Gen. David m. Maddox commander of . Army Europe and 7th army. Nix recently served As the joint task Force Deputy commander for operation support Hope the humanitarian Aid operation in Central Africa.  i i a i