American Express Business Travel Named "World’s Leading Business Travel Agency”

American Express Business Travel, has been named the "World’s Leading Business Travel Agency” by World Travel Awards. With more than 180,000 travel professionals and key suppliers casting votes, the award recognizes American Express Business Travel for service excellence and the commitment to achieving best-in-class travel and expense management. This prestigious award was presented to American Express at the 16^th Annual World Travel Awards, held in London on Sunday, November 8.

This is the third year American Express Business Travel has received an award from World Travel Awards. In years past, the organization awarded American Express the "World’s Leading Travel Company” and the "World’s Leading Corporate Travel Booking Website.”

Accepting the award was Mark Douglas, vice president, American Express Business Travel. "This award underscores American Express Business Travel’s focus on delivering exceptional customer service with unparalleled global reach,” said Douglas. "We are truly thankful for this recognition and will strive to continue to provide our customers with the services they need online, offline and around the world.”

American Express Business Travel has received other recognition in 2009 for its industry leadership and excellence. In addition to "World’s Leading Business Travel Agency,” the Company was also named the "Best Corporate Travel Agency” for the second consecutive year by TTG Asia Travel Awards in October, and earlier this year was listed as number one on Travel Weekly’s annual "Power List” which ranks the nation’s top travel companies based on volume of annual sales and company size.

About American Express Business Travel

American Express Business Travel (www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel), a division of American Express Company, is committed to helping its clients maximize the greatest return on their travel investment through increased cost savings, world-class customer service and greater spending control. With clients ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations, American Express Business Travel provides a combination of industry-leading technology, travel management consulting, strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation support, alongside global customer service available online and offline. The Company also provides a dynamic online community (www.businesstravelconneXion.com) harnessing the collective intelligence of those in the business travel industry offering a variety of perspectives, best practices, current research and industry news.

American Express operates one of the world’s largest travel agency networks with locations in over 140 countries worldwide. Total travel sales volume in 2008 was $29.1 billion, including proprietary volume, volume processed through joint ventures, and American Express branded volume processed through its partner network.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

About World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards was conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now in its sixteenth year, travel professionals and discerning travelers have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the very best endorsement that a travel product could hope to receive.