Visa is named 'World's Leading Credit Card' for eighth consecutive year at World Travel Awards

"Visa is honored to receive this award on behalf of its 21,000 member banks," says Tom Shepard, executive vice president, Global Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorships, Visa International. "With unsurpassed acceptance worldwide and with travel and entertainment programs linked to Visa cards around the world, our cardholders enjoy the convenience and confidence that Visa provides. It is a true honor to receive this accolade from one of the industry's most important awards programs."

Mr. Said Shuqom, Visa International General Manager for the Levant, said, "This award reinforces the global recognition Visa receives for the efficient electronic payment services that have made Visa the preferred payment method worldwide." Mr. Shuqom added, "We are delighted to receive this award as Visa continues its endeavour to provide the world with the most convenient way to pay."

The prize was awarded based on a worldwide online poll of travel agencies and frontline travel agents. Criteria used in evaluating companies and organisations include scope of distribution, convenience, and overall best services.

The online voting took place throughout 2005 at www.worldtravelawards.com. This enabled over 176,000 travel professionals, including 110,000 travel agents, worldwide the opportunity to let the world know who they think are the world's best in the travel industry. The winner was chosen from the following payment cards - American Express, MasterCard, Diner's Club, Visa and JCB.

"Visa has won 'World's Leading Credit Card' for eight years in a row, maintaining its position consistently over this period," says president and founder of the World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke.

"The awards take into account the views of tens of thousands of travel agents and professionals worldwide - over two million individual voting decisions are made during our five-month independent survey period and for Visa to come up best-of-class across the global travel marketplace, shows that it has a credit card offering that is still second to none. This is to due to Visa's focus on excellence and value-added services, which are offered to travelers at all times."

"Since founding the World Travel Awards in 1993, we have seen a growing sophistication in the travel and tourism trade and increased competition. Our winners have always been at the forefront of this process with their initiatives and products, Visa is one of these companies. This year's winners are no different, although 2005 has seen its fair share of global events from hurricanes to soaring oil prices. Yet our winners have continued to survive and thrive -- they've seen challenges as opportunities and led the way for the industry."

"Voted for independently by travel professionals worldwide, our award winners are having a major impact and influence on the world's travel and tourism industry. They are the true innovators and benchmarks for our trade, especially in the areas of customer service, technology, operational efficiency, product offering and style," explains Cooke.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards held its tenth annual World Travel Awards Ceremony on Sunday, 13 November 2005, at the Royal Opera House in London, England. The World Travel Awards honors leading travel-related organizations in worldwide and regional categories, which range from airlines, hotels, beaches and cruise lines to credit cards, car rental companies and hotel reservation services.