“Expert, consultative service is ingrained in the culture and brand promise of American Express,” said Andy McGraw, Senior Vice President, General Manager of North America for American Express Business Travel. “The new Advisory Services unit will be laser focused on providing the insights and capabilities required to deliver tangible ROI – in the form of purchase and process savings as well as heightened program controls – from the billions of dollars our clients' spend annually on travel and meetings.”

Through its holistic, interdisciplinary approach, Advisory Services will globalize and integrate three travel specialty practice-lines – policy management, strategic sourcing and process management – that had previously operated individually within defined geographies. Broadly, the practice-lines function as follows:

• Policy Consulting -- Drive corporate cultural change around travel buying decisions
   
• Strategic Sourcing -- Secure optimal supplier relationships to support client success
   
• Process Management -- Implement buying decisions and travel program controls

Advisory Services is managed by 12-year American Express veteran and business builder Mike Streit, Vice President, Advisory Services, American Express Business Travel. During his tenure at American Express, Streit similarly led the successful transformation of several American Express business functions including Tax and Business Services, Global Procurement Office, and Global Real Estate. Streit is a two-time recipient of the prestigious American Express Chairman's Quality Award.

“We are already experiencing robust demand for the Advisory Services function. Early sales for the newly unified operations reflect a 23 percent increase for the annual quarterly period ended March 31, 2006,” said Streit. “Further, with business travel on the rebound and costs and complexity rising across every facet of travel spending, there's never been a more pressing need for the insights and capabilities we bring to the table.”

Advisory Services' recognized subject matter experts will leverage the world's largest corporate travel data repository, representing more than 10,000 clients and $20 billion in total travel spend, and take full advantage of American Express's unique position as the world's only fully integrated travel, purchasing and payment program provider.

“American Express Business Travel is the only global travel management company that brings together an integrated travel and expense management program for its clients,” concluded McGraw. “Advisory Services adds the talent, tools, and management consulting acumen to enable our clients to manage more holistically the total cost of their travel.”

The strategic move integrates Business Travel's existing Policy and Online Adoption consulting groups, as well as the eCLIPSE and Corporate Meetings Solutions brands, industry experts and technology innovations into the new Advisory Services organization. eCLIPSE was acquired through the acquisition of Rosenbluth International in 2003, and served as the travel procurement specialists for American Express Business Travel. The new Advisory Services unit will perform all eCLIPSE agreements going forward.

About American Express Business Travel
American Express Business Travel, a division of the American Express Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realize the greatest possible value from their investment in travel through increased cost savings, outstanding customer service and greater spend control.  For small businesses, medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, American Express Business Travel provides a combination of industry-leading booking technology, travel management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation support and customer service available online and offline, around the world.

American Express operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks with over 2,200 travel service locations in over 140 countries and territories worldwide.  The Company processed nearly $19 billion in global travel sales in 2005.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850.  It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, business services and international banking.

About American Express Corporate Services
American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks, recording $18.8 billion in worldwide travel sales in 2005.

Through its Global Corporate Services group, American Express provides expense management services to more than 100,000 firms worldwide through its Corporate Card program, Corporate Purchasing Solutions and Business Travel Services. More information on expense management tools from Corporate Services can be found at http://www.americanexpress.com/corporateservices.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, business services and international banking.