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Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) is working to push volume and strengthen its brand name through the China Air Service Ltd. (CAS) joint venture in southern China, a new market for the TMC.

Clara Ou, manager of the GuangZhou office which opened in December last year, says Carlson is already witnessing a strong growth in volume, but has much to do in terms of building awareness and further boosting volume.

The Carlson name is well known in Beijing and Shanghai, so we have our work cut out for us here in Guangzhou, where we are still new, Ou said.

We will focus on getting the word out about the type of partnership we now have with CAS; getting to know corporate clients and boosting Carlson's image. People can now find us in three different locations throughout China.

The GuangZhou office currently has just over 10 people and the Shanghai office has more than 40, where the volume is growing very quickly, she said.

Carlson Wagonlit said the Shanghai and GuangZhou branch offices will generate volume ®in excess of US$30 million and provide professional corporate travel products and services to such companies as BP and General Electric (GE).'

"It has been just over 12 months since we celebrated the establishment of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in China with our JV with CAS and the opening of our Beijing location, said Geoffrey Marshall, CWT's president, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

During this period, the JV has made significant progress, in particular, the establishment of a national call center for our client General Electric servicing travellers from 28 cities ¨C a first in the China market; significant business growth in all locations; and the approval to open our branch locations in both Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The CWT and CAS joint venture company projects a 2004 sales volume of US$60 million for China.