INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS AWARD TO ST. MAARTEN'S COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS & TOURISM
Miami, FL, December 19, 2006 — Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company and operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (Nasdaq: IACI), recently recognized the government of St. Maarten's support of the tourism and vacation ownership industries by presenting a plaque to the Honorable Theo Heyliger, Commissioner of Economic Affairs & Tourism, in St. Maarten.
"We are very appreciative of the government's commitment to the growth of tourism and vacation ownership in St. Maarten," said David Callaghan, vice president of resort sales and service for Internal International. "The island is a tropical paradise that features all the elements that provide our members with truly memorable vacation experiences."
"Due to our tourism development efforts, we have seen steady growth in tourist arrivals over the past several years and expect continued expansion in the future. There has also been an increase in visitor expenditures, which have a direct and positive impact on our economy," commented Commissioner Heyliger. "In effect, members visiting vacation ownership resorts in St. Maarten make significant contributions to tourism revenue and support other sectors of the local economy."
Saint Martin/ St. Maarten's rich culture is a blend of French, Dutch, and Caribbean traditions. Its cultural diversity and warm hospitality, excellent year-round weather, turquoise waters and white sand beaches, world-class dining, and duty-free shopping make the island the perfect vacation choice.
In 2005, St. Maarten was again one of the most popular Caribbean destinations with more than two million tourist arrivals. Nearly 42 million travelers visited the Caribbean in 2005, up 3.5 percent from the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization annual report.
The Caribbean has also proven itself to be a very popular destination among potential owners of the vacation ownership product. According to the Future Timeshare Buyers: Market Profile 2006, the Caribbean is one of the preferred destinations among pleasure travelers interested in purchasing timeshare - more than one quarter (27 percent) indicate a desire to visit during the next two years. The study is designed to provide unique insights into the vacation habits, preferences, and intentions of pleasure travelers, who are interested in purchasing some form of vacation ownership within the next two years.
As a Strategic Partner of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and a Board Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Education Foundation, Interval has been a long time supporter of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Interval is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market.
About Interval International
Interval International, a leading vacation ownership exchange company, is celebrating 30 years of quality and innovation. Interval has a global network of more than 2,000 affiliated resorts in over 75 countries, and serves its developer clients and 1.8 million member families through 28 offices in 19 countries. The company provides a variety of services and year-round travel-related benefits to enhance members' vacation experiences. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Interval International is part of IAC/InterActiveCorp, which operates leading and diversified businesses in sectors being transformed by the Internet, online and offline. Other IAC companies include Ask.com, Citysearch, Entertainment Publications, HSN, LendingTree, and Ticketmaster.
