Prestige Tours and Travel Promotions Inc., the largest African travel agency in the US owned by a Ghanaian has been awarded the Sabre Rising Star Award for the year 2001/2 at a short but impresive ceremony.

The award is one of the highest in the hospitality industry in the US given to travel and tour operators for sterling performance. Sabre is the leading provider of technology for the travel industry in the US

In an interview with newsmen, President of Prestige Tour and Travel, Mr Eddie Somuah said they won the award in recognition of their outsatnding support of Sabre and their continued desire to satisfy their numerous clients worldwide.

Ms Peggy Spoor, vice president of SABRE, presented teh award at a short but impresive ceremony in New York. In a citation accomapnying the award, it said "prestige has earned this recognition by demonstrating leadership through continued innovation and growth during one of the most dynamic times that our industry has ever witnessed. Prestige Tours and Travel leads by creating new opportunities to bring value to travellers in our changing market place. Employing business and techmology solutions to set your agency apart and an unwavering commitment to quality".

Established in 1991 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated two years later, the company has earned itself an enviable record of offering services such as organizing tours in Ghana, the Carribean and Europe. It aslo deals with airline tickets and as the major consolidator for Ghana Airways and Swissair, the company's volume of sales in terms of tickets increased by 300% this year, representing a total of $16million. He disclosed that the company used to get Ghana Airways about $7million every year since the airline started flying to NewYork about seven years ago. But the airlines' fortunes he noted have depreciated due to its current idebtedness and other problems the national carrier is currently facing.