Visa Named "World's Leading Credit Card"

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

"Visa is delighted to receive this award on behalf of its 20,000 member banks," says Tom Shepard, executive vice president, Global Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorships, Visa International. "Visa continues to grow with the travel industry, working with merchants by providing merchants with access to millions of Visa cardholders and providing cardholders with unsurpassed acceptance worldwide. In addition, through travel and entertainment programs linked to Visa payment cards, cardholders receive added value that goes beyond the convenience and confidence that Visa provides. We are honored to receive this accolade from one of the industry's most important awards programs."

The online voting took place throughout 2006 at www.worldtravelawards.com. This enabled over 167,000 travel agents and professionals in over 200 countries worldwide the opportunity to let the world know who they think are the best in the travel industry. The winner was chosen from the following payment cards -- American Express, Diner's Club, JCB, MasterCard and Visa.

"Visa has won 'World's Leading Credit Card' for nine years running, 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 votes are cast during our five-month independent survey period -- and the fact that no-one has been able to knock Visa from the top spot for nearly a decade is testament that it has a credit card offering that is unbeatable. This is due to Visa's continued focus on excellence and value-added services for travelers, such as its innovative online travel portal.

"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 and Visa is one of these companies. This year's winners are no different, even with soaring oil prices and terrorist threats, 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.