Dublin, Ireland - During his European trade mission, Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Travelocity.com will locate a call center in the Dickenson County Technology Park. Travelocity.com provides real time travel reservations for Internet customers. This new project will create 500 new jobs through an investment of $2.27 million.
The company will immediately take possession of the 35,000-square-foot former Nexus Communications building. U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher was instrumental in securing this project for Virginia. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, Dickenson County, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development assisted Travelocity.com with its decision.
"Travelocity.com's decision to locate in Southwest Virginia is a major economic development win for the region and for the Digital Dominion," Governor Gilmore said. "Bringing new jobs and investment to all areas of the Commonwealth has been a priority of this administration. I am pleased that Travelocity.com is taking advantage of enterprise zone tax credits through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, workforce training services through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and general project management from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership."
Travelocity.com Inc. (NASDAQ: TVLY), is the leading travel Web site providing Internet and wireless reservations information for more than 700 airlines, more than 50,000 hotels and more than 50 car rental companies. A database-driven travel marketing and transaction company, Travelocity offers more than 6,500 vacation packages, tour and cruise departures and a vast database of destination and interest information. Travelocity currently employs more than 1,000 customer service professionals, has sold more than 14 million tickets and has registered more than 27 million members.
"We are extremely excited about the opening of our third customer service center in Clintwood, Virginia," said Terrell B. Jones, president and chief executive officer of Travelocity. "We were convinced right away that this location was ideal for us. We've found a very ready and able workforce and an enthusiastic community who has welcomed us with open arms. We're positive that this new customer service center will be a great success."
"Customer service call centers are a target industry in Southwest Virginia, and Travelocity.com's 500 new jobs will certainly benefit the Commonwealth as a whole," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal. "We congratulate Congressman Boucher and the local and regional economic development leaders for all of their hard work in continuing to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the region."
"Today we celebrate the location in Dickenson County of a major national technology based company," said U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher. "Many individuals and groups have worked together toward this success, and I want to extend my appreciation to all those involved. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance have provided outstanding assistance at the state level, and I want to recognize particularly the efforts of those groups in this effort. The assistance provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia has been instrumental in the decision of Travelocity to locate in Dickenson County," Boucher stated.