AAA Mid-Atlantic Inc. buys Martin Travel

Read the news release below from AAA Mid-Atlantic

ROANOKE, VA (Thursday, April 03, 2008) –  On April 1st, 2008, AAA Mid-Atlantic Inc. purchased the operations of Martin Travel, a leading travel agency operating in the western part of Virginia, with branch locations in Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lexington, and Martinsville, Virginia.  The four Martin branch offices will retain their brand identity and operate as Martin Travel Agency, LLC, a stand-alone subsidiary of AAA Mid-Atlantic. Mel Ludovici will remain as President of Martin Travel Agency, LLC and will continue to lead the Martin team with no noticeable operational changes expected. 

Martin Travel and AAA Mid-Atlantic have had a business relationship going back to 2001.  For many years, Martin Travel has offered AAA products and services to AAA Members and others including Membership, Auto Travel Materials, and affinity credit cards programs.  In time, AAA Mid-Atlantic will offer AAA Mid-Atlantic Insurance Group products through its representatives at the Martin Travel Agency offices.

“The acquisition of Martin Travel is a logical culmination of the six year relationship we have had with Martin” according to AAA Mid-Atlantic’s president, Don Gagnon.  “Initially, neither customers nor associates will see any appreciable changes in daily operations, other than the introduction of AAA Mid-Atlantic insurance products in Martin offices.  Also, having Mel Ludovici stay on with the new company is a great asset.  Martin Travel has run a very successful operation for many years, and we want to ensure that success continues and grows.  This purchase expands AAA Mid-Atlantic’s presence in a portion of our club’s footprint where we are significantly under-penetrated at present.” according to Gagnon.

Martin Travel was founded in 1978 in Salem, Virginia, mostly serving corporate travel clients.  Since that time, Martin Travel has become the largest full service travel agency in western Virginia, with offices in Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lexington, and Martinsville.  Each Martin Travel location is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

AAA’s Roanoke office is located across from the main post office in Roanoke, at 707 5th Street, NE.  Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

AAA is a national organization, currently representing more than 51 million members throughout North America.  AAA Mid-Atlantic serves 835,000 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a total of 3.6 million members in Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; Delaware; Pennsylvania; and New Jersey combined.  It provides a wide range of automotive, insurance, travel, and financial services through its 50-plus retail branches, regional operations centers, and the Internet.  For more information on AAA Mid-Atlantic, please visit our web site at http://www.aaamidatlantic.com.