Press Release

STA TRAVEL GIVES COLLEGE STUDENTS A “SECOND HOME” IN SECOND LIFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Christina Acuna
Direct Line: 972-538-8841
Email: cacuna@statravel.com

(DALLAS – April 18, 2007)  Recognizing that virtual worlds are fast becoming an important part of the college entertainment and learning experiences, STA Travel, the world’s largest student and youth travel company, will open its first virtual travel center on April 23, 2007 in the online world of Second Life.

In recent months, numerous universities including MIT, Harvard and the University of Houston have established vibrant virtual campuses inside Second Life®.  “Students don’t need a travel company to move them around in Second Life, but they do need someone to provide a ‘soft landing’ as they enter Second Life for the first time,” said Kristen Celko, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for STA Travel North America.  “Our objective is to extend our support and services beyond the first world as Second Life becomes an increasingly popular gathering place and university classroom alternative for young people.” 

STA Travel’s location in Second Life includes:

• Dedicated Portal and Orientation Island where students can join Second Life and easily and quickly learn how to navigate the virtual world.
• Virtual Dorms that students can customize and use for private meetings and get-togethers.
• Virtual Travel Destinations where students can experience Mayan Ruins, an Asian Temple and a French Café.
• STA Travel Main Office where students can get travel and destination information.Live Weekly Events and Tours produced by STA Travel as well as numerous travel partners.
• Sandbox where students can practice building their own virtual environment.

Launching today, the “STA Travel in Second Life” blog (www.virtualstatravel.com) will provide a comprehensive resource on the web for college life in Second Life. Students can experience a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the STA Travel islands, locate virtual Universities and get advance notice of planned STA Travel Second Life events.

STA Travel’s virtual presence in Second Life was developed by the Electric Sheep Company and ElectricArtists, Inc.

Note to editors:  Second Life® and Linden Lab® are registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc.

About STA Travel and ISIC

STA Travel is a full-service travel agency with over 70 retail locations in the United States and can be reached by calling (800) 505-1940. Students can also access the latest student airfares, packages and trips and other valuable information at http://www.statravel.com. The STA Travel Blue Ticket™ offers students and travelers under the age of 26 key benefits of low price, flexibility, and on-the-road service. STA Travel also has extensive resources and expertise to service group clients, with its International Programs and Group Services division. With over 400 branches in over 90 countries and serving over two and a half million students each year, STA Travel is the world expert in travel for students and young adults. STA Travel is the exclusive distributor of ISIC identification cards throughout the U.S.

North American Corporate Offices: 750 State Highway 121, Suite 250, Lewisville, Texas 75067