CONTACT:
Hilari Graff at Strategic Vision
Tel: 914-881-9056/9020
hgraff@strategicvision.org

IMPERIAL TOURS DOUBLES REVENUE IN 2010 FROM FIT & GROUP BOOKINGS;
RESTRUCTURES ORGANIZATION AS RESULT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 26, 2011) – Reflective of the ensuing economic recovery, Imperial Tours (www.imperialtours.net), the leading luxury tour operator to China, doubled its revenue in 2010 (as compared to 2009) with 75 % of the growth realized in the second half of the year. Imperial cited the bookings of its FIT vacations (including the new China Escapades product that was introduced last year) and several museum groups whose benefactors were prepared to travel internationally as what spearheaded the increase in 2010 sales.

To accommodate continued revenue growth in 2011, based on the substantial increase in first quarter bookings over the same period in 2010, Imperial Tours has restructured its organization as follows:

• Effective immediately, all new inquiries, sales, reservations, lead fulfillment and itinerary planning will be handled by the Beijing office. A team of Itinerary Designers – Westerners who have each lived in China for several years, speak Chinese fluently, and possess in-depth knowledge of how to craft a customized, high-end journey through China – will address queries coming into this office.

The Itinerary Designers will be headed by Nancy Kim, Managing Partner in charge of Imperial’s operations. For all reservations and new inquiries, contact Nancy Kim at nancy@imperialtours.net, who will personally re-route requests to the appropriate Itinerary Designer.

• Marketing and business development (such as for the incentive and group sectors) will be the focus of the San Francisco office, headed by Margot Kong, who has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing and Business Development. The San Francisco office remains available to U.S. agents and clients who have immediate questions or need to review itineraries over the phone. Margot Kong can be reached at margot@imperialtours.net or 888-888-1970.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have experienced such a rebound in sales in the second half of 2010, and we attribute these numbers to an increase in customized FIT business for both Ultimate China and China Escapades itineraries as well as group and incentive programs for an affluent clientele,” said Guy Rubin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Imperial Tours.

“We created programs for the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, Friends of the Katonah Museum in New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum of London, which were extremely well-received, so while we’re continuing with individual tailor-made itineraries, we’ll further develop group and incentive requests,” he added.

Imperial Tours – Traveling China…in Style
The leading luxury tour operator based in China, Imperial Tours offers customized private tours and scheduled escorted group departures that combine local expertise with the high levels of service and quality expected by sophisticated Western travelers.

Unmatched in the industry with its breadth and depth of resources, Imperial Tours offers two types of bespoke FIT vacations – Ultimate China and China Escapades. Ultimate China is ideal for those seeking a ‘hosted’ luxury experience and where the ‘best of the best’ is a priority. A bilingual Western China Host accompanies travelers throughout an Ultimate China itinerary to ensure a flawless experience. China Escapades is targeted to independent and adventurous travelers seeking greater autonomy and who are more price sensitive. They desire to explore China’s intriguing sights, sounds and culture with a less mediated experience in a destination.

Additionally, Imperial features four regularly scheduled group tours that encompass exceptional accommodations, excellent sightseeing, and enriching experiences.

A member of Virtuoso and Signature, Imperial has been named to Travel + Leisure’s ‘A’ List of Super Agents every year between 2002 and 2010 and distinguished as a ‘top travel specialist’ by Condé Nast Traveler from 2008 – 2010.

Contact Information
For more information, please call (888) 888-1970, send an e-mail to margot@imperialtours.net or visit www.imperialtours.net. Become a fan of Imperial Tours on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/imperialtours.

Note to Editors
High-resolution digital images of Imperial Tours/China are available upon request.