The recent merger of Delta Air Lines, whose second largest hub is Salt Lake, and Northwest Airlines creates a premier global airline with service to nearly all of the world's major travel markets.

The new airline, called Delta, is committed to delivering excellent service to customers in 66 countries and more than 375 worldwide cities - more than any other airline, adding yet greater access to the "Crossroads of the West," Salt Lake City.

"The Delta-Northwest merger simply means that Salt Lake is that much more accessible from different parts of both the country and now the world," commented Scott Beck, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Salt Lake was already one of the easiest destinations to reach; this merger just offers greater access to both our meeting and convention delegates as well as our leisure travelers.

The Delta-Northwest merger brings together two of the industry's most financially secure airlines to produce a best-in-class cost structure and an industry-leading balance sheet. The transaction is expected to generate a more comprehensive and diversified route system, reduced costs and improved operational efficiency.

The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. Having recently undergone a $58 million expansion, the Salt Palace Convention Center now boasts 675,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, ideal for groups of all sizes and needs. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.