AMEX Office in Venice
Does anyone have the contact information for this office? Email or telephone would be great.
Tim
Knoxville, TN USA 10/29/09
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American Express Travel Related Services Company (those are the folks in the Amex offices overseas) does not operate in Venice any more, all Italy offices (except Rome) were shuttered in January. "Too much rent" was the word.
Here's the story from the Chicago Tribune via the Seattle Times web site American tourist slump hits Italy.
American Express opened its first Italian office in 1901, in the port city of Genoa, where the thriving shipping business complemented the company’s growing international express activities.
Additional offices opened in Naples and Rome over the next few years. The company moved its Rome office to its current location in the famous Piazza di Spagna, one of the most popular gathering places in Rome, in 1912.
During the decades following World War I, a burgeoning travel market brought millions of travelers to these offices. While a substantial number of these visitors were traveling under the auspices of American Express travel services, a far greater number were holders of American Express® Travelers Cheques who availed themselves of the courtesy services offered to this clientele. To accommodate growing numbers of Americans taking the “Grand Tour,” additional offices were opened in the 1920s in Florence, Venice, and Milan.
It truly is the end of an era (and another reason not to take traveler's checks anymore!)
We do have an affiliated travel agency there.
They offer travel planning services, but probably not traveler's check exchange, emergency cash or Card Member services.
Vastours **
Address
Calle dei Fabbri, 4674
San Marco
Venice, 30124
Italy
no phone or email listed.
More info and the addresses in Rome and elsewhere at American Express Travel Resources on the net.
Steve @ Amex Travel
An interesting history. But it also shows how irrelevant American Express has become. The old business model no longer works in this era of self service and the internet. AE is probably going to go the way of Kodak, Zerox, and many other companies that were to slow to adapt to the digital world.
And isn't it sad that the Delta/NWA merger has forced the US Bank Visa users to go to AMEX in order to get mileage when they charge?
AMEX is very digital, I didn't see a reason for the overseas public offices at all in these times, though.
AMEX is big in credit cards, international banking. I work with their online reservations.
Credit cards will be around for a long time. Traveler's Cheques are dead IMHO.
Wow this is the end of an era. Anyone who traveled as a student in the 60's or 70's will remember that the Amex office was a place not just get money, but pick up mail, meet up with friends and so on. I guess with cell phones and ATMs we just don't need those services anymore. It's a bit sad, as having a physical place could result in some serendipitous meetings. Pam
I am sorry, Steve, but AE is not the major credit card player they once were. Chase ranks number one with 119 million cards issued, AE is 5th with 46m, and even Discover at 48m is bigger. AE was fourth in market share at 10.19% down from 11.4% in 07. Chase, by the way, gain 4% in that time period. AE had 12% of all credit card transactions last year. It is a small minority group who cling to the idea that an AE card has status and they are willing to pay for that belief. And those are US numbers. And Europe numbers are even smaller.
But I agree with Pamela. At one time, the AE office was the first place you went. On our first trip to Milan, our first trip was to the AE office to book the guide city tour and cash TCs. Barclay and AE were the only really trusted TCs. But those days are done.
Could the Chase increase have anything to do with their takeover of Washington Mutual?
Probably could be but that is not the point. AE is no longer a significant player. When was the last time you saw a Diner's Card? I can remember when the only two players were Diner's and AE.
I used to have an Amex card, but it gave way to the no charge visa's. Interestingly, I have a friend who loves her platinum Amex. It gives her access to all the airline clubs for the price of less than one club. It got me thinking. Pam
The only reason I still carry an AMEX card is for Costco (no annual fee card with cash back). And I try to use it a lot to get money back for my purchases.
When traveling overseas I use my Capital One exclusively...no foreign transaction fee and very good exchange rate. The only reason I still keep my old AMEX is that it allows me to make enormous charges which I do maybe once a year. But I can put 20 roundtrip plane tix from Knoxville - Rome with no questions asked. As soon as my Capital One limit goes up a bit, then I REALLY won't need the AMEX anymore.