SYRACUSE, N.Y., April 13, 2009 -- AAA Western and Central New York announced today it will be consolidating AAA Cortland Travel and Insurance Center operations with the AAA Ithaca Travel and Insurance Center. As a result, the Cortland office on Clinton Avenue will close on April 17, 2009.

“The decision to consolidate operations was based on our responsibility to deliver our members and customers with AAA’s products and services in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Tom Chestnut, President/CEO of AAA Western and Central New York. “We are confident members and clients will be pleased with the expanded services we have to offer at the AAA Ithaca Travel and Insurance Center.”

The AAA Ithaca Travel and Insurance Center is located at 1284 Dryden Road, 16 miles from Cortland. The Ithaca location offers convenient parking, additional staffing, more support services, and extended office hours - Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The phone number is (607) 257-2515.

All of AAA’s popular product lines—including Internet TripTiks®, online travel reservations, insurance, and requests for Emergency Road Service—are also easily accessible on www.AAA.com. AAA members can call 1-800-AAA-HELP for Emergency Road Service and 1-800- 937-1222 for travel reservations and vacation planning. General member service and information, TripTiks®, maps and TourBooks® can be requested by calling 1-800-836-2582.

“We will remain active in the Cortland area through our network of Emergency Road Service providers, Approved Auto Repair facilities and Show Your Card & Save® partners, as well as through our traffic safety, driver training, and legislative programs,” concluded Chestnut.

The AAA Travel and Insurance Center in Cortland was obtained in 2006 through the acquisition of Stone Travel of Ithaca and has been in its current location for seven years.

As Upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.