Salisbury, MD, Inc. magazine has ranked The Knowland Group No. 2 in the Travel category and 222 overall on its 28th annual Inc. Fast 500/5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

Growth has been the norm for The Knowland Group, even through tough economic times. In fact, 2008 was the fourth consecutive year that the firm achieved more than 100 percent growth. When The Knowland Group began in September 2004, it served one market and had two clients, but the company also had products and ideas that would soon streamline the way hotels do sales. The Knowland Group’s client base has grown to more than 1,500¬¬--a 116 percent increase in just over a year. It now serves more than 90 markets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean. Most recently, the company began service in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

Michael McKean, CEO of The Knowland Group, attributes the company’s triple-digit success to three core interrelated values: adding client value, providing great customer service and innovating at a relentless pace. “What we’ve learned as we’ve grown is that customer service can never be static. Just as we innovate in the products and services we offer; we are constantly innovating and improving our customer service,” says McKean. “We have spent thousands of man-hours improving back-office systems to make sure client concerns are answered, in some instances, before they arise.”

Will The Knowland Group’s four-year triple-digit growth streak continue in 2009? “The downturn in the economy is making 2009 a challenge, but we are on track, as of today, to just barely break 100 percent growth in revenue,” says McKean. “We have also launched a new product, Target Net that we are extremely excited about. It has the potential to be a game changer in our industry and could generate growth in excess of what we’ve seen so far.”

“If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. Fast 500/5000,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems, and inventing products we soon discover we can’t live without. The Inc. Fast 500/5000 list is Inc. magazine’s tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition.” The Knowland Group will join ranks with companies such as Zappos, Intuit, GoDaddy, American Apparel, Oracle and many others that gained early exposure as members of the Inc. Fast 500/5000.

The 2009 Inc. Fast 500/5000 will be featured in the September issue of Inc., on newsstands August 17. Details are available now at .

About The Knowland Group | The Knowland Group is a proven innovator, developing intuitive marketing products and services that streamline and support event and group sales in the hospitality industry. The company, headquartered in Salisbury, MD, serves over 90 markets within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and United Arab Emirates. For more information, visit or call 410-860-2270.

Phylicia Roberts
The Knowland Group
(443) 366-1108