Destination SA

Click here for the Monthly Measure, an executive summary of the recent performance activity from the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. Detailed information includes several local and national industry barometers.

On February 14, 2008, you'll fall in love with San Antonio all over again!

You may have seen our ads teasing the shape of things to come... all will be revealed on Valentine's Day!

Our new brand campaign will highlight the unique qualities that make San Antonio a destination like no other. The Passion, Pride, People and Promise are the four pillars that will be reflected in our marketing strategies. Our e-media plan kicks off with an improved and redesigned website which will go live on February 14. We're also unveiling our new logo and renewing our committment to our partners and the City of San Antonio at 10 a.m. with a group wedding in the Arneson River Theatre. For the past 20 years, thousands of couples have gathered at the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse to say "I Do", but this year the ceremonies will take place throughout Valentine's Day in the Arneson River Theatre at La Villita. Besides love in the air, you can expect to smell the aroma of thousands of yellow roses at the airport, our Visitor Information Center, and throughout downtown. Some downtown hotels are also supporting our brand launch on Feb. 14 by preparing special desserts that reflect our new brand and logo.

For a look at our teaser campaign, please visit www.feb14sa.com/passion. Please contact our Community Relations division with any questions.

LUMINARIA: CELEBRATION OF ARTS

Mayor Phil Hardberger and Luminaria organizers gave a preview of what San Antonio's first ever Arts Night will look like earlier this week and you can expect an electric mix of dancers, musicians, and artists. The world-class event, scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2008, is modeled after international celebrations such as Nuit Blance in Paris and Noche Blanca in Madrid, but Luminaria will be the first of it's kind in the nation! Over 130 artists are participating with performances and art installations throughout downtown. Empty storefronts will be used to display art, alleyways will be used for musical and theatrical performances while other areas will be used for interactive experiences. Alamo Plaza will serve as the main stage. Visit www.luminariasa.com for more information on this free event.

TREASURE CHEST 2008: PARTNER WITH THE CVB

We invite you to partner with us through the San Antonio Treasure Chest, an inventory of certificates redeemable for entrance at area attractions, dinners at restaurants and hotel accommodations. The certificates are combined into "San Antonio Getaway Prize Packages" which are given away through various promotional efforts including television, radio, print and internet advertising. Participation in the Treasure Chest will not only help us promote San Antonio as a destination, but it will also generate publicity and increase the number of visitors to your restaurants, attractions and hotels.

For the most effective use of your certificates, we request that they be made valid through December 31, 2008. Please mail them to:

San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau
ATTN: Karina Cardona
203 S. St. Mary's, Suite 200
San Antonio, TX 78205

We are currently tracking certificate distribution for a fiscal report on usage. Already this year, we have used the Treasure Chest for 14 promotional packages! Please contact Community Relations Manager Karina Cardona with any questions regarding the program at 210-207-6737.

The CVB Convention Sales Team has hit the ground running in 2008. Staff members have attended trade shows and expos across the nation including the the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Meeting in Seattle, the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) trade show in Austin, and the Christian Meeting Planners (CMP) Expo in Atlanta, to name a few. Pictured below is Auntrell Grover (CVB National Sales Manager) with Joseph Burchill, Associate Director of Life Impact Ministries.

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) hosted a Board Meeting in San Antonio on January 18. Pictured below are CVB staff members Felicia Madison, CMP (Director of Sales) and Tonya Hope (PR Manager) with NABJ Board Members.

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is bringing 6,000 delegates to their 2008 Annual Convention at the Convention Center from November 20-25. Pictured below during the Holiday Showcase 2007 in Chicago are (left to right) Suzie Bacon (CVB National Convention Sales Manager), Jacqui Biddle (NCTE Director), Eileen Maley (NCTE Convention Program Manager) and Felicia Madison, CMP (CVB Director of Sales).

The American Dental Association is bringing an estimated 35,000 people to San Antonio for its annual session, and it will go on record as the largest medical convention in the city! The ADA's local host committee members went to San Francisco last October to promote San Antonio as the location for the 149th ADA Annual Session this year. Approximately 1,500 people stopped by the booth to register for the annual meeting and pick up hotel information. The ADA Annual Session is scheduled for October 15 - 21, 2008 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Pictured above are members of the 2008 Committee on Local Arrangements (CLA). Left to right: Linda Shafer, SADDS Staff; Lucinda Ferro, 2008 CLA Staff; Dr. Sheryl Beltrane, 2008 CLA Member & SADDS President; Dr. Warren Branch, 2008 CLA Member & SADDS Past President; (kneeling) Dr. Lisa Masters, 2008 CLA Member & SADDS Sec’y/Treasurer; Cesar Barradas, Conference & Meeting Services, Council on ADA Sessions (ADA staff); Dr. Pam Berlanga, 2008 CLA Chair & SADDS Past President; James Donovan, Director, Council on ADA Sessions (ADA staff); (kneeling) Evelina Stephenson, 2008 CLA Member & SADDS Exec Dir; Dr. Maria Howell, 2008 CLA Member; Dr. Roger Macias, 2008 CLA Member

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 17, 2008. Wine lovers from all around will once again gather at the Alamodome for the event that has been enjoyed by thousands for the past 27 years. The San Antonio Wine Festival, sponsored by H.E.B., is a one-of-a-kind event. Known as the "Granddaddy of All Wine Tastings," the Fine Wine and Cuisine Tasting will attract nearly 3,500 guests to the Alamodome for the largest wine tasting in the region. Attendees savor the creations of dozens of San Antonio's finest restaurateurs and caterers while sampling from hundreds of domestic and imported wines, including the silver and bronze medal winning wines from the San Antonio Wine Competition.

The hottest phenomenon is now on ice! Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour, a live celebration of songs, dancing, and non-stop, team-spirited fun inspired by the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical" and the highly anticipated "High School Musical 2," is headed to the Alamodome from March 19-23.

Audiences can celebrate the sounds, the songs, the bop and the pop in this awesome ice show starring a cast of world class skaters portraying the roles of East High's own, Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad and Taylor. They will be performing to the chart-topping tunes with signature choreography made popular in the Emmy® Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movie and pop culture craze. And, for the first time live, fans will have the opportunity to experience moments from Disney's High School Musical 2. With the ice as the dance floor, this event will be an unprecedented twist on a fan favorite.

Produced by Feld Entertainment and Kenny Ortega, Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour is the primo way to experience the frenzy and rock the house.

Ticket Prices: $15.00, $19.00, $25.00
Show Times: March 19 - 23, 2008
For more information, visit www.highschoolmusicaltheicetour.com.

Some of Mexico's biggest stars are coming to San Antonio to cook! They're actually taping segments for Univision's early morning show Despierta America. The "MASECA In the Kitchen With the Stars" segments air Thursday mornings and are each 8 minutes of conversation and cooking hosted by Mexican singer and television star Yuri. She and her guests whip up dishes using MASECA corn meal flour products. San Antonio Production Company Hispano USA is producing and filming 52 of these segments for Univision, an increase from last year when they produced 22 cooking segments for the network.

CVB Communications Manager Evelynn Bailey joined author and journalist John DeMers for editorial research at The Smokehouse restaurant (formerly Bob's Smokehouse). Mr. DeMers is a writer for Texas Food Lovers Magazine and is currently writing a book on Texas barbecue called Follow the Smoke. The book will be released by Bright Sky Press in the fall of 2008. While in town, Mr. DeMers recorded a radio show from the Westin La Cantera Resort, Mi Tierra Café y Panadería and visited various barbeque establishments. The Smokehouse's Pit Master is pictured right.

With the backdrop of the New World Wine & Food Festival (NWWFF), the CVB continued to promote the culinary scene of San Antonio by showcasing the city’s offerings to more than 10 national culinary and travel media. Graciously hosted by the Emily Morgan Hotel, NWWFF staff, and many restaurants and attractions, guest media were able to conduct in-depth research from Nov. 8-12, 2007. With a combined circulation of almost 6.7 million, media included: Travel + Leisure, Woman’s Day, Saveur, Chocolatier, The Tribune, UR Chicago, Texas Journey, AAA Southern Traveler, Texas Highways, Odyssey Couleur and Upscale Magazine. This year's NWWFF is scheduled for November 5-9, 2008.

With peak trade show season in full gear between the months of January thru March, the CVB's Tourism Division is busy preparing for eight consumer and travel trade shows. They will target our drive markets of Dallas, Houston and Austin as well as our international target markets of Mexico and Germany. Below is a list of the upcoming events:

*American Bus Association (February 2 - 7)
*Expo Vacaciones (February 11 - 14). Additional participants are no longer being accepted unless there is a cancellation.
*North American Journey's Summit West (Feb 10 -13)
*Bank Travel Annual Conference (Feb 14 - 16)
*International Tourism Bourse (March 5 - 9)

Below is a list of trade shows that are available for Partner participation:
*AAA Sales Calls Dallas, March 11 - 13. Contact Carla Norwood
*AAA Sales Calls Houston, April 29 - May 1. Contact Carla Norwood
*Outlet Viajes Mexico City, May 8 - 11. Contact Sal Garza
*ARLAG Guadalajara, May 14 - 17. Contact Sal Garza

MOST RECENT TRADE SHOWS

Receptive Services Association Annual Summit (Jan. 9-11, St. Petersburg, FL)
Dorah Putney met with top US receptive operators including GTA, Welcome USA, GOWest Tours, RMP Travel, HotelBeds, Mark Travel, FTI North America, Tourico Holidays, Allied TPro, New World Travel and Tourco. Keep an eye out for a lead from Tourico Holidays; they are looking for additional contract hotels. If you are interested in learning about the US Receptive Operators or are already working with them, please contact Dorah Putney at (210) 207-6791.

AAA Austin/Dallas/Houston Consumer Trade Shows (Jan 11, 12 & 20)
The SACVB partnered with SeaWorld and participated in the first of three AAA tradeshows which are held annually in these markets. Travelers visited the booths and purchased vacations. Treasure Chest Vacation Packages were also given out as prizes for each show.

French Familiarization/ Express Conseil (January 16 - 17)
Eight Tour Operators from France selected San Antonio as a part of a state initiative. Accommodations were provided by The Hotel Contessa. To learn how you can work with International Tour Operators, contact Carla Norwood at (210) 207-6865.

SUPER STAR AWARD

Congratulations to Ruth Martinez for being named the CVB's January Super Star! Ruth is an Administrative Assistant in the Convention Services Department and has also worked as a Data Clerk and Account Technician in her 15 year tenure with the CVB. Ruth's coworkers say she's dependable, stays on top of all of duties, and gets the job done! She says the best part of her job is helping her colleagues. Keep up the good work!

Submitted by Gary Schirmacher from Experient regarding the Advisory Board Meeting held last December.

"Kari (Eustace) -
Thanks for all you did to make my visit to San Antonio so great!...The many changes in San Antonio are so exciting! You and your team, especially John Sanchez (pictured left) did a fabulous job!"

Submitted by Debra A. Beldon from Experient on behalf of the International Society for Technology in Education (ITSE)

"Maria Arredondo (pictured right) is our Convention Services Manager for our citywide convention that will be returning to San Antonio in June 2008. Maria has been a complete delight to work with during the pre-planning stage of our event... her professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond is admirable. If this is how Maria is before the event, we can hardly wait to get onsite!"

Joffre Miller (pictured left) is the CVB's new HR Generalist. Joffre joins us from the United States Air Force were he served for over 25 years. Joffre will be working with all employees and department heads by providing consultative services and solutions regarding all aspects of human resources administration, including employee relations, recruitment, compensation and benefits, employee development and workplace safety.

Maricela Schmidtka will be supporting front desk operations. Maricela was previously working with the Aviation department and will help in various administrative support areas in addition to the front desk.

Eva Aivaliotis is the new Administrative Assistant in Communications. Eva interned at the CVB while she was finishing her BA in Journalism at the Schieffer School of Journalism in TCU in Fort Worth. She previously worked at Sellmark, a local marketing firm.

Brenna Whitfield has moved from Marketing and Communications to the Sales & Services Department. Among her new responsibilities as Sales & Services Assistant, Brenna will be ensuring that all Leads, Bookings and Confirmations are approved on EBMS. . She is a graduate of UTSA with a BBA in Business Administration and has been with the CVB since August, 2005.

Analía Belcher transitions into her new role as Administrative Assistant supporting Strategic Initiatives, Mexico &Latin America, and Community Relations. Analía, who is fluent in Spanish, also translates media releases and materials for other departments.

Maja Gerdin (pictured right) is the CVB's new Department Systems Specialist. Maja joins us from Palo Alto Community College and will be working with our IT team to help support our information technology applications and systems.

The month of February will be one for the record books!

With some 23,000 delegates, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) will be the biggest convention in San Antonio during the month of February. TMEA will be taking over the Convention Center from Feb 13-16 for the 2008 Annual February Clinic.

Not far behind with 20,000 attendees, the Women of Faith's 2008 National Conference is scheduled for Feb 7-9 at the Alamodome.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is bringing 17,000 participants for it's 2008 Annual Winter National Convention from February 1-5 at the Convention Center.

Other groups in town include:

AACSB International (300)
Administrative Office of the US Courts (150)
Air Products & Chemicals Inc (65)
All TX Al-ANON ALATEEN (400)
American Bar Association (250)
American Cat Fanciers Association (25)
American Cheer Power (8000)
American College of Sports Medicine (365)
American Jail Association (25)
Association of Energy Service Companies (200)
Association of Theological Schools (175)
Bayer CropScience (325)
Blue Time Consulting Inc (50)
Brokers Health Insurance Network (40)
Certified Angus Beef LLC (140)
Cisco Systems Inc (150)
Clear Channel Communications (100)
Convenience Retailing Conference LLC (300)
DanceMasters (150)
Dot Foods Inc (194)
Embroiderers' Guild of America Inc (100)
Episcopal Diocese of West Texas (1,000)
First Incentive Travel Inc (150)
Frost Investment Services (140)
GE Water & Process Technologies (70)
Haulmark Industries (500)
Internal Revenue Service (121)
International Association of Emergency Managers (25)
International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards Incorporated (115)
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (120)
Kimberly Clark Corporation (350)
Lancaster Co (1200)
LIMRA International (300)
Midwest Finance Association (225)
McDonald's Corporation (100)
NISH (150)
National Association of College Stores (6,000)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (300)
National Association of Mental Health Planning & Advisory Councils (25)
National Association of Real Estate Brokers Incorporated (250)
National Association of Secondary School Principals (3,500)
National Black McDonald's Operators Association (80)
National Contract Management Association (40)
National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association (400)
North Central Coop (50)
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (525)
Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (35)
Operation Homefront (65)
Optimist Club (100)
Prevent Child Abuse Texas (600)
Sports Car Club of Amer (450)
Sterling Life Insurance (300)
STRIPES (500)
Success for All Foundation (1,000)
Supportive Care Coalition (400)
Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society (500)
Texas Public Relations Association (150)
Texas Speech Language Hearing Association (2,800)
Texas State Animal Resource Team (300)
Tyco International Ltd (120)
United Church of God (25)
US Business Council for Sustainable Development (40)
US Department of Agriculture Forest Service (200)
US Department of Energy (125)
Zeta Tau Alpha (620)

Below are events taking place in the Alamo City from now until February 24. Have an event to submit to the CVB web calendar? Click here for the submission form.

Vincent Valdez and Alex Rubio
12/12/2007 - 3/23/2008
Museo Alameda

Fully Committed
1/11/2008 - 2/17/2008
San Pedro Playhouse

Kiwi Mana (New Zealand Spirit)
1/11/2008 - 2/16/2008
Bihl Haus Arts

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
1/11/2008 - 2/16/2008
Magik Theatre

Enchanted Princess and the Please
1/12/2008 - 2/16/2008
Steven Stoli Playhouse

Recuentos
1/19/2008 - 2/16/2008
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Jump To Japan: Discovering Culture Through Popular Art
1/19/2008 - 4/27/2008
San Antonio Children's Museum

Nigel Borell | Pirirakau (bush beautiful)
1/23/2008 - 3/16/2008
International Building

Te Tataitanga/Bind Together: Contemporary Art of New Zealand
1/23/2008 - 3/16/2008
Southwest School of Art & Craft

Metaphysikos: The Mystical Art of Kirk Clark
1/24/2008 - 2/29/2008
University of the Incarnate Word

Cliff Cavin | Solo Exhibition
1/24/2008 - 3/16/2008
Southwest School of Art & Craft

The Full Monty
1/25/2008 - 3/2/2008
San Pedro Playhouse

Our Body: The Universe Within
1/26/2008 - 5/26/2008
Witte Museum

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
1/31/2008 - 2/17/2008
AT&T Center

Ovidio C. Giberga
1/31/2008 - 2/24/2008
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center

Frozen Music II: The Architecture of Ricardo Legorreta
1/31/2008 - 3/23/2008
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center

Seamstress, Mistress, Distress and Other Stories
1/31/2008 - 2/29/2008
Fiber Art Space

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!
2/1/2008 - 2/24/2008
Cameo Theatre

Movements & Monographs
2/1/2008 - 2/15/2008
SaySi

Marcia Dahlman: Open Studio
2/1/2008
Blue Star Art Complex, Bldg. B

Black and Blue: 400 Years of Struggle and Transcendence
2/1/2008
Jo Long Theatre of the Performing Arts at the Carver Community Cultural Center

2008 San Antonio Black History Month
2/1/2008 - 2/28/2008
Various Locations

Classical 7
2/1/2008 - 2/2/2008
Majestic Theatre

Giant Mardi Gras Bash
2/2/2008
Hermann Son's Hall

Marrying Up
2/2/2008 - 2/3/2008
Jo Long Theatre of the Performing Arts at the Carver Community Cultural Center

Drawings and Paintings by St. Mary's Art Faculty
2/2/2008 - 2/27/2008
St. Mary's University

Segundo de Febrero: Commemoration of the Signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
2/2/2008 - 2/29/2008
Centro Cultural Aztlan

The Renaissance Guild presents: Blues for an Alabama Sky
2/8/2008 - 2/24/2008
Jump-Start Performance Co.

Project: Sing! Closing Concert
2/13/2008
Our Lady of the Lake University, International Folk Culture Center

Langston Hughes Project: Ask Your Mama 12 Moods for Jazz
2/15/2008
Jo Long Theatre of the Performing Arts at the Carver Community Cultural Center

Barshop JCC 7th Annual Film Festival
2/16/2008 - 2/21/2008
San Antonio Museum of Art

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of The Coldstream Guard
2/17/2008
Lila Cockrell Theatre