MONTHLY MEASURE
Click here for the latest 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.

MUSEUM REACH

The Museum Reach of the San Antonio River will officially open on Saturday, May 30th with a weekend of events. After a ceremony early in the day, Mayor Phil Hardberger and other dignitaries will take the first barge ride through the new Lock and Dam, which will carry barges over to San Antonio Museum of Art, to the Pearl Brewery, and up to Brackenridge Park. The 1.2 miles of the new extension will be accessible by water or pedestrian walkways with public art installations all along the stretch. The San Antonio River Foundation commissioned eight artists to complete 12 installations along the Museum Reach. Some of these include the first public art project by British artist Martin Richman which will immerse the Lexington Street Bridge in dancing, colored light, and San Antonio artists Rolando Briseņo (railings on three bridges at McCullough, Brooklyn and Ninth Streets), Stuart Allen (flickering, suspended panels at the McCullough and Brooklyn Avenue underpasses), and George Schroeder (Camden and Newell Bridges hand rails). San Antonio faux bois concrete artist Carlos Cortez is creating an enchanted grotto near the the San Antonio Museum of Art. Artist Donald Lipski's installation will be one of the most visible public art pieces in San Antonio. His school of sunfish, found only in the San Antonio River, will dance in the air, suspended from cables underneath I-35.

The Mission Reach to the south will include flood control, hike and bike trails, and recreational facilities. Once complete in 2012, the San Antonio River Walk will be 15 miles long stretching from Brackenridge Park down to Mission Espada.

To learn more visit www.sariverfoundation.org.

R'n'R CHANGES FOR YEAR TWO

Year two is bringing some exciting changes for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Instead of cotton t-shirts, race participants will receive a breathable, lightweight t-shirt courtesy of Sugoi. Also, the finish line fiesta will be expanded to create a more festive atmosphere with live music and vendors the afternoon of the race. Runners are encouraged to sign up by the end of March to take advantage of the early entry fee and guarantee their spot. Current registration prices are $90 for the marathon and $75 for the half marathon. On April 1, fees will increase to $105 and $90, respectively. For more information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio or to register, please visit www.rnrsa.com or call (800) 311-1255.

SACVB FIESTA MEDAL

Show your San Antonio pride with this year's SACVB Fiesta Medal, pictured left. The 2009 design features the Deep. In the Heart. logo on copper-toned metal. The punched metal look is reminiscent of papel picado and luminarias which can be found throughout San Antonio. "Fiesta 2009" is stitched onto the deep corazon red ribbon.

Starting Monday, April 13, CVB medals will be available at:

Visitors Information Center, 317 Alamo Plaza
Fiesta Store, 2611 Broadway

Last year's SACVB medal sold out so get yours soon!

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MARCH UPDATE

Leisure marketing initiatives are focused on driving spring and summer visits through a combination of online digital outreach, display advertising, search engine marketing, and e-mail, as well as print advertising, direct mail, TV broadcast, and distribution of collateral.

Convention and Meetings
The Marketing Division is focused on developing and positioning a campaign that will unify efforts in this market and distinguish San Antonio as a meeting destination. The campaign will launch in May and more information will follow in future newsletters. Ads for the meetings & convention market appeared in March Meetings & Conventions, One+ and Medical Meetings.

S.A.V.E.
S.A.V.E. is a key program for marketing San Antonio primarily in the Texas market. Recent market research [S.A.V.E. Program Conversion Survey, Nov. 2008] reveals that 74% of respondents have visited San Antonio since seeing S.A.V.E. discount program.

Over the spring and summer months, full-color, 8-page inserts will reach over 5.4 million households through the Sunday papers in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Corpus Christi, and Waco on March 29, May 17, June 21 and August 2.

Full-color, 4-page inserts will be delivered through direct mail to over 1.8 million households in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Austin on April 28 and June 30. And San Antonio will be featured on the cover of a full-color wrapper delivered through direct mail to over 1.3 million households in Dallas, Forth Worth and Houston on June 2 and July 14.

A search engine marketing campaign targeted to Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana continues to drive traffic to the S.A.V.E. program on visitsanantonio.com, resulting in over 2.7 million impressions from February 13 to March 8.

Monthly e-mail messages keep San Antonio and S.A.V.E. top of mind with an opt-in consumer database of 350,000; the average open rate is 11.5% and average click-through rate is 3.6%. The February e-mail achieved a 13.74% open rate and a 4.99% click-through rate.

The S.A.V.E. brochure promoting key events, San Antonio information, discounted hotel rates, and attraction coupons is being distributed across Texas at Travel Information Centers, targeted market locations, the San Antonio airport and with a San Antonio information package that is sent as a result of website and 800# number requests. 530,000 brochures were printed and an additional 150,000 brochures containing only event information and coupons is being distributed by the CVB’s Tourism Division and Convention Services Division to convention delegates and group tours.

Publication Advertising
48 full-page ads plus over 10 pages of advertorial will appear in regional and national publications through August, resulting in over 28 million impressions from January 2009-August 2009. Print advertising aligns with the strategies of increasing awareness of San Antonio and driving visits from those outside of Texas and increasing repeat, as well as first-time visits, of Texans.

National publications include: Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Golf Digest, Links, Smithsonian, Saveur, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Departures, AARP, Bridal Guide, Midwest Living, O Oprah Magazine, American Legacy, Budget Travel. Regional publications:ads include a calendar of upcoming events to drive repeat visits and overcome “routine experience” perception with Texans: Texas Monthly, Southwest Spirit (airline), Southern Living, TTIA inserts.

San Antonio also has ongoing online exposure through the websites of many of these publications and through e-mail messages to subscribers (over 4 million impressions). Some currently running include: Departures Magazine's Desire and Acquire: www.departures.com, www.linksmagazine.com, www.gourmetgateways.com, www.spiritmag.com, www.southernlivingvacations.com and www.smithsonianmag.com


Interactive Marketing
History & Heritage - The Marketing Division has been conducting a History & Heritage digital marketing campaign in order to increase awareness of San Antonio through its historical significance, attractions, architecture and cultural events. This initiative included enhancing the History & Heritage section on visitsanantonio.com, promoting cultural events, driving traffic to the website in order to engage potential visitors with the San Antonio brand and drive visits. Digital PR outreach was conducted to online event listings, travel sites, and social media channels, e.g., travel bloggers, Twitter (1,264 followers as of 3/17/09), About.com, Eventful, etc. As of 3/16/09—drove 7,700 unique page views to the new History & Heritage category pages since February 2; also have posted over 380 updates and messages.

Content syndication - Marketing posted San Antonio content on TripAdvisor; the San Antonio destination video on TripAdvisor (444 views as of 3/15/09), YouTube (2,882 views as of 3/17), Video Globetrotter, Destination TV, USA Today/Travel; and posted San Antonio images on FLICKR.

E-mail messages are sent each month to over 350,000 opt-in consumers, average open rate 11.5% and average click-through rate 3.6%. The February e-mail achieved a 13.74% open rate and a 4.99% click-through rate.

Online advertising (March-August) - San Antonio ads are appearing on targeted travel and consumer online sites: Concierge.com, TripAdviser, Virtual Tourist, TravelAd Network, and Smithsonian.com. Over 22 million paid impressions plus 4.9 million added-value impressions.

Hotel Package Search Engine Marketing—The Marketing Division has enhanced the hotel package section of the website to more effectively promote themed packages and will be conducting a Spring search engine marketing campaign to drive traffic to these packages.

Search Engine Optimization—A comprehensive review and optimization of visitsanantonio.com has been completed to increase traffic from organic search; current results show 49% increase in organic traffic since February 2008. Marketing adds new content monthly to increase website content depth, improve SEO and engage website visitors with San Antonio brand.

Broadcast
From February 9 through May 18, 30 second San Antonio commercials are airing 1,530 times in the Denver market due to direct flight air access and potential to increase awareness in this market and drive visits. Of these, 282 are national network spots, 1,248 are cable spots on A&E, CNN, Food Network, Fox News, Golf, HGTV, History, Lifetime, TBS, TNT and Travel Channel. We are also running 33 spots on Smithsonian TV -Dish and Direct TV- (March 30-May 3), four spots adjacent to the Valero Texas Open, being held in San Antonio, on Texas and Illinois CBS affiliates broadcast (May 16-17). Four 30-minute features on San Antonio golf aired throughout February on the Inside Golf channel to 17 million homes primarily throughout the Northeast; at least thirty-two 30-second spots will continue to air on this channel throughout the year.

Collateral
A new version of the Travel & Leisure Guide, the primary fulfillment piece for information requests, is in development (over 247,000 were distributed in FY2008). Based on a 2008 Conversion Study, 37% of those respondents unsure about taking a trip and 25% uncertain about their destination said that the Travel & Leisure Guide definitely influenced their decision to come to San Antonio and 22% extended the planned length of trip after receiving the Travel & Leisure Guide.

To promote the diversity of offerings, enhance visitors’ experience while in San Antonio, and encourage repeat visits, Marketing is also working on a new in-market guide to be used while in San Antonio by both leisure visitors and convention and meeting delegates. Miles Media is our strategic partner for both publications.

Texas on Tour
The CVB is partnering with Texas State Tourism and SeaWorld to sponsor a mobile, interactive Texas Experience that is showcasing at state fairs and events across the Midwest through August.

Expedia
A summer push campaign launches on Expedia.com and Hotels.com April 1-June 30, targeted to Texas market.

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BLITZ MAKES A SPLASH IN AUSTIN & HOUSTON

SACVB Communications Manager Tonya Hope along with the SeaWorld San Antonio team including penguins, an armadillo and spoonbill, partook in a week-long promotion of spring and summer travel to San Antonio throughout Austin and Houston. Hot topics included Luminaria and S.A.V.E. (San Antonio Vacation Experience). In all, the San Antonio blitzing team visited eight television stations, four radio stations, and four newspapers and publications. Time was even made for a quick stop at Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital where children received a special visit from their friends at SeaWorld San Antonio.

NATIONAL MEDIA BROUGHT IN FOR LUMINARIA

Twelve national media from publications that include The Artist's Magazine, American Craft, Fine Arts Connoisseur, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Arts & Antiques, The Boston Globe and more came to San Antonio to experience our unique cultural environment during Luminaria. Their schedule included a whirlwind of visits to area studios and museums; meet and greets with local artists; and a tour of the River Walk Expansion where plans call for the installation of public art from internationally renowned artists. The visit ended with a festive and beautiful night at Luminaria San Antonio! Many thanks to our partners for coming together during a very busy time to make this a big success that will continue to reap benefits for the future. Thanks to: The Westin Riverwalk Hotel, Artpace San Antonio, Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, McNay Art Museum, Museo Alameda, San Antonio Museum of Art, Southwest School of Art & Craft, The San Antonio River Authority, The San Antonio River Foundation and everyone that paved the way for a wonderful experience in San Antonio.

To see pictures from this year's Luminaria and for more information, visit www.luminariasa.org.

ROLLING STONE JAPAN AND SKY MAGAZINE ROCK S.A.

SACVB Communications Manager Evelynn Bailey hosted media from Rolling Stone Japan and Sky Magazine. It was a first time visit to Texas for the entire group. The media took an interest in the diversity of the city and its people. Aside from the usual attractions and photo opportunities, media also visited shopping centers, eateries and galleries throughout the city. A big change from the super-charged pace of Tokyo, San Antonio proved to be a restful stop with enough cultural attractions, shopping and good food to keep everyone entertained during their stay.

SAN ANTONIO IN THE NEWS

American Style, April 2009
In San Antonio's thriving art scene, one can find everything from folk art to fine art, plus a picturesque river undergoing a revitalization.

Chile Pepper Magazine, March 2009
An array of chiles fire up the cuisine at the 2008 New World Wine and Food Festival.

ForbesTraveler.com, March 2009
Three A.W. Tillinghast course designs and much more put San Antonio in the #7 spot on Forbes Traveler's Top Ten Golf Cities in America list.

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SUMMER AND SPRING CAMPAIGN

In advance of one of the busiest travel seasons for the Mexico market, the SACVB conducted a campaign to increase the number of visitors from Mexico to San Antonio for Spring and Summer. Semana Santa (Easter Week) is traditionally Mexico's spring break and our campaign focused on San Antonio as a destination for shopping and family entertainment.

Monterrey Promotion
The Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with local hotels and attractions for an integrated campaign that included a media event, advertising (radio, television and newspapers) a consumer promotion in conjunction with HEB/Monterrey that also included POP (point of purchase advertising) in HEB for three weeks prior to our consumer event.

Guadalajara
SACVB hosted a media luncheon with 24 in attendance to promote San Antonio as the perfect Spring and Summer vacation destination to combine shopping, theme parks, museums and excursions to San Antonio many surrounding communities. Media included newspapers, trade publications, radio, and television.

Mexico Site Visit
Radio Formula from Mexico City spent 3 days in San Antonio for a program to air next week in advance of Easter Week. The program will focus on shopping and our itinerary included interviews with North Star Mall and The Shops at la Cantera, and visits to the Rim and the Quarry in San Antonio before traveling to San Marcos for interviews with the outlet malls. Our thanks to GGP, Tanger Outlet and Prime Outlet for their cooperation. SACVB's Frances Schultschik is pictured right and center with Radio Formula staff.

South America Site Visit
San Antonio is known to South America, in particular Argentineans, not for the Alamo, but for Manu Ginobolli. We hosted consumer and trade publications from Argentina and Brazil. Brazil is currently one of the leading markets for the US and San Antonio is top of mind for most Argentineans whose primary interest in coming might originally be to see Manu Ginobolli, but as these journalists noted, they will have many reasons to come back and bring friends and family. The group is pictured below at Mi Tierra Restaurant.

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NEW TOURISM SALES MANAGER

As the CVB's new Tourism Sales Manager, Sandy Phillips will specialize in launching San Antonio’s Tourism Professional Certification program and working with AAA, motor coach tours and U.S. tour operators. Sandy says she’s looking forward to "selling a city that is so vibrant and rich in history, culture, beauty, activities, and art." Prior to joining the CVB, she owned a consulting company specializing in customer service, sales and behavioral styles. She was also a tourism manger for the Anaheim CVB and a training manager for Tokyo Disneyland Development.

BRITISH TOUR OPERATORS VISIT S.A.

In the month of March, seven British tour operators and a staff member of First PR, the company that represents Texas Tourism in the UK, visited three Texas cities: San Antonio, Galveston and Houston on a familiarization tour of our state. A special thank you to the Holiday Inn Market Square for providing accommodations. Carla Norwood, Tourism Sales Manager, hosted the group during their stay in our city. The following companies were represented by staff members pictured below at Sunset Station: Saga Holidays, Thomas Cook, STA Travel, Dial a flight/Lotus Travel Group, Trek America,
NCL, Airmiles, First PR, and local professional tour guide, Sissie Henges.

JAPANESE VISIT

Tourism Sales Manager Carla Norwood hosted a group of three trade and one media representative from Japan during the month of March. Satoru Ide, Travel Trade Marketing Manager, Texas Tourism Japan, escorted this group to Houston and San Antonio. Representatives from the following companies are pictured below:
Nikko Travel, Travel Clinq Co., Travel Journal, OTS International and Texas Tourism Japan.

MONTERREY CORPORATE SALES CALLS

Tourism Sales Manager Sal Garza staffed corporate sales calls in Monterrey, Mexico on February 17-19. Visiting with Human Resource offices from six major corporate and educational organizations based in Monterrey, presentations were conducted to promote San Antonio in a cooperative venture format with each of the Mexico organizations. Look for future cooperative opportunities to be offered.

EXPOVACACIONES IN MEXICO CITY

Tourism Sales represented by Sal Garza, exhibited at ExpoVacaciones
March 2-4, in Mexico City. ExpoVacaciones is the largest trade show promoting the US product in Mexico, it is coordinated by the Visit USA committee, and supported by USTA. The CVB designed and coordinated a two-booth configuration and promoted hotel options, seasonal events, cultural activities, attractions and theme parks, leisure activities, and overall shopping opportunities to the travel operators and agents. Additionally, the CVB combined this effort with a State of Texas Tourism Division promotion, and met with Mexico incentive companies and hosted a Texas luncheon for travel trade. Two San Antonio sweepstake packages were awarded.

Pictured left to right are Sal Garza, guest, and Ernesto Velazquez from the Hotel Contessa.

SUPER STAR AT THE VIC

This month's CVB Super Star award goes to Dolores Ramirez over at the Visitor Information Center (VIC). Dolores maintains a great relationship with her team and those she comes in contact with. Her team says she goes out of her way to help and does not give up until the job is done right. Dolores' dedication and persistence have paid off - earning her the recognition and respect of her coworkers. She is pictured left with Scott White at the CVB's March staff meeting. Congratulations!

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CMP DESIGNATION

Congratulations to National Convention Sales Manager Troy Love for earning the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation. The CMP program aims to increase the professionalism of meeting management professionals in all sectors of the industry. To earn the CMP credential, an individual must meet specific application requirements and pass a rigorous examination.

PLEASE WELCOME ...

Liza De Los Santos joins the CVB as a sales assistant. She will work with sales managers to send out lead bulletins, bid proposals and itineraries to hotels.  She’s proud to represent San Antonio and enjoys working in the heart of the city.  Liza was previously employed with USAA for 20 years.  

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES

Former Mayor of San Antonio Howard Peak stopped by the SACVB's promotion booth at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference held in Washington, DC, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, March 14-17, 2009. The CVB's Maria Arredondo (pictured below) promoted attendance for the National League of Cities Congress to be held in San Antonio this November.

CVB CORAZON IN THE COMMUNITY

On March 6, Navella Pedraza, Convention Services Manager, participated in the Annual Career Day at Las Palmas Elementary School. This year’s school-wide event reached 600 students with approximately 50 speakers.

Presenting to children from third to fifth grades, Navella shared her experiences of working at the Convention & Visitors Bureau, information about our tourism industry, and her love for San Antonio.

Amongst the budding veterinarians, firefighters and actors, one student exclaimed, “I want to do what you do when I grow up!” The future looks bright for the hospitality community.

If you are interested in participating in upcoming career day opportunities, please contact Navella at navellapedraza@visitsanantonio.com.

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ARE YOU RACING FOR THE CURE?

Tens-of-thousands will meet in the Alamodome parking lot for the 12th annual Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Race day will be a day of remembrance, hope, inspiration, and celebration. Survivors and those who lost their lives will be honored for fighting the battle against breast cancer as families, friends, and strangers show their support. The race hopes to attract up to 30,000 participants to help raise money for the continued fight to end breast cancer. The event begins at 7:00 a.m. and meets in Alamodome parking Lot C. Race options are: competitive 5K run, noncompetitive 5K run, and 1-mile family walk. Adults register for $30-$35, survivors register for $20-$25, and Children (ages 3-12) register for $15. For more information, please visit www.sakomen.org.

2009 FIESTA CARNIVAL

Glittering lights, exciting rides and a wide assortment of foods in downtown San Antonio make the Carnival a perennial favorite of Fiesta-goers. From April 15 - 26, the Carnival will be located in Lot C of the Alamodome and admission will be free, but $25 arm bands will be offered everyday for unlimited rides. Parking will be available for $5 in parking Lot B.

For more information about the Carnival or Fiesta San Antonio, please visit www.fiesta-sa.org.

ATHLETIC CHEER AND DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Athletic Championships presents the Athletic Cheer and Dance Championships at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center and provides two-days of competitions to give teams the opportunity to show off their best. Last year's event was a huge success with over 2,500 athletes competing for national titles. Over 3,000 athletes are expected to compete for national titles this year on April 4th and 5th. For more information about the competition, please visit the following link.

SEGS4VETS

For the third year now a deserving group of wounded soldiers, who served our nation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, will receive their new Segways along with training. Segs4Vets is powered by members of DRAFT (Disability Rights Advocates for Technology). DRAFT speaks for “people with disabilities who refuse to be defined by their disability and whose passionate enthusiasm for participating life’s activities is supported by Universal Design and new and emerging technologies.” Segs4Vets has awarded more than 250 Segways to Veterans who were severely injured while serving our nation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Training sessions will run all day at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center on April 7th and on April 8th there will be a ceremony beginning at 10:45 AM.
For more information about Segs4Vets, please visit segs4vets.com.

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SXSW FILM FESTIVAL

The San Antonio Film Commission participated in a co-op marketing event at this year's SXSW Film Festival in Austin. Filmmakers from around the world gather at South by Southwest to screen their latest films and learn more about filming in Texas and San Antonio. This year's Film Texas reception hosted more than 250 producers, directors, game designers and state legislators.

San Antonio's Jade Esteban Estrada (Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock), Clark Walker (producer, The Newton Boys), Drew Mayer-Oakes, comedian Roman Garcia (Open Mic Thursdays) and Joseph Pierson (producers rep, She's Gotta Have It, Roger and Me, Clerks, Slacker) soak up the scene at SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival outside the Film Texas reception on 6th Street.

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ITC EXHIBITION ON CESAR CHAVEZ

UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures presents In His Own Words:The Life and Work of César Chávez. The exhibit features 38 photographs paired with excerpts from Chávez’s inspirational speeches, interviews and writings. It documents the full course of Chávez’s remarkable career and examines the life experiences and philosophical influences that motivated him to work tirelessly to improve the lives of American farm workers.

Admission to In His Own Words:The Life and Work of César Chávez is complimentary. For more information about viewing hours or to arrange group visits, call UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures at (210) 458-2300.

In His Own Words:The Life and Work of César Chávez is produced by Humanities Texas and made possible by a We the People grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

LA VILLITA'S SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

The City’s Downtown Operations Department and the La Villita Tenants Association will bring San Antonio’s newest premier arts festival featuring works by regional and national artists to the historic arts village of La Villita. Free and open to the public, the La Villita Spring Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, April 4 from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 5 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The festival will feature arts and unique crafts from more than 150 selected artists and craftsmen. There will also be various food booths and musical entertainment. On Saturday, the festival will close with a free concert featuring the Krayolas and The West Side Horns in the Arneson River Theatre beginning at 8:00 p.m. Discount parking will be available in the CPS Energy parking garage located at S. St. Mary’s and Navarro. La Villita is located downtown at 418 Villita Street. For more information, call (210) 207-8612 or visit www.LaVillita.com.

RIVERWALK JAZZ CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

Twenty years ago The Jim Cullum Jazz Band started as a project of Texas Public Radio. Credited as one of the factors for a renewed interest in classic jazz throughout the country, Riverwalk Jazz reaches jazz lovers and neophytes alike with its high-energy broadcast. Combining live music recordings with documentary-style storytelling, the radio program can be heard on Public Radio International in more than 200 cities, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, the internet and even mobile phones. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band can be seen at the Landing in the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

NAPKIN ART AT MAIN PLAZA

Main Plaza got a burst of color with an exhibit by artist Louis Vega Trevino. Known for his cocktail napkin art, four of Trevino's designs were enlarged and displayed on kiosk walls where they will remain thru June. Vega Trevino's work is the first public art display at Main Plaza.

Click here for a complete list of events from the SACVB website.

Have an event to submit to the CVB web calendar? Click here for the submission form.

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Please welcome the following groups meeting in San Antonio during the month of April:

American College of Healthcare Executives (28)
American Deafness & Rehabilitation Association (325)
American Organization of Nurse Executives (1200)
American Pharmacists Association (7000)
American Psychological Association (650)
American Registry for Internet Numbers (200)
American Swimming Coaches Association (150)
American Wood Preservers Association (400)
Amtech Users Group (70)
Association on Higher Education & Disability in Texas (120)
Association of Old Crows (1100)
Bankers Advertising Company (140)
Business Forms Management Association, International (200)
Chi Eta Phi Sorority (110)
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (90)
Dialysis Clinic Inc (300)
Elanco Retiree Reunion (100)
Equipment & Tool Institute (150)
Food Marketing Institute (100)
Gateway to College (29)
Industrial Supply Association (1500)
Insurance Rehabilitation Study Group (100)
International Downtown Association (300)
JC Penney (365)
Laborie Medical Technologies Corporation (20)
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (250)
National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (170)
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (2100)
National Council of University Research Administrators (130)
National Petroleum Energy Credit Association (220)
National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (366)
Society for Biomaterials (1200)
Southern Regional Science Association (100)
Texas Apartment Association (2000)
Texas Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (200)
The Data Warehousing Institute™ (150)
Transportation Intermediaries Association (650)
Trinity Reunion (60)
USANA Health Sciences (1500)
US Department of Energy Annual Solar America Cities Meeting (130)
US Environmental Protection Agency (150)

Click here for a complete schedule of meetings from the SACVB website.

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'MAKING HAY' AT THE MISSIONS

New neighbors are calling the Mission Trail home for the next two years. Makin Hay - three giant figures constructed of hay and steel - are the creation of world-renowned public artist Tom Otterness. Made possible by the Alturas Foundation and the City of San Antonio, the monumental figures will live near Mission San Juan Capistrano just off Mission Parkway at the intersection of Ashley Road Capistrano. This is the first of many art installations to come along the San Antonio River Improvements Project Mission Reach. Makin Hay celebrates the changing relationship of the American people with agriculture and their heritage. Learn more about The Alturas Foundation and Tom Otterness at www.alturasfoundation.org.

BORDER STRATEGIES

Omni San Antonio General Manager Cesar Cantor shared his international business experience with a group of UT Pan American and Universidad de Monterrey graduate students. Cantor's presentation on strategies for the border corridor addressed business situations and managing time and work forces when doing business internationally. No stranger to academic achievement, Cantor holds degrees from Trenton College, New York University, and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Cesar is pictured left with Dr. Victoria Jones, UTSA Associate Dean of International Relations.

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Newsletter Information
From The Heart is a collaborative effort of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Convention, Sports and Entertainment Facilities.

Our Mission is "To promote and market San Antonio as a premier visitor and convention/meeting destination for the purpose of positively affecting the city economy."

For more information, or to be removed from this newsletter list, email us at CommunityRelations@VisitSanAntonio.com, or call Marketing & Communications division at (210) 207-6737.