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Media Contacts:

Sara Hisamoto
August 6, 2008 BACVA
(410) 659-7071
                   

BACVA TARGETS LOCAL AND REGIONAL VISITORS WITH "DEAL DRIVER" SAVINGS TO OFFSET VACATION COSTS

New Baltimore.org Program Offers Destination Discounts and Attractions Savings Equal to Visitor's Cost of Gas

BALTIMORE - September 24, 2008 -As people continue to look for cost-effective getaways,  the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) will help both local and regional visitors stretch their vacation dollars this fall by encouraging visitors to consider a "nearcation," with the launch of a new online program offering hotel, restaurant, shopping and attraction discounts. At the center of the program is a new tool called "Deal Driver" which assists visitors in calculating the cost of driving to Baltimore.

Visitors to Baltimore.org simply enter the zip code of their hometown and the "Deal Driver" will calculate the gas cost of driving to the Visitor Center in downtown Baltimore based upon the current national average price for a gallon of gasoline. The "Deal Driver" then provides exclusive offers for Baltimore attractions, restaurants, hotels and shopping to offset the gas costs of getting to Baltimore.  For example, for a visitor planning a trip from New York City to Baltimore, the distance is approximately 400 miles round-trip and costs approximately $60 plus tolls and so forth, estimating that the vehicle receives 25 mpg. The "Deal Driver" would then provide at least $60 worth of exclusive savings offers in Baltimore with options including a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée at participating restaurants like the Brass Elephant; a free souvenir at the Hard Rock Café; and buy one, get one free admission to participating museums such as Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. 

 "Baltimore is an affordable, accessible destination for year-round travel," says BACVA President and CEO Tom Noonan. "Our goal is to remind visitors of our accessibility while providing savings through the new "Deal Driver" and free hotel perks, making Baltimore stand out as the fall travel destination for regional and local visitors."

Overnight visitors to the city can also cash in on free offers at area hotels that include chocolates and roses, free parking, or an extra free night. A list of 50 free things to do in Baltimore provides even more value for visitors to Baltimore. In addition, since Baltimore is rated a top "walkable city," visitors can easily walk from historical sites in Fell's Point and monuments in Mount Vernon to attractions in the Inner Harbor and shops in Harbor East without worrying about the parking meter. The fall campaign will also encourage participation in the city's Free Fall Baltimore arts and cultural events throughout the month of October.

BACVA will target consumers in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland via print ads, radio promotions and online Web marketing.

For more information on visiting Baltimore, log on to www.baltimore.org.

The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) - the official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore that generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors.
For more information, please visit www.baltimore.org.