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Press Release
Chicago, Orlando, Seattle, San Diego Now “Smart
Destinations” Cities As Newest “Go” Smart Card Attraction
Passes Unveiled
Value, Breadth of Admissions Build On Success of
Go Boston™ Card, Go San Francisco™ Card; Unveils 2005 Edition
for Boston and San Francisco
March 21, 2005 (Boston, MA) – Smart
Destinations Inc. – the premier provider of smart card-enabled
attraction passes in major U.S. travel destinations – today announced
its Go Card – the leading all-inclusive, value attractions pass
– is now available to travelers in four new cities across the
country. Targeting top U.S. vacation destination spots, the new cards
extend smart value savings for travelers looking to see “all that
a city has to offer.” The company unveiled its four new cards
- Go Chicago™ Card, Go Orlando™ Card, Go Seattle™
Card and Go San Diego™ Card - adding to the success of its Go
Boston Card and Go San Francisco Card.
Providing travelers with a fixed flat-fee card that offers unlimited
access to hundreds of attractions across the country, Go Cards simplify
the destination experience for visitors. The easy-to-carry card and
companion guidebook highlight local sites, letting travelers better
tailor a visit based on schedules and interests, at a fraction of the
price they would normally pay. Go Cards allow the card holder full pre-paid
entrance to some 30 to 60 premium attractions in each market. Additional
discounts at stores and restaurants are also included in the card benefits.
Visitors can purchase the Go Cards online at www.GoCardUSA.com
or through the more than 1,000 company distribution partners..
“The success of the Go Cards is in their simplicity,” said
Cecilia Dahl, president and co-founder of Smart Destinations. “Our
smart card makes visiting a destination easier and more personal. For
one low price, customers receive convenient and unlimited pre-paid entrance
to top-level attractions that meet their interests.”
Go Chicago Card will feature unlimited admission to
Chicago’s finest attractions including: Adler Planetarium and
Astronomy Museum, The New Hancock Observatory, Gray Line of Chicago’s
famous two-day hop-on/hop-off trolley tour and guided day trips including
North Side Tour, South Shore Tour and Inside Chicago: The Grand Tour.
The card will also include a Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Boat Tour
and Architectural River Cruise, Chicago Historical Society Museum admission
and guided walking tours, admission to the Frederick C. Robie House
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a series of walking tours led by the
Chicago Architecture Foundation and MORE. Visitors also receive a FREE
full-color pocket guidebook and savings of up to 20% on shopping and
dining throughout the city. Go Chicago Card will be available for an
introductory price on May 20 starting at $39.00 for an adult one-day
pass. It can be purchased online at www.GoChicagoCard.com.
With Go Orlando Card, visitors can see “the rest
of Orlando” in a new way starting May 31. Designed to give visitors
the value and convenience of a theme park pass on the days they take
a break from the big parks, Go Orlando Cards give visitors unlimited
admission to more 30 attractions and tours, and receive a FREE full-color
guidebook and savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining. Top participating
Orlando attractions include: Gatorland, Fun Spot Action Park, Ripley’s
Believe it or Not, Titanic and Watermania. Visitors also get free admission
for mini golf, go cart rides, airboat rides and other activities. In
addition, visitors who purchase 3 + day cards also receive a free dinner
theater valued at over $50. For those looking to travel to the beaches
of Miami, the Go Orlando Card even includes unlimited free admission
to Miami’s top attractions including: Miami Duck Tours, Miami
Metro Zoo, Airboat rides, Island Queen Cruises and more.
In addition, to provide maximum flexibility for Orlando visitors, Go
Orlando Card is valid for any 2, 3, 5 or 7 calendar days out of a 14-day
period. The Go Orlando Card will be available for an introductory price
of $79.00 for an adult two-day pass valid for two days of unlimited
admissions in a 14-day period. Go to www.GoOrlandoCard.com
to purchase.
Go Seattle Card lets visitors gain unlimited admission
to more than 30 attractions, and receive a FREE full-color guidebook
and savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining. Some top Seattle attractions
included are: Space Needle, The Experience Museum Project (EMP), Science
Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Hop On/Hop Off tours on the Double
Decker Bus tour, City Sights Tour, and full-day trips to Mt. Rainier
or Mt. St. Helens. Visitors can also tour Safeco Field, see the Underground
Tour and stop at the MOHAI museum and Henry Art Gallery. Harbor Cruises,
Lake Cruises, the Nordic Heritage Museum and the Tacoma Museum of Art
are also part of the package. Go Seattle Card will be available on May
1 for an introductory price starting at $39.00 for an adult one-day
pass online at www.GoSeattleCard.com.
Finally, thanks to Go San Diego Card, visitors have
unlimited admission to the city’s best attractions including:
The Aerospace Museum, Automotive Museum, Natural History Museum, Museum
of Photographic Arts, Petco Park “Home of the San Diego Padres”
tour and the Museum of Man. The card will also include Whale Watching,
a Harbor Cruise, admissions to the Miramar Speed Circuit and Coronado
Museum of History, a ride on the Belmont Park Roller Coaster and walking
tours of San Diego, plus MORE. Visitors receive a FREE full-color pocket
guidebook and savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining throughout
the city. Go San Diego Card will be available online at www.GoSanDiegoCard.com
on June 10 for an introductory price starting at $39.00 for an adult
one-day pass.
In addition to the new cards, Smart Destinations also unveiled 2005
editions of Go Boston Card and Go San Francisco Card. Go Boston Card
2005 will include more than 60 attractions in the Greater Boston / New
England area including new attractions in Salem, Mass and Cape Cod.
Go San Francisco Card 2005 will give visitors access to over 45 attractions,
including ALL of San Francisco’s top museums and attractions as
well as expanded offerings in the wine country. New for 2005, Go San
Francisco Card now includes a free, full-day wine country tour valued
at over $55.00 retail.
Smart Destinations operates offices in each city in which it does business,
and is a member of those city convention and tourism offices, as well
as of the Travel Industry Association of America and Cross Sphere (Global
Association for Packaged Travel). Its commitment to service is reflected
in details such as the free illustrated Guidebook that accompanies each
Go Card, highlighting attractions as well as shops and restaurants that
provide discounts to Card holders, plus fun tips, maps and emergency
numbers.
“The Go Boston Card became an important component of our strategic
marketing plan to bring more value to Boston visitors and provide ways
for them to see the city at an affordable price,” remarked Mimi
LaCamera, Director of Visitor Marketing for the Greater Boston Convention
& Visitors Bureau. “The card is very popular among our visitors,
particularly with families who appreciate the opportunity to affordably
take advantage of a broad array of the best of what Boston offers.”
Smart Destinations at a glance:
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Launched Go Boston in 2003, Go San Francisco in 2004,
six new cities to be rolled out in 2005.
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More than 1000 distribution partners and affiliates
in over 25 countries, including Virgin Holidays, American Airlines
Vacations, Southwest Vacations, The Mark Travel Corporation, National
Leisure Group, and major online tour operators such as Expedia,
Travelocity, Orbitz and more.
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Recent recipient of more than $4 M investment from
North Hill Ventures, the venture investment arm of Capital One and
Zon Capital Partners, a private venture capital firm.
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Cecilia Dahl, President and founder, is an industry
veteran of the wholesale travel business, formerly with Collette
Vacations. Kevin McLaughlin, CEO and founder, is a veteran entrepreneur
with experience in marketing and product management for high tech
products.
Go Cards at a glance:
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The Go Card is a single, easy-to-carry smart card
used as a ticket for unlimited attraction admissions that eliminates
paperwork and coupons.
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Accompanying guidebook lists the included FREE attractions,
shops and restaurants that offer exclusive value savings, as well
as fun tips and detailed maps.
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Unlimited free admission to 30-60 attractions in destination
city from as little as $23.00 per day.
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Exclusive discounts at restaurants and shopping destinations
offered.
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1, 2, 3, 5 and 7-day cards available.
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Central voucher redemption locations for those traveling
on packages, and key tourist destination points of sale.
About Smart Destinations
Smart Destinations is the premier provider of unlimited admission attraction
passes in major U.S. travel destinations. Smart Destinations’
Go Cards offer simplified access to dozens of attractions to individuals,
couples and families, for one fixed “per day” price. The
Go Guidebook is ready-to-travel and includes fun facts about a destination,
access details, and important local numbers. Distributed through major
travel services in 25 countries as well as on the Web, Smart Destinations’
Go Cards are the industry’s “trusted companion” for
the best a city has to offer at an unbeatable price point. For more
information on program participation, the company and its cards, visit
www.GoCardUSA.com or call 617-742-5950.
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©2008 Smart Destinations,
Inc.
800-887-9103,
email Smart Destinations
85 Merrimac Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114
View all of our Go Visitor Card Products
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