Press Release

Go San Diego™ Card Launches June 10: Fully Pre-Paid Entry to 35 Top Attractions, Plus Savings on Shopping and Dining, All at One Low Price
Go San Diego Card Intros at $39, Delivers “Ultimate Destination Experience”

June 9, 2005 (San Diego) – Smart Destinations, the premier provider of smart technology-enabled attraction cards in major U.S. destinations, today announced the availability of its Go San Diego™ Card on June 10. With unlimited admission to more than 35 top area attractions and tours, the all-inclusive Go San Diego Card delivers something for everyone, plus savings of up to 30% on shopping and dining, at the great low introductory price of $39.00 per adult per day, with lower per-day rates with multi-day cards and for children.

“The Go San Diego Card gives visitors the freedom to move among dozens of attractions, making choices based on their unique interests, all with one pre-paid smart card ‘ticket,’” said Cecilia Dahl, president of Smart Destinations. “Exploring marquee names and hidden gems alike is easier and more relaxing, with admission already covered at each stop and the value of the Card easily recouped. Plus, discounts on services, shopping and dining maximize savings. We truly offer the ultimate destination experience with the Go Card.”

Go San Diego Card visitors have unlimited admission to the city’s best attractions including: the San Diego Zoo Best Value Ticket offered by Balboa Park’s Visitor Center (Includes Zoo admission, with unlimited use of Guided Bus Tour, Express Bus, and Skyfari Aerial Tram), LEGOLAND California, Petco Park “Home of the San Diego Padres” tour, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (including an IMAX film), and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Visitors receive admission into the city’s top museums including the San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Man, The Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, and Museum of Music Making, to name a few.

For the adventurer, the Card also includes nature attractions such as San Diego Harbor Cruise (North or South Bay), San Diego Full Bay Tour, Whale Watching Excursions, a guided Walking Tour of the historic Gaslamp district, Miramar Circuit High Speed race ride, “Promenade Through the Past” Walking Tour of Coronado Island, Japanese Friendship Garden, Temecula Wine Tasting Tour with Grapeline Tours, and a guided Tour to Tijuana, Mexico, with Contactours.

The Card also includes admission to the William Heath Davis House, the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, Firehouse Museum, Museum of the Living Artist, Mingei Museum, Chinese Historical Society, Whaley House and a wine tasting at San Diego Wine and Culinary Center.

Discounts are offered on additional programs such as a Dinner Cruise with San Diego Harbor Excursions, the Gaslamp Gifts museum store, La Jolla Freefall Bike Tour, Coastal Leisure Bike Rides, and a San Diego City Tour, among others, and on dining and shopping. Visitors simply take the Card and free accompanying full-color Guidebook and hit the town, with admission to the city’s best attractions.

“The Go San Diego Card is a terrific way for visitors to see all that San Diego has to offer - from our featured attractions to our hidden gems,” said Sue Mason, Director of Visitor Services at the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau’s International Visitor Information Center. “When I vacationed in Paris, I purchased a multiple-day Museum Pass offered at the Paris Visitors Center, and loved the price and convenience. Now, with the Go San Diego Card, we are able to offer a similar opportunity to San Diego’s visitors.”

Visitors can purchase the Go San Diego Card online at www.GoSanDiegoCard.com or through any of Smart Destinations’ global distribution partners. The card is an included component in a number of hotel packages and weekend getaways and is marketed as a valuable add-on for meeting and convention delegates. Locally, the card is available at the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau’s International Visitor Information Center at 1040 1/3 West Broadway (at Harbor Drive) in Downtown San Diego.

San Diego is the sixth U.S. city to feature the Go Card. The Go Boston™ Card debuted in 2003, and the Go San Francisco™ Card launched in 2004. The rapid success of those products attracted the attention of Zon Capital Partners and North Hill Ventures, the venture arm of Capital One, with investments supporting expansion into San Diego, as well as Chicago, Orlando and Seattle. Attraction partners appreciate the Card’s track record, and the ease in Smart Destinations’ advanced paperless technology, with ongoing, detailed reports about usage and automatic, on-time payment, and its global distribution networks in more than 25 countries.

“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:

• Launched Go Boston in 2003, Go San Francisco in 2004, six cities rolling out in 2005.

• 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.

• Recent recipient of more than $4 M investment from North Hill Ventures, the venture investment arm of Capital One and ZonCapital Partners, a private venture capital firm.

• 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:

• The product is a single, easy-to-carry smart card used as a ticket for unlimited attraction admissions that eliminates paperwork and coupons.

• Accompanying guidebook lists the included FREE attractions, shops and restaurants that offer exclusive value savings, as well as fun tips and detailed maps.

• Unlimited free admission to 20-60 attractions in leading cities from as little as $19.00 per day.

• Exclusive discounts on services and at restaurants and shopping destinations.

• 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7-day Cards available.

• 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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