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Press Release
Go Blue Ridge™ Card Recognized by North Carolina Chamber of Commerce as a
“Top New Attraction” for 2007
January 29, 2008 (Asheville, NC) –
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Association and Smart Destinations, Inc. are pleased to
announce that their collaboration on the Go Blue Ridge TM Card has
earned the product a spot on the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s “Top
New Attractions, Events and Awards” of 2007. Launched in May
of 2007, the card includes pre-paid admission to top North Carolina
attractions including Biltmore, Chimney Rock Park, Grandfather Mountain
and more, plus exclusive discounts at area restaurants and merchants.
”The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is delighted by this
recognition,” said Penn Dameron, Executive Director of the Blue
Ridge National Heritage Area. “We have always believed that the
Go Blue Ridge Card is an excellent vehicle to highlight the region
and its many attractions to visitors of the area. Receiving recognition
from such a prominent organization as the North Carolina Chamber of
Commerce further confirms that belief.”
The Go Blue Ridge Card can be purchased in 2, 3 and 5 calendar day
increments. Once activated, the card is valid for access to the included
attractions for the number of days purchased. Participating attractions
include Biltmore, Chimney Rock Park, Emerald Village, Rockhouse Vineyards,
Lake Lure Tours, Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville, the Health Adventure,
Colburn Earth Science Museum, Smith-McDowell House Museum, Thomas Wolfe
Memorial, LaZoom Bus Tour of Asheville, Tweetsie Railroad, Linville
Caverns, Grandfather Mountain, Banner Elk Winery, Loafers Glory Rafting & Tubing,
The Historic Orchard at Altapass storytelling hayride, Mystery Hill,
Wildwater Rafting trip, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) raft trips on
the Nantahala and French Broad Rivers, Smoky Mountain Jet Boats, Dillsboro
Rafting trip, Great Smokey Mountain Fish Camp with Tubing, Oconaluftee
Indian Village, Mountainside Theatre: Unto these Hills…A Retelling,
Ghost Town in the Sky™ Rose Creek Mine, The Museum of the Cherokee
Indian, Wheels Through Time Museum, and Smoky Mountain Trains Museum.
Additional savings are available just by showing the Card. Discounts
are available at restaurants, merchants and attractions including Spear’s
BBQ and Grill at Linville Falls Lodge, NOC Relia’s Garden Restaurant,
the Balsam Mountain Inn restaurant, Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and
Creamery, Chimney Rock Park Sky Lounge and the Old Rock Café Restaurant,
Grove Arcade ARTS & Heritage Gallery, the Historic Orchard at Altapass,
Mast General Store, Banner Elk Winery, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad,
Smoky Mountain Jet Boats, Horn in the West and Hickory Ridge Living
Museum, and Blue Ridge Day Hiker.
The Go Blue Ridge Card comes with a full color guidebook that includes
maps of western North Carolina and describes each of the offers in
detail to help travelers plan their activities. Visitors can purchase
the Go Blue Ridge Card online at www.GoBlueRidgeCard.com,
through any of Smart Destinations’ global distribution partners
or in person at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford
Street, Asheville at (828) 258-6101. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Directions at www.exploreasheville.com.
Other cities offering Smart Destinations’ passes include Boston,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Maui, Miami, Orlando, Oahu, New York City, San
Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and California’s Wine Country. Attraction
partners appreciate not only the Card’s track record, but the ease
in Smart Destinations’ advanced paperless technology, with ongoing,
detailed reports about usage and automatic, on-time payment, and its
wide global distribution networks in more than 25 countries.
Smart Destinations At A Glance:
- Launched Go Boston™ Card in 2003, Go San Francisco™ Card in 2004, followed by 8 additional cities in 2005 and 2006.
- More than 1,000 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, Viator, Orbitz and more.
- Recipient of more than $4.25 M investment from North Hill Ventures, the venture investment arm of Capital One and Zon Capital 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.
New York City Explorer Pass At A Glance:
- The product is a single, easy-to-carry smartcard used as a ticket for
unlimited attraction admissions that eliminates paperwork and coupons.
- Accompanying guidebook lists the included attractions, fun tips and detailed
maps, plus information on shops and restaurants that offer exclusive value
savings to Card holders.
- 2, 3 and 5-day Cards available.
- Key tourist destination points of sale, plus central voucher redemption locations
for those traveling on packages..
About Smart Destinations:
Smart Destinations is the premier provider of attraction passes in major U.S. travel destinations.
Smart Destinations offers simplified access to attractions to individuals, couples and families, for one low price. The Guidebook is ready-to-travel and includes fun facts about a destination, access details, and important local numbers. Passes are distributed through major travel services in 25 countries as well as on the Web. Smart Destinations’ passes 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 and www.ExplorerPass.com or call 800-887-9103.
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©2008 Smart Destinations,
Inc.
800-887-9103,
email Smart Destinations
85 Merrimac Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114
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