Convention Services go On-line
Packer Country VCB creates own program
GREEN BAY, Wis.
June 28, 2005

GREEN BAY, Wis. (June 28, 2005) – Booking rooms for a convention? Traditionally that would mean the hassle of repeated calls to hotels to check on room rates and availability. Wouldn't it be great if all of the room reservations could be handled through the Internet? You can do just that when traveling to the Green Bay area thanks to the new On-Line Housing program created by the Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau (PCVCB).

In use since January, the new program eliminates those repeated calls to hotels and eliminates having to send in a reservation form and waiting to hear if rooms are reserved. "We're excited to be able to offer this new service," said Kari Sliva, President/CEO of Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau. "This is another tremendous tool to help us serve our customers - the meeting, sports and event planners who book more than $68 million in business each year in the Green Bay region."

To date, more than 1,100 rooms have been booked for conventions and special events through the on-line service. "This makes it so easy for convention and special events visitors to make hotel reservations," said Beth Peters, Packer Country's Director of Sales. "We really just wanted to simplify the room reservation process for visitors."

Here's how it works. Once a group books an event, conference or convention in the Green Bay area, Packer Country reserves a block of rooms. Those planning on attending the conference or event can go to the Packer Country Web site (www.packercountry.com) and click on the "Convention & Event Housing" link. There, they can select their event from a list of all events, conferences and conventions that have blocks of rooms reserved in the Green Bay area. By entering the event code provided to them by their event planner, they can then make the hotel reservations quickly and easily on-line. Peters says the program sends an immediate confirmation, with a copy to the hotel and to Packer Country.

Peters says the program is unique in its use of the Internet and in the fact that it was designed specifically for the Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau by Packer Country's Web design firm, Ascedia. "This system really does everything that we want it to do," added Peters. "We're thrilled with the way it's working and how efficient it is."

USA Hockey used the system for the Women's National Hockey Championships in Green Bay in March. "It was so easy to access and so easy to use that our 2006 host association wants to know how they can get their visitor and convention bureau to do the same," said Emily Tonniges, USA Hockey coordinator. "It is definitely the way to do group bookings."

Peters says users love the program's efficiency. "In the five months it's been in operation, we've heard nothing but rave reviews about the on-line service," Peters said. "Event planners love it, and so do the visitors who are making the reservations."

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Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau is the regional destination marketing organization committed to improving the visitor experience and increasing the economic impact of tourism to its communities. For more information call 888-867-3342 or visit us online at www.packercountry.com.