Mobile to host Bank Travel Marketplace in 2006

Jun 17th, 2003

(MOBILE, AL) The Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Alabama Department of Tourism & Travel has secured the bid to host the Bank Travel Marketplace Annual Conference. Mobile will serve as the backdrop for Bank Loyalty Program Directors at their annual National Marketplace February 5-8, 2006. The marketplace will introduce participants to the benefits of sending their senior motor coach groups to cities around the USA with Mobile being the featured destination.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to tour: the Mobile Landing, the new Maritime Center of the Gulf of Mexico, high-speed passenger ferries, a revitalized downtown infrastructure, USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, Museum of Mobile, Mobile Museum of Art, the historic homes museums, and other attractions located throughout the area.

Bank Travel Program Directors have an average of 5,125 affluent travelers
enrolled in their seniors programs. Over 1.5 million of these types of
travelers will be represented at Bank Travel 2006, based on projected
attendance. In addition to these important decision-makers, industry
suppliers, tour operators, CVB's, hotels, attractions, and restaurants from cities across the country will be on-hand for this major tourism event.

The projected attendance at the annual conference, slated to be held at the Arthur R. Outlaw-Mobile Convention Center, is 650 (400 bank travel program directors and 250 industry suppliers.) The host properties will be the Adam's Mark Hotel and the RSA Battle House Hotel.

"Having Bank Travel Marketplace in the city of Mobile will only heighten the
awareness of the city, its attractions, and its convention opportunities in
the tourism industry," said Leon Maisel, President & CEO, Mobile Area CVB. "The economic profile of travelers associated with this convention is a perfect fit for our area. Mobile will offer convention participants the history, culture and tradition that founded the city over three-hundred years ago along with the incredible gulf seafood, waterfront activities, and southern hospitality that visitors enjoy," concluded Maisel.

For information about the city of Mobile, please contact the Mobile Area
Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 5-Mobile or www.mobile.org. The Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting the Mobile area as a convention and visitor destination. The Mobile Area CVB works with meeting planners to secure convention business for the City of Mobile. The Mobile Area CVB also assists groups with logistics once they have chosen the Port City for their convention or meeting. It is partially financed by local business partners.