Team San Jose Surpasses Convention Center Revenue and Hotel Booking Goals in Fiscal Year 2007-08

San Jose, CA (Vocus) September 29, 2008 -- The San Jose Convention and Cultural Facilities (http://www.sanjose.org), managed by Team San Jose, Inc., and promoted by the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau, surpassed its revenue goals set with the City of San Jose by generating over $11.5 million in fiscal year 2007-08, announced Dan Fenton, Team San Jose chairman and President and CEO of the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB).

?Since taking over operation of the convention and cultural facilities in 2004, Team San Jose has increased revenue by 83.4 percent and reduced expenses by 53 percent,? Fenton said. ?This is a great testimonial to the vision we had five years ago to create a service driven organization that puts the customer experience first. Although we?re always looking for ways to raise the bar, the fact that 97 percent of our clients said they?d return to San Jose speaks volumes.

Team San Jose/San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau?s unique service wins national accolades as well, such as Meetings & Conventions magazine?s 2008 Gold Service Award. This honor is bestowed by subscribers, consisting of 70,000 meeting planners across the U.S. who arrange conventions, meetings and incentive travel.

Meeting and event planners choose San Jose because it?s a fun and easy to manage destination, and because of the partnership between Team San Jose and the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau. This unique model provides convention and tourism services through one point of contact for all event services needs, making it much easier for planners. Other destinations are evaluating San Jose?s innovative model as a new approach to customer service in the convention industry.

The team generated 255,412 hotel room nights in FY 2007-2008, which is a 6 percent increase from their annual goal. Based on data from the 14 downtown hotels, San Jose hotels brought in $143 million in gross hotel room revenue, a $13.7 million increase over 2006-2007.

Three percent of the hotel room night tax revenue, or Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT), funds operations for the Convention Center and Cultural facilities. At the end of FY 2007-2008, the team?s successful efforts have helped generate a $5.9 million TOT fund balance to support the Convention Center operations, maintenance and reserves. No City of San Jose general fund dollars are used to support the operations of the Convention Center and Cultural Facilities.

The SJCVB and Team San Jose partner as one team to attract visitors to the convention and cultural facilities, which totaled 1.68 million in FY 2007-2008. Visitor spending in San Jose last year was an estimated $200 million. In addition to hotel stays, visitors to San Jose support local attractions, museums, restaurants, nightclubs, day spas, shopping venues and other businesses throughout the community.

About Team San Jose:

Team San Jose's mission is to ensure that San Jose's Convention Center and Cultural Facilities are effectively managed to reduce costs, improve the local economy, and add value for our customers, residents, workers, and businesses within the City of San Jose. Team San Jose's board includes local hoteliers, organized labor, the arts and the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

About The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB):

The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB) mission is to enhance the image and economic well being of San Jose by marketing San Jose as a globally recognized destination. The SJCVB offers meeting planners, tour operators, and individual visitors a wide range of services to ensure a successful event and fun visit to San Jose. To receive a copy of the Bureau's Meeting Planning Guide or Official Visitors Guide, please contact the SJCVB at 1.800.SAN.JOSE (1.800.726.5673) or visit www.sanjose.org.

CONTACT:

Meghan Horrigan

408-792-4175

mhorrigan @ sanjose.org

Jeanne Sullivan

650-215-8156

jsullivan @ sanjose.org

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