WASHINGTON, DC, August 22, 2006 – The Map Network today partnered with the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) to develop innovative online and print mapping solutions for the San Francisco area. The online map is being launched today and can be seen at: http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/maps.

The Map Network (TMN) will serve as the new Official Map Publishing Partner of the SFCVB. As the first map-centric media company to focus exclusively on the destination marketing and events industries, TMN’s map products provide custom “bottom-up” solutions for the promotion of destinations, events, hotels and venues.

As SFCVB’s Official Map Publishing Partner, TMN is developing a robust suite of customized online and print mapping program for San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, including the Official Map of San Francisco, Official Visitor’s Guide Map, GLBT Guide, Dining Guide Map, and Holiday Shopping, Events, and Arts Guide Maps. With local content provided by the SFCVB, the maps will serve as an indispensable pre-destination and in-market planning and navigation resource.

In addition to producing these products, TMN will also handle all advertising-related transactions for the map publications, allowing SFCVB members and local partners to reach targeted audiences in innovative new ways. TMN is pleased to announce that local travel industry publishing veteran Rob Scott, previously Group Publisher of Custom Publications for Morris Visitor Publications, has joined TMN to handle all advertising sales.

SFCVB members will receive discounted advertising rates on all map products produced for the area. Benefits for SFCVB individual business members include new marketing content distribution and targeted advertising options that enable them to capture a larger share of the San Francisco visitor market. In addition to highly-targeted audiences in San Francisco, such as attendees of individual trade shows and events, they will also have the opportunity to promote themselves on partners who feature The Map Network’s map of San Francisco, such as USA TODAY
( http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/cityguides/sanfrancisco/overview.htm and click to load interactive map).

“We are excited about The Map Network’s innovative technology. Their interactive online and print mapping solutions will definitely enhance traditional opportunities for advertisers,” said Diane DeRose, VP of Marketing of SFCVB. “Additionally, we will generate revenue for the city and strengthen our capabilities in the visitor marketing industry through TMN’s customized map products.”

“Our locally-defined maps support SFCVB’s core goal of marketing San Francisco as a premier destination,” said Shane Green, President and CEO of The Map Network. “With trusted content and strong relationships with local SFCVB members and businesses, we offer an unparalleled and compelling opportunity to reach tourists, conventioneers and even meeting planners visiting San Francisco.”


About The Map Network
The Map Network (TMN), based in Washington, DC, is transforming one of the world's oldest information sources — maps — into a dynamic new sales, marketing, revenue-generating, and community-building tool for destination marketing organizations, events, hotels and venues. TMN offers a wide array of complete multimedia map solutions that combine industry knowledge with cutting-edge technology to reach sales and marketing goals. TMN currently serves as the Official Map of the Destination Marketing Association International and more than 90 CVBs. TMN is also the Official Map of such leading associations as IAEM, ASAE and MPI. More than 200 events have used TMN's custom map-guides, including more than 25 of the Tradeshow Week Top 200 trade shows, both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2004, the Senior Olympics, the World War II Memorial Dedication, Presidents Cup Marine Corps Marathon, Super Bowl XL and XLI, and a number of leading convention centers, stadiums and hotels. www.mapnetwork.com


About The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (SFCVB)
About The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the City as a leisure, convention and business travel destination. With approximately 1,700 member businesses, the SFCVB is the largest membership-based tourism promotion agency in the country. Tourism, San Francisco’s largest revenue-generating industry, generates in excess of $7.37 billion annually for the local economy. For more information, call (415) 974-6900 or visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com.


Contact
Tanya L. Travers
Email Contact
(202) 898-1008 x123