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2008 Republican National Convention News

Travel Technology Group Named Official Housing Bureau of the 2008 Republican National Convention

Company to Manage Convention Hotel Block; Offer Paperless Online Reservation System

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Jan. 31 PRNewswire-USNewswire — The 2008 Republican National Convention today announced that Travel Technology Group will serve as the Official Housing Bureau for the party's 39th presidential nominating convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Travel Tech will manage the official convention hotel block and coordinate a paperless, online reservation system to assist convention guests with their travel plans. Roughly 16,000 rooms in more than 100 hotels throughout the host cities have been blocked to host many of the 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media, and other guests expected to attend.

"We are delighted to welcome Travel Tech to the convention team. The group's unmatched online capabilities will enable us to connect delegates and guests with official convention hotels through an easy to navigate, online reservation tool," said convention President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cino.

Travel Technology Group's reservation technology will allow the 2008 Republican National Convention to facilitate accommodations planning and provide the hotel community with extensive reporting and real-time inventory status. Out-of-town visitors will receive confirmed hotel accommodations through Travel Technology Group and its COMPASS Reservation System.

"In addition to being the technologically savvy option, we are committed to offering our guests an environmentally friendly reservation system," added Cino. "The 2008 Republican National Convention will be the greenest in GOP history — and Travel Tech will play an important role."

From transportation, to venue selection, to staff workspace — the Committee on Arrangements (COA), the Minneapolis-Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee, and the host cities are working together to implement the best environmental practices in all aspects of planning. Along with the online hotel reservation system, other web technologies, including a paperless method of volunteer registration and the online forum CONVENTION iNSIDER, are being utilized to make the convention eco-friendly. For more information on the convention's efforts to go green, visit www.gopconvention.com/downloads/gopgreen.pdf.

"2008 is sure to be an exciting political year and Travel Tech is pleased to contribute to the Republican National Convention in this official capacity," said Tom Baur, Chairman and Co-Founder of Travel Tech. "Bringing the convention delegates together with the local Minneapolis-Saint Paul hotel community through our software is a fulfilling accomplishment."

Travel Tech provides the events industry with dynamic solutions in housing services and travel reservations. Serving as official provider for more than 200 events worldwide annually, Travel Tech charges itself to provide strategic, creative, and effective housing programs for each partner. Tenured staff ensures events' success with the best tools and highest levels of service from hotel contracting and audits to customized reporting and promotional campaigns. Headquartered in Chicago, Travel Tech is powered by its proprietary COMPASS Reservation System and has been defining the standards of event housing since 1984. To learn more about Travel Tech, visit www.ttgonline.com.

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media, and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website at www.GOPconvention2008.com.

SOURCE 2008 Republican National Convention