Press Release

ONTARIO, CA (July 7, 2003) -Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau recently conducted a survey on behalf of Ontario Convention Center to discover top priorities and trends for meeting planners in the Western United States.

The data indicates that when selecting a destination, one of out three meeting planners ranks Southern California as their number one location, and three out of four consider affordability to be their top concern. When choosing a facility, their top selection factors are the number, size and quality of meeting rooms. The majority also prefer a facility with close proximity to a major airport.

"This is great news for Ontario," explains Amita Patel, director of sales and marketing for the 225,000 square foot facility. "When it comes to affordability, size, quality and proximity to an airport, Ontario meets all of their top selection criteria. When we communicate these advantages through an aggressive and highly targeted awareness campaign to the planners, we have every indication that they will increasingly choose to hold their conventions in Ontario."

When choosing a destination airport, meeting planners listed several selection factors of top importance. They included discount airfares, direct flights, ground transportation and proximity to airport. The Ontario Convention Center is located two blocks from the Ontario International Airport, which was recently named one of the five best alternate airports in the country by Forbes magazine. The other single most important planning considerations other than facilities, transportation and lodging were dining options, golf and recreation.

"Ontario offers all of the attributes planners are seeking-whether it's diverse dining options or affordable, quality meeting space," said Mary Jane Olhasso, for the City of Ontario. "Our goal is to become the preferred meeting and convention destination in California and the Western region of the United States."


For more information about Wilkin Guge Marketing, please visit www.wilkinguge.com or contact them at 651 Wharton Drive, Claremont, CA 91711, (909) 625-2225.