Dallas Introduces New Web-Based Marketing Concept

DALLAS, TX -- The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the formation of a new subsidiary in its Tourism Division called Dallas One-Stop Shop. The One-Stop Shop officially opened its electronic doors on April 13, 2000 and is located at http://www.dallasonestopshop.com/. The One-Stop Shop concept is designed to aid the international travel professional when booking clients into Dallas. Dave Whitney, President & CEO of the Dallas CVB, explained that the new service "is a unique concept in the world of CVBs; it provides our international customers with an enhanced level of service -- a virtual one-stop environment -- a place where they can go for a simple, easy, and fast means of booking their customers into the city for meetings, conventions, and/or conferences. "In addition," Whitney said, "the site offers assistance with itineraries, hotel packages, ground transportation, sight-seeing programs, pre- and post-convention tours, technical tours, and incentive travel programs. And, we do it fast! We are guaranteeing a 48-hour turnaround time." Jorge Herrera, Dallas CVB Senior Vice President/Tourism Division, noted that "The One-Stop Shop offers international clients a centrally-located 'place' where they are able to get information for their customers on a variety of topics from hotel packages to incentive tours; it is a whole new way to do business with Dallas, and it makes doing business with Dallas more profitable for the international tour operator." Herrera continued, "We are confident that this marketing approach will soon become a standard in the industry -- with CVBs not competing with services currently available in a city, but enhancing them." "The One-Stop Shop," added Herrera, "is open only to professionals in the industry, and will act as a central clearinghouse for agents. Many times our international meeting attendees are left out of the loop when planning to attend conventions or congresses in the United States; the One-Stop Shop is a 'place' they log on to for help in blocking rooms and/or planning events, tours, or incentives for their client's next visit to Dallas." "The Dallas One-Stop Shop will be the place for the professional to come for help and for information -- and turnaround time will be 48 hours, unheard of before today in our industry," said Herrera. "In addition," he continued, "we will keep them updated on special offers, on new products available in Dallas, and, as the One-Stop Shop continues to grow and expand, it will do so with the needs and wishes of our customers in mind." The One-Stop Shop complements Dallas' already-in-place international initiative while offering customers a whole new way of doing business with the city. "We are very excited about this new venture on the World-Wide Web and look forward to serving the customers who visit our 'virtual shop,'" Herrera said. Herrera also announced that Gary Woods, the Dallas CVB Director of Product Development/Tourism Division, will oversee this new service. "Mr. Woods' experience with ground operations, destination management, and international travel trade is a perfect fit for the the Dallas One-Stop Shop concept," Herrera said. Mr. Woods can be reached via e-mail for further information about Dallas One-Stop Shop. Dallas, the #1 visitor and leisure destination in Texas, ranks among the top cities in the United States in convention and meeting attendees -- nearly four million people attend more than 3,700 conventions annually. Let us help you discover the best and most effective new ways to do business in The Texas Star! This article republished in part from the Winter 2000 edition of Dallas Non Stop, a publication of the Tourism Division of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. © 2000, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.