Contest, in partnership with Jet Blue Airways, offers tickets, hotel accommodations and airfare

Charles A. Gargano, Chairman of Empire State Development, which administers the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign, today announced that I LOVE NEW YORK, in partnership with Jet Blue Airways, is sponsoring a promotion for the 2005 Metro Atlantic Conference (MAAC) Basketball Championship. The promotional giveaway includes two tickets, along with round-trip airfare for two on any New York to New York JetBlue Airways flight, and hotel accommodations, to the MAAC Basketball Championship, to be held in Buffalo, March 3-7 at the HSBC Arena.

Chairman Gargano said: "With MAAC basketball excitement coming for the fourth time to the HSBC Arena next month, we're proud to announce that we're partnering with JetBlue to give two lucky fans the chance to come and cheer on the conference's best teams as they vie for the championship. This is another example of how we're working with New York companies to foster increased tourism."

MAAC conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola College (MD), Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter's College, and Siena College.

JetBlue is a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, which provides high-quality customer service. JetBlue operates a fleet of 69 new Airbus A320 aircraft and plans to add 15 additional A320s and 7 Embraer E190s to its fleet in 2005. Based at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue currently operates 276 flights a day and serves 30 destinations in 12 states, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas. All JetBlue aircraft feature roomy leather seats, all equipped with an in-seat digital entertainment system offering up to 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming.

JetBlue services the New York State cities of New York City, Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester.

No purchase is necessary to enter the contest, which is open to legal residents of the United States who are 18 years or older as of February 1, 2005. Employees of sponsors and administrators (their families or members of their household), as well as their parent organization or subsidiary, and their advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to win. Employees of MAAC member institutions (their families and members of their households) are eligible. For details on entering the contest, visit iloveny.com. Contest entries must be received by February 27.

For information on travel in any of the Empire State's 11 vacation regions, visit www.iloveny.com or call toll-free 1-800-CALL-NYS.