LONG BEACH, CALIF. -- For the first time in its 25 year history, the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (LBACVB) has received six distinguished awards from five major meeting trade publications for the Bureau�s professionalism, outstanding service and success in working with the city�s hospitality partners. The publications include: Meetings & Conventions Magazine (M&C), Insurance & Financial Management Meetings Magazine, Meeting News Magazine, Successful Meetings Magazine and Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine.

The most significant prize for 2007 is the Meetings & Conventions �Gold Service Award,� which the LBACVB won for the twelfth straight year. As a result of this win, Long Beach will be permanently inducted into Meetings & Conventions� coveted �Elite Hall of Fame,� an honor reserved for visitor bureaus that have achieved twelve consecutive gold service awards. The �Elite Hall of Fame� was established in 1984 and since that time, only thirty-three visitor bureaus have received this prestigious honor, nationwide.

The M&C �Gold Service Award� honors convention & visitors bureaus that have excelled in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals. The Magazine�s readers (professional meeting planners) made their selections based on strict criteria including: staff attitude, quality of meeting rooms, food and beverage service, guidance on local attractions and liaison with local venders and services.

Four additional major industry awards were also won by the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau during this past year:

�World Class Award��Insurance & Financial Management Meetings Magazine
This is the first year Long Beach has won this prize.

�Planners� Choice Award��Meeting News Magazine
Fourth consecutive win.

�Pinnacle Award��Successful Meetings Magazine
Fourth consecutive win.

�Award of Excellence��Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine
Second win.

Each of these major convention and meeting trade awards is voted on by professional meeting planners through �unaided recall,� meaning each planner chose Long Beach based on their own memory and experience.

�Within our industry, these awards are viewed by professional meeting planners as credible, recognized and highly valued awards, validating our efforts as a community to offer the best customer service to our clients,� said Steve Goodling, President & CEO of the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. �The reason we place so much importance on customer service is that �word of mouth� referrals and personal testimonials from our clients are two of the most effective sales and marketing tools we can muster. Winning these awards shows that we have achieved and are maintaining our goal of providing superior customer service.�

�Dedication to quality has always been a trademark of M&C�s readers who represent the highest level of meeting and incentive professionals,� Bernard W. Schraer, Meetings & Conventions Group Publisher remarked. �The 2007 Gold Awards Hall of Fame inductees have met these tough standards by providing outstanding service.�

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Media Contacts:
Bob Maguglin
(562) 495-8345
bobm@longbeachcvb.org
-OR-
Megan Rodriguez
meganr@longbeachcvb.org
(562) 495-8326