Sept. 1, 2015 – The San Francisco Travel Association and Lyft have created a new destination promotion partnership, that will utilize the sharing economy to meet the needs of visitors.  As part of the partnership, San Francisco Travel is introducing an ongoing “Ride About Town” credit of up to $10 for first-time Lyft users.

“As one of the most innovative destinations in the world, we want to make sure visitors have efficient and convenient transportation options such as Lyft to navigate and travel throughout the city,” said Joe D'Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel.

Started in 2012, Lyft is a mobile app that seamlessly connects passengers with a community of local drivers, easy to spot by the bright pink “Glowstache” displayed on their dashboards. 

By partnering with Lyft, San Francisco Travel encourages visitors to utilize transportation that leverages technology to meet their needs, while expanding the overall economic impact of visitors to the city. To provide additional value for visitors, custom promotions and offers will be developed and made available for select visiting business groups, meeting and convention attendees throughout the year.

"San Francisco is the city Lyft calls home, and we're excited to partner with the San Francisco Travel Association to make it convenient and affordable for visitors to get around," said David Estrada, Lyft's Vice President of Government Relations. "Everyone in a city benefits when it's easy to access transportation options like Lyft, including businesses across the bay. Drivers often share their favorite restaurant or other hidden gems with passengers - helping travelers experience San Francisco through the eyes of a local."

To obtain the “Ride About Town” credit, visit www.sanfrancisco.travel/ride-about-town.  Or download the Lyft app at http://get.lyft.com/download/.  Go to the "Payment" section and enter the code: RIDEABOUT. Current Lyft users can refer friends through the app and both users get a $10 credit.

Safety is a top priority for Lyft, which has implemented strict safety criteria to protect the community.  In California, Lyft provides insurance coverage that acts as primary to the driver's personal policy from the time the app is turned on. When the app is on but the driver has not yet been matched with a passenger, Lyft provides up to $100,000 total per incident. An additional $200,000 in excess coverage is also provided. From the time the driver has been matched with a passenger until the ride has ended in the app, Lyft provides $1 million of commercial liability insurance as well as uninsured/underinsured coverage and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage. More information and details of Lyft's safety screening processes are available at www.lyft.com/safety.

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit www.sanfrancisco.travel, read the Visitors Planning Guide or call 415-391-2000.  The Visitor Information Center is located at 900 Market St. in Hallidie Plaza, lower level, near the Powell Street cable car turnaround.

American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 34 international cities on 29 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 78 cities in the U.S. on 15 domestic airlines. SFO is proud to offer upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and  www.facebook.com/flysfo.

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Lyft Media Contact:

Chelsea Wilson

Public Policy Communications Manager

916-812-0409, cwilson@lyft.com