The 2000 calendar year was marked by the launch of the GPCVB�s new e-commerce Web site, www.visitpittsburgh.com; continued success in marketing the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center; record-breaking publicity placements; three national customer service awards; and preparations for the first trade show owned and managed by RiverPoint TradeShows.  RiverPoint TradeShows is an affiliate company of the GPCVB.

With the launch of visitpittsburgh.com on Oct. 10, 2000, Web surfers around the world gained 24/7 access to the Pittsburgh experience.  Users can read about the newest exhibits, performances and sporting events, scroll through restaurant descriptions and menus, and select from a variety of accommodations before purchasing tickets, booking a room and making restaurant reservations, all at a significant discount.  Streaming videos, digital sound, mapping features, seating charts and 360-degree virtual tours provide an ideal opportunity to preview and plan itineraries before arrival.  Users must purchase at least one night�s hotel accommodations in order to purchase anything else on the site.  This ensures that the site markets directly to visitors.

�Visitpittsburgh.com has set a new standard for destination city marketing,� said GPCVB President Joseph R. McGrath.  �It allows visitors to preview the Pittsburgh experience before they buy, while giving them the convenience of purchasing their entire stay in one transaction.� The 40+ movies and virtual tour photography on visitpittsburgh.com were shot by a professional videographer, and professional voiceover talent was used for audio, ensuring that all participating cultural attractions are equally represented with quality video designed to attract the visitor.  In December 2000, visitpittsburgh.com was awarded the Good Housekeeping Web site Certification.  This seal was created to guide consumers to sites that have clearly defined security and privacy policies, provide useful information and are easy to navigate.

Since the launch of the new visitpittsburgh.com in October 2000, online visits to the GPCVB site have increased by 52 percent to more than 2.9 million hits and 222,121 visits (October 2000-February 2001).  Together, the old and new visitpittsburgh.com site generated more than 10.4 million hits and 649,694 visits (January - December 2000), an increase of 122 percent over 1999.

Construction of the new Convention Center kicked off with the official groundbreaking on April 6, 2000.  In 2000, the GPCVB Convention Sales team booked 457 conventions for 2001 and beyond, including AMS International (7,000 room nights) and the International Society of Arboriculture (4,000 room nights). The total economic impact of a convention is measured in room nights rather than attendance. Example: 400 people staying two nights generates a greater economic impact on the community than 600 people staying one night. In its first full year of operation, the Office of Cultural Tourism (OCT) generated $600,000 in economic impact based on new itinerary-based cultural packages.  Funded by local foundations and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the OCT is charged with developing and packaging compelling consumer getaways that promote Pittsburgh as a cultural destination.  Other key projects include the production of ArtSource, a bimonthly calendar of regional arts events, and the launch and operation of the Culture Caravan, a weekend shuttle service that transports visitors between 18 cultural attractions.

RiverPoint TradeShows, an affiliate tradeshow management company of the GPCVB, continued preparations for the launch of its first event, Engineering Tissue Growth International Conference & Exposition (ETG), on March 26-29, 2001.  Attendees from 19 countries, including engineers, researchers, technicians, entrepreneurs and executives, are expected to attend.  ETG is co-sponsored by the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative and TissueInformatics.Inc.

In 2000, the Tourism Department strengthened its focus on both domestic and international group travel markets, hosting familiarization trips for 109 travel agents and tour operators for inclusion of Pittsburgh itineraries in their tour books.  Visitor inquiries grew to more than 608,875 in 2000, due in large part to increased traffic on visitpittsburgh.com.  And to serve the many visitors to Pittsburgh�s Strip District, the GPCVB opened a new Visitor Information Center at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

The Communications Department generated extensive print and broadcast coverage for the region in 2000.  The department�s public relations efforts resulted in 944 media placements, representing more than 80 million impressions.

The GPCVB also received national recognition for its quality customer service.  In 2000, the Convention Services Department received the Gold Service Award given by the readers of Meetings & Conventions magazine, the Pinnacle Award, given by the readers of Successful Meetings, and the Award of Excellence, given by Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine.

Allegheny County ranks first ahead of all counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for tourism spending and front-line tourism jobs.  Tourism spending in Allegheny County exceeds $2.13 billion annually. (Source:  1999 D.K. Shifflet)

The mission of the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau is to create revenue and jobs in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh by generating convention, trade show and leisure travel business.