San Francisco Travel and FIRST-HOLD Bring First-to-Market Technology for Online Venue Searches and Reservations

July 1, 2017 - The San Francisco Travel Association is partnering with the first-to-market, patent-pending technology of www.FIRST-HOLD.com to provide live access for finding and booking event venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

“Innovation is the lifeblood of San Francisco so it's natural that we would be the first destination marketing organization to layer this platform into the existing functionality of our website,” said San Francisco Travel President and CEO Joe D'Alessandro.

Starting in the Meeting Planners section at www.SFTravel.com, event organizers can use the Venue Search feature and indicate the type of venue, setup and estimated attendance. The user can then see real-time availability and pricing of the venues via a direct link to the FIRST-HOLD system, where they can also instantly hold, book or enquire further about the spaces - all online, 24/7.

FIRST-HOLD is free for meeting and event planners to use, and venues are offered a variety of subscription options to take advantage of this new marketplace by publishing their availability and rates. 

FIRST-HOLD's technology won the Most Innovative Product Award in March 2017 at the Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter's Conference.

“We are excited to connect San Francisco Travel's customers to our portfolio of top venues, getting everyone past that 'pain point' of back and forth of phone calls and emails to check availability, place or release holds, and book a space,” said FIRST-HOLD Co-Founder Jennifer Brown.

The San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the city as a leisure, convention and business travel destination.  With more than 1,300 partner businesses, San Francisco Travel is one of the largest partnership-based tourism promotion agencies in the country.

Tourism, San Francisco's largest industry, generated record-breaking numbers in 2016.  More than 25.1 million people visited the destination, spending in excess of $9.69 billion. More than 80,200 jobs are supported by tourism in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Travel business offices are located at One Front St., Suite 2900, San Francisco, CA 94111. 

San Francisco Travel operates Visitor Information Centers at Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market St. at the corner of Powell and Market streets, and on the lower level of Macy's Union Square.  San Francisco Travel is also a partner at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.  For more information, visit www.sftravel.com.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop service by 41 international carriers serving 49 international cities and connects non-stop with 83 cities in the U.S. on 13 domestic airlines.  SFO offers 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.

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

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www.FIRST-HOLD.com Media Contact:  Molly Webster, molly@first-hold.com,  415-553-0032.