The PIT Pad Overview

Fiesta San Antonio Noted Among Top U.S. Festivals
With over 100 events spanning ten sunshine-filled days every April, Fiesta San Antonio is an annual favorite for travelers from across the country and world. Fiesta-goers are intoxicated by a flurry of parades, art festivals, concerts and cuisine from San Antonio’s many cultures. This has spurred the American Bus Association to take note of Fiesta San Antonio and name it one of North America’s top 100 events for 2009.

Over 25 San Antonio Hotels and Restaurants Among AAA Four Diamond Award Winners
As one of America’s favorite cities, San Antonio offers a wide variety of regionally inspired restaurants and luxury hotels for the ultimate in indulgent experiences. AAA recently took notice of San Antonio’s many offerings by naming 27 San Antonio hotels and restaurants among their Four Diamond award winners for 2009.

San Antonio's Accolades & Rankings of Note
San Antonio awards, honors, accolades, top hotels and resorts, meeting space, golf courses

What's New in San Antonio
What's New July 2008

San Antonio’s Le Rêve Named Among Top 40 U.S. Restaurants
Le Rêve, a contemporary French restaurant along San Antonio’s River Walk, has been noted by Gayot.com as one of the top 40 U.S. restaurants; an honor also received in 2007, 2006 and 2004. GAYOT.com paints the image of Le Rêve as an intimate and lovely abode to recline amidst understated grandeur and let the creations of Chef Andrew Weissman lull you into a state of complete satisfaction. Highlighted were menu features like the luscious goat cheese-filled onion tart; crispy, fried prawns with a mango salad of toasted cashews and lime vinaigrette; artisan cheeses and desserts like a chocolate and hazelnut tart with chocolate mousse. Discover the many flavors of San Antonio at www.visitsanantonio.com or call 800-ALAMO-07.

San Antonio Among Top Destinations for Motorists
San Antonio was ranked number three on a list of the “Top 20 Destinations for Motorists” by AutoVantage, a leading car membership club. Close to large cities like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston as well as Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio is often noted as a top drive-to destination.

Sounds of San Antonio—14th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza
The 14th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is the largest and longest running mariachi music festival in Texas. Over 1,000 of the greatest mariachi musicians from both sides of the border will participate in concerts and fiestas set along the colorful banks of the River Walk, beneath the grandeur of an 18th-century mission and within the opulent setting of Municipal Auditorium.

San Antonio CVB Welcomes New Team Members
The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently welcomed three new team members to the Sales & Services Division.

Come Cheer on the Largest Marathon in Texas History!
On November 16, 2008, 30,000 registered participants will make the inaugural Rock‘n’Roll San Antonio

San Antonio Hotel Trio Receives Top Honors
San Antonio’s Hotel Contessa and Watermark Hotel & Spa were ranked among the top 100 hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Chef John Brand Sates San Antonio’s River Walk in New Executive Chef Role
Two of San Antonio’s riverside hotels, the Watermark Hotel & Spa and companion property Omni La Mansión del Rio have appointed John Brand as Executive Chef. Brand, who most recently served as Chef de Cuisine at The Broadmoor Hotel’s Charles Court, will be the culinary visionary behind La Mansión’s acclaimed restaurant Las Canarias and the Watermark Hotel & Spa’s Pesca on the River. Chef Brand brings over a decade of culinary expertise and experience from luxury properties across the United States.

Culinary Institute of America offers Latino Cooking Classes in San Antonio
Culinary Institute of America offers Latino Cooking Classes in San Antonio!

The San Antonio Story Continues with New Destination Video
New Sales Video for SACVB Debuts

San Antonio Ranked as One of Americas Favorite Cities
Travel + Leisure magazine has named San Antonio as one of Americas favorite cities for the second year in a row. Among the 25 cities featured, San Antonio was considered the most affordable by residents and visitors

San Antonio CVB Receives Award of Excellence
The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (SACVB) just received the 2008 Award of Excellence from Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine.

Expedia: San Antonio is Nation's Third Fastest-Growing Leisure Destination
Americans are driving through trying economic times by vacationing at drive-to destinations. Within a days drive for millions of Americans, San Antonio is the third fastest-growing vacation hotspot in the U.S., according to a new report released by Expedia Travel Trendwatch

Authentic Holiday Celebrations in Cultural San Antonio
Under the stars of Texas, San Antonio is getting ready for a festive and authentic holiday season. Were drenching the River Walk with Christmas lights, planning a holiday river parade and even throwing one of the biggest New Years Eve celebrations in the nation.

San Antonio Tourism Reports Record July
Best July ever is what some in the local hospitality industry are calling July, 2008, during a summer that has seen vacation travel challenged nationally by record high gas prices and a strained economy.

San Antonio Named Among Top 50 Next Great Adventure Towns
Its not surprising that San Antonio, a city famed for pivotal battles, has been noted by National Geographic Adventure magazine as one of the nations next great adventure towns. For almost three centuries, San Antonio has been a haven for cultural evolution and deep-rooted beliefs.

SACVB Receives Gold Service Award for 24th Consecutive Year
The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (SACVB) has been awarded the prestigious 2008 Gold Service Award from the subscribers of Meetings & Conventions magazine. The Gold Service Award recognizes convention and visitors bureaus that have excelled in serving meeting professionals.

RK Group Stays on Cutting Edge with New Executive Chef
The San Antonio-based RK Group is renowned as a full-service catering and events company. Spread through San Antonio, Austin and Arizona, the heart of RKs operation can be found in its role as the exclusive caterer for San Antonios Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Known for trailblazing into new horizons, the RK Group and has attained Chef Craig Bianco from the The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco to enhance culinary creativity.

San Antonio CVB Rolls Out 15 New Travel Trade Itineraries
The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau just released 15 new itineraries geared toward group travel planners looking to tailor their San Antonio experience.

San Antonio's McNay Art Museum Welcomes the Jane and Arthur Stieren Center for Exhibitions
Opened in San Antonio as Texas first museum of modern art, the McNay has indulged visitors with the works of Monet, Picasso and Matisse, among others. In recent years, the McNays highly-regarded collection had superseded available exhibit space, leaving patrons with the desire and challenge of expansion. Aside from raising over 50 million dollars, one of the biggest challenges was to create an addition that would not detract from the original museums historic faade.

San Antonio Airport Listed as a Leader in Customer Service
As airports around the nation face the brunt of low customer service rankings, the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is proving that the citys reputation for down-home hospitality doesnt end at the airport. J.D. Power and Associates recently rated SAT as one of the top airports in the country for customer service. Outstanding performance was noted in airport accessibility, check-in and baggage check.