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Thursday 30th November 2006

BRISTOL IS THE EASY CHOICE TO SELL


After a luxury weekend break hosted by Destination Bristol, International Sales Agent Jaci Koehler, from Continental Airlines said, 'Bristol is the easy choice to sell'.

Jaci, who has worked for Continental for over 12 years and is based in the Salt Lake City call centre, sold the most flights on the Newark - Bristol route over a two-month period and as a result won a 3-night break in Bristol for her efforts.

On Saturday 4th November, she flew into Bristol with her husband and spent three days in the city and surrounding area. The couple stayed at Thornbury Castle and during their time visited key attractions in Bristol including Brunel's ss Great Britain, At-Bristol and Bristol Cathedral. They also spent a day in Bath, took a trip by car to Stonehenge and enjoyed dinner at some of Bristol's top restaurants, including one of the harbourside favourites, Severnshed.

Jaci said of their visit, 'We could not have asked for a better time here in Bristol, and have seen so much in a short period of time. The visit to the ss Great Britain and Bristol Cathedral were spectacular and we enjoyed At-Bristol. Everyone was so friendly and helpful! The trip has left a lasting impression on me and really makes Bristol the easy choice to sell.'

The incentive scheme was devised when John Hallett, Destination Bristol's Managing Director, visited the three Continental Airlines call centres in Houston, Salt Lake City and Tampa in March last year and made presentations to the sales staff.

The scheme was implemented to increase call centre sales of the New York - Bristol route. The call centres at Houston, Tampa and Salt Lake City, which have 2000, 900 and 700 staff respectively are responsible for 60% of Continental Airlines' bookings.

'We are delighted that Jaci visited Bristol. As an International Sales Agent, she will be able to go back to Salt Lake City and brief her colleagues on how easy it is to fly into Bristol and just how much there is to see and do in this part of the country,' said John Hallett.

Tony Hallwood, Bristol International's Aviation Development Director added, 'Bristol International are very pleased to support Destination Bristol's initiative in flying US Continental call centre incentive scheme winners to the city. We believe that Jaci will return to the States full of enthusiasm for Bristol and will encourage her colleagues to promote the city and all the regional tourist attractions including Bath and Stonehenge.'

Jaci is not the first winner of the incentive scheme; Destination Bristol ran a similar initiative earlier in the year where winner Suzanne Ramos also from Salt Lake City visited Bristol in May 2006

ENDS

Photographs:
1. Jaci Koehler recent winner from Continental Airlines Salt Lake City call centre with her husband GJ Koehler and Thornbury Castle sales executive, Karin Anderle.

From left to right - Jaci Koehler, GJ Koehler and Karin Anderle.

2. Jaci Koehler recent winner from Continental Airlines Salt Lake City call centre pictured with her husband GJ Koehler outside Thornbury Castle

3. John Hallett from Destination Bristol welcomes former prize winner Suzanne Ramos from Continental Airlines call centre in Salt Lake City. Accompanied by her husband Eric Ramos and Aaron Smythe from Continental Airlines.

From left to right - Aaron Smythe, Suzanne Ramos, Eric Ramos and John Hallett.

For more information please contact:

Kerrie Grist
Marketing Executive
Destination Bristol
Tel: 0117 946 2205

Notes to Editor:
1. Destination Bristol, formerly the Bristol Tourism and Conference Bureau is a not for profit partnership between Bristol City Council and Business West. Destination Bristol is the destination management partnership for Bristol and South Gloucestershire and leads the marketing of the area as a travel destination. The aim of the organisation is to work with members and partners, to increase business competitiveness, support employment and economic growth, and raise