The San Francisco Convention
& Visitors Bureau is developing a new program to encourage visitors to “Escape to the City.” 
A micro site on San Francisco’s official Web site, http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/escape/,
provides visitors with suggested itineraries and value-added incentives to plan
their own perfect “escape.”

“Now more than ever, it’s important that people make and take the time to
get away.  And with so much to
explore in San Francisco, both visitors and locals will find something new every
time,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

The “Escape to the City”
micro site lists “American Express Exclusive Offers – Only in San Francisco”
from San Francisco retailers, hotels, restaurants and attractions valid through
Dec. 31, 2009.  In addition, the
“Get 3 Nights for 2” lodging promotion, which runs through June 30, 2009, offers
three hotel nights for the price of two when reserved with any American Express
Card and booked on www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/offers. American Express is
the Official Card Partner of the SFCVB.

The “Escape to the City” site also
includes:

• San Francisco hotel
  packages and online reservations;
• Suggested itineraries
  from local personalities and other San Francisco
  “celebrities;”
• “Blog & Win” for
  visitors to share their favorite ways to “Escape to the City” and be eligible
  to win “Only in San Francisco” prizes;
• A list of “Only in San
  Francisco” exhibitions and attractions, including “Wicked,” King Tut, Georgia
  O’Keefe, Ansel Adams, and others;
• “San Francisco After
  Dark” – providing night owls with an excuse to book an overnight hotel
  stay;
• Information on featured
  special events and a link to the SFCVB’s comprehensive Calendar of
  Events;
• “Free & Easy” – a
  list of museum special admission days and free activities throughout San
  Francisco;
• “Getting There &
  Getting Around” – transportation information to and around San
  Francisco;
• “Diverse City
  Destinations” – tour itineraries celebrating San Francisco’s diverse
  communities;
• In-depth information on
  the city’s 15 main neighborhoods, including what to see and
  do;
• Audio walking tours
  created by students at San Francisco’s Galileo High
  School;
• “Today in San Francisco”
  – a compendium of traditions, history, facts and
  ideas