Illinois GOP delegation convention hotel in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON–The hotel assignments just came out for the 2008 Republican National Convention at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008. The Illinois delegation will be at the Millennium Hotel Minneapolis.

For Immediate Release

Monday, April 7, 2008 Contact: Matt Burns

(651) 467-2008

GOP Convention Names Party Headquarters, Delegation Hotels

Saint Paul’s Hilton Garden Inn to Host Minn. Delegation;

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis to Welcome Republican National Committee

(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) – (SAINT PAUL, Minn.) – With less than five months before the 2008 Republican National Convention gets underway at the Xcel Energy Center, the Committee of Arrangements (COA) today announced the host hotels for the 56 Republican delegations that will travel to Minneapolis-Saint Paul to formally nominate Sen. John McCain as the GOP’s candidate for President of the United States. The GOP also announced the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis will serve as the headquarters hotel for the Republican National Committee (RNC).

As part of today’s announcement, convention President and CEO Maria Cino joined MSP 2008 Host Committee CEO Jeff Larson and Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey at Saint Paul’s Hilton Garden Inn to proclaim the hotel’s selection as the official delegation hotel for the host Minnesota delegation.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting and pivotal step in our preparations for the convention,” Cino said. “Our partners in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul hotel community have worked diligently with our convention staff to secure accommodations for the thousands of guests who will be attending the convention, and we’re grateful for their efforts.

“We want to congratulate the Hilton Garden Inn for being selected as the official hotel for the Minnesota delegation, and the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis for being selected as our Party’s convention-week headquarters,” Cino added. “We’re confident the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, along with all the delegation hotels in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, will serve as outstanding hosts for our visitors from across the country.”

“We’re looking forward to establishing our headquarters at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, as well as an exciting and successful convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where we will launch Sen. John McCain to the White House,” said convention Chairman and RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson.

The convention’s Delegate Services staff has reserved more than 16,000 hotel rooms in 101 area hotels. Thirty-five hotels will serve as official delegation hotels for the 56 delegations representing states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The remaining hotels will host other visitors during the convention, including media and GOP officials.

“I am thrilled the Minnesota delegation will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn during the Republican National Convention,” Chairman Carey said. “As we nominate Senator McCain to be the next president of the United States, I look forward to showcasing our great state to the entire world. I am certain our delegation will have a world-class experience at the Hilton Garden Inn.”

“We know that the hotel industry in the Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Bloomington area will do an amazing job hosting the delegations from around the country,” said Jeff Larson, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee. “This is an excellent opportunity to roll out the red carpet and truly demonstrate what ‘Minnesota Nice’ is all about and we look forward to hosting the delegates, media and visitors who will be in for the convention.”

Travel Technology Group, the convention’s Official Housing Bureau, will assist convention guests with their travel plans. Travel Tech will manage the official convention hotel block and coordinate a paperless, online reservation system as part of the convention’s effort to be more environmentally friendly.

The official delegation hotel assignments for the 2008 Republican National Convention are:

Alabama – The Marquette Hotel

Alaska – Ramada Mall of America

American Samoa – Four Points by Sheraton Minneapolis

Arizona – The Saint Paul Hotel

Arkansas – Embassy Suites Minneapolis-Airport

California – Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South & Sofitel Minneapolis- Bloomington

Colorado – Four Points by Sheraton Minneapolis

Connecticut – Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Maple Grove Northwest Minneapolis-Arbor Lakes

Delaware – Best Western Normandy Inn & Suites – Minneapolis

District of Columbia – DoubleTree Guest Suites Minneapolis

Florida – Minneapolis Airport Marriott

Georgia – DoubleTree Hotel Minneapolis – Park Place

Guam – DoubleTree Hotel Minneapolis – Park Place

Hawaii – Embassy Suites Bloomington

Idaho – Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Illinois – Millennium Hotel Minneapolis

Indiana – Embassy Suites Bloomington

Iowa – La Quinta Inn & Suites Minneapolis Bloomington West

Kansas – Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Bloomington at Mall of America

Kentucky – Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Louisiana – Crowne Plaza Minneapolis North

Maine – Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Maryland – Embassy Suites St. Paul-Downtown

Massachusetts – Crowne Plaza Bloomington

Michigan – The Northland Inn

Minnesota – Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul City Center

Mississippi – Embassy Suites Minneapolis-Airport

Missouri – Ramada Minneapolis Northwest & Water Park

Montana – Best Western Normandy Inn & Suites – Minneapolis

Nebraska – Best Western Normandy Inn & Suites – Minneapolis

Nevada – The Saint Paul Hotel

New Hampshire – Hilton Minneapolis

New Jersey – Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America

New Mexico – Holiday Inn Minneapolis Metrodome

New York – Minneapolis Marriott City Center

Northern Mariana Islands – Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Bloomington at Mall of America

North Carolina – Holiday Inn Minneapolis Metrodome

North Dakota – DoubleTree Guest Suites Minneapolis

Ohio – Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis & The Marquette Hotel

Oklahoma – Four Points by Sheraton Minneapolis

Oregon – La Quinta Inn & Suites Minneapolis Bloomington West

Pennsylvania – Minneapolis Marriott Southwest

Puerto Rico – Courtyard Minneapolis Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes

Rhode Island – Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South

South Carolina – Hilton Minneapolis

South Dakota – Courtyard Minneapolis Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes

Tennessee – Ramada Mall of America

Texas – Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Paul-Riverfront

US Virgin Islands – Radisson University Hotel-Minneapolis

Utah – Sofitel Minneapolis – Bloomington

Vermont – Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Virginia – Radisson University Hotel-Minneapolis

Washington – Crowne Plaza Northstar Minneapolis-Downtown

West Virginia – Crowne Plaza Bloomington

Wisconsin – Minneapolis Marriott City Center

Wyoming – Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis St. Paul-Shoreview

About Travel Technology Group

Travel Tech provides the events industry with dynamic solutions in housing services and travel reservations. Serving as official provider for more than 200 events worldwide annually, Travel Tech charges itself to provide strategic, creative, and effective housing programs for each partner. Headquartered in Chicago, Travel Tech is powered by its proprietary COMPASS Reservation System and has been defining the standards of event housing since 1984. To learn more about Travel Tech, visit www.ttgonline.com.

About the 2008 Republican National Convention

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website at www.GOPConvention2008.com.