FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Par Avion Selected As Official Housing Service Provider By the XI FINA Worlds Organizing Committee
International Swimming Competition to Attract 10,000+ People, Utilize 28,000+ Hotel Nights in Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Jose and San Francisco in August 2006
LOS ANGELES, Calif. U.S.A (Feb. 13, 2006)--- Par Avion Meetings & Conventions, one of the world's leading conference housing, travel and registration companies, was selected as the official housing service provider by the organizing committee for The Federation International de Natation (FINA) XI World Masters Championships. The championships will be held August 2 - 17, 2006 at Stanford University's Avery Aquatic Center in Palo Alto, Calif. The world-famous event is a biennial international competition attracting master swimmers, water polo players, divers and synchronized swimmers from around the globe. Par Avion will provide private housing services for the 10,000+ people expected to attend. FINA will have a tremendous impact on hotels in Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Jose and the San Francisco airport area.
According to Michael W. Moore, president, XI FINA World Masters Championships Organizing Committee, the event will require more than 28,000 room nights, or 3,500 rooms over an eight to 10 day period. “This is the largest swimming event in history to take place in the United States,” said Moore. “Because housing is so critical for an international competition of this kind, our organizing committee selected Par Avion Meetings & Conventions to be the official housing provider. Par Avion's demonstrated professionalism and experience with large groups make them the right housing partner for FINA.”
Toby Brenner, president and CEO of Par Avion, said, “Par Avion is honored to assist FINA in housing these renowned competitors, spectators, suppliers and coaches at its first event in the United States since 1992. This is a significant sporting event with a large contingent of international participants, and we are looking forward to providing our renowned hospitality services, competitive prices and value-packed treatment.”
Santa Clara is just one of several cities that will be benefit from an event of FINA's magnitude. Steve Van Dorn, president and general manager of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & Convention - Visitors Bureau, said, " We are excited to be working with Par Avion in coordinating housing for this international event. As the home of many past aquatic champions, Santa Clara is ideally suited to host these athletes. The Santa Clara hotels are ready to welcome FINA and will provide first class accommodations."
The FINA World Masters Championships will begin Friday, Aug. 4, 2006 with swimming and water polo and conclude Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 with synchronized swimming. More than 8,000 world-class adult athletes, age 25 and older, will travel from more than 60 countries to compete in the world's largest competitive aquatic meet. Another 2,000 spectators, suppliers and coaches are expected attend.
The first FINA World Master Championships were held in 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. Subsequent host cities include Brisbane, Australia; Rio de Janeiro; Indianapolis, Ind.; Montreal, Canada; Sheffield, England; Casablanca, Morocco; Munich, Germany; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Riccione, Italy. The event has grown from 3,400 to more than 8,000 swimmers.
To inquire about Par Avion Meetings & Conventions, call Par Avion toll free at 800-927-8137. E-mail: service@paravion-inc.com.
About Par Avion
Founded in 1984, Par Avion Meetings & Conventions specializes in providing integrated convention housing, registration and travel packages to both corporate and association clients. For the past 20 years, Par Avion has presented a complete menu of services as part of its Convention Housing and Travel program, including: Site Selection, Hotel Contracting, Customer Service/Call Center, Attrition Management and On-Site Assistance. Through the help of Par Avion’s dynamic management team, clients have significantly increased meeting room count, reduced or eliminated attrition fees and greatly improved customer satisfaction. Par Avion’s corporate headquarters are located in Los Angeles with satellite offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Phoenix. Visit www.paravion-inc.com.
About FINA
The Federation International de Natation (FINA), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is the international governing body for aquatic sports. FINA has 191 member federations. For more information, please go to www.FINA.org, For information about the championships please go to www.2006finamasters.org.
