AAA Launches New Marketing Program for Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Jan. 27, 2003--In an effort to ease marketing costs for some of its smallest affiliated lodgings, AAA is launching a new advertising program for bed and breakfast inns and country inns based on feedback from the Professional Association of Innkeepers International and other industry organizations.
    The new program allows specific lodging classifications to obtain a photo listing advertisement in AAA's online TourBook(R) on http://www.aaa.com if the property is an Official Appointment. The photo listing attracts more attention because of its placement near the top of the page and the presence of photos. Previously, display advertising in the printed version of the TourBook had to be purchased prior to obtaining the photo listing.
    "This new program provides a marketing outlet with AAA that up to now may have been cost prohibitive for some properties in this classification because of their size -- many of them have fewer than 10 rooms," said Gary Sisco, director, AAA Business Development.
    Under the new arrangement these lodgings could purchase a year's worth of advertising for as little as $1,200.
    According to research, more than 83 percent of AAA's 45.7 million members have Internet access and 65 percent of them search for travel information online. Users of the online TourBook view more than 18,000 lodging detail pages daily.
    An Official Appointment property has a licensing agreement with AAA which allows them to feature the AAA logo on signage, in TourBook guide listings and in promotional materials.
    For more information on this new program, lodging classifications, the Official Appointment program, or online TourBook advertising, log on to http://www.aaabiz.com/adsales.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its nearly 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

    AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news