An overview of the conference, event, and transportation services provided by Minneapolis-based metroConnections. Contact information, story ideas and photos included.

1. MEDIA KIT

2. Woodbury Financial Services
National Sales Convention
August 2007

3. Media Contact
Amanda DePhillips | Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Hilton Corporation
1650 West 82nd Street, Suite 125 | Bloomington, MN 55431 National Sales Convention
adephillips@metroconnections.com | p: 952.767.2907 | f: 952.884.5680 August 2007

4. Proudly serving the meeting, tour industries for 25 years
metroConnections was incorporated April 16, 1984, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Sam Thompson, the founding shareholder, President and majority owner,
established the company to handle the anticipated growth of Minnesota tourism
due to the new Minneapolis Convention Center, the World Trade Center in Saint
Paul, heightened marketing by the State of Minnesota and the Mall of America.
For over twenty years, metroConnections has experienced tremendous growth,
expanding the scope of services offered in Minneapolis and Chicago to include
event productions and conference services and extending the list of national and
global destinations served. The company credits this success to the combination
of its quality, service-oriented staff and its innovative clients and partners.
LEADERSHIP
Sam Thompson David Graves Mike Graves Tom McCulloch
Founder, President Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Vice President/Marketing
& CEO Event Production Conference Services & Conference Services

5. A B O U T T H E C O M PA N Y
Minneapolis World Headquarters
1219 Marquette Avenue, Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55403
p: 612.333.8687 | f: 612.333.4169
www.metroconnections.com
infor@metroconnections.com
Conference Services Event Production & Transportation & Tours
Warehouse
1650 West 82nd Street 1219 Marquette Avenue
Suite 125 401 East Cliff Road Suite 110
Bloomington, MN 55431 Burnsville, MN 55337 Minneapolis, MN 55403
p: 952.767.2900 p: 952.854.0089 p: 612.333.8687
f: 952.884.5680 f: 952.854.4613 f: 612.333.4169

6. The Philosophy: Three make a better ONE
Company Mission
Providing an outstanding Since 1984, metroConnections has provided complete conference, event and
experience is the mission transportation services for hundreds of individuals, organizations and businesses
of metroConnections. Our
across the globe and across the street.
customers trust us to create
seamless conferences, metroConnections is your single source for creating and managing the entire
events, transportation
event experience. As a trusted strategic partner, metroConnections translates your
programs and tours for their
business goals and key messages into informative and memorable events that
guests and we promise to
engage, inspire and move your guests.
deliver our best every time.
metroConnections is a unique destination management company (DMC), bringing
Our customers deserve the
together more than 20 years of diverse experience in conferences, events
highest quality service. We
are committed to offering and transportation services. Our customers range from small groups to large
the best price possible while corporations and associations throughout North America and internationally.
paying close attention to the
extra details that make great metroConnections can help you plan, design and implement events throughout
events extraordinary events. North America and across the globe - wherever your business takes you.

7. ABOUT THE SERVICES
Conference Services Conference Services Conference Services Tours
Conference Services Event Production Transportation &
Inspire your people with décor,
Engage your audience and your Move your group in style and safety,
environments, entertainment and
business with comprehensive with professionally orchestrated
activities that make a lasting
planning, promotion and meeting transfers, shuttles, and tours.
impression.
support.
metroConnections combines the strength of three specialties into one strategic group. You may choose opt to use only select
services or partner with us as a “one-stop-shop” for all your event-related needs. As a trusted partner, metroConnections translates
your business goals and key messages into informative and memorable events that engage, inspire and move your guests.

8. STORY IDEAS
Meeting Technology
• What is this web-based suite of
CONFERENCE SERVICES solutions for the meeting planner called
Attend-eSource®?
Services include:
• What solution do you offer so that
Conference planning and support
attendees can schedule multiple
Logistical planning and meeting support services sessions for a conference in minutes?
Site and venue selection • Did you commission session
scanning and lead retrieval equipment
Online Registration and support
to help meeting planners do their jobs
Program marketing
easier?
Greener Meetings
Attend-eSource®
• Do recycled and recyclable name
Web-based Solution
badges exist?
Attend-eSource®, a suite of web- • What are the paperless registration
based solutions that allows meeting options?
planners to plan faster, manage Conference Branding
logistics easier and provide analysis • What are the ways metroConnections
can help clients brand their conference
accurately and more effectively –
onsite and online?
freeing up time and resources.

9. Onsite Registration Support

10. STORY IDEAS
Lounge Appeal
EVENT PRODUCTION • What is the Lounge Appeal?
Theme Events • Can you create a mood with intimate
seating and lighted cocktail tables?
Interactive Events
Team Building Activities Interactive/Team Building Events
• How can I use Wireless keypad
Environmental Design and Décor
technology during my event?
Exhibits
• Can you customize Amazing Races,
Survivor Skills and game shows?
Production Services
Customized Props and Displays
Look to metroConnections first for custom-concept development,
• Who creates your customized props?
talent selection, management and production expertise to set the
• Where are these props created?
stage for a successful conference opener or keynote address.
Productions and Entertainment
Services include: • What percentage of productions occur
Opening Productions outside of Minnesota?
• What kinds of audio/visual services do
Speaker Selection
you provide to your customers?
Talent Management & VIP Service
Audio Visual Management / Video Editing
Stage & Room Design / Lighting
Audience Response Technology

11. Creative Memories
National Sales Convention
August 2006

12. STORY IDEAS
Major Moves
TRANSPORTATION & TOURS • What major shuttle programs are in
Ground Transportation the works for 2009?
• What was our largest move in
metroConnections presents ground transportation services in favorite
metroConnections’ history?
destination across the U.S. for groups of all sizes. We travel with
DMC Best Practices Checklist
our clients for needs nationally and internationally. Whether it’s two
• What is a DMC and what are the
people who need a ride to the airport or 10,000 who are going to
standard practices of a DMC?
the Convention Center, metroConnections can handle the logistics.
Group Tours to Group Adventures
Airport Meet Greet
• What are the alternatives to typical
Shuttles
convention catering scenarios?
Hotel Transfers • What are the ways that conferences are
Receptive Services engaging their attendees as a group?
Transportation Sponsorship
Tours, Tours and more Tours
Group Tours/Adventures • What are your city tour offerings?
• What is your most popular tour?
Public Tours
• How can I customize a tour for a
Twin Cities Highlights Tour special event or festival?
Stillwater Tour
Going Green
Holiday Lights Tour
• Do you use biodiesel fuels?
Minneapolis & Mississippi River

13. Twin Cities Highlights Tour
Award-winning; recognized by
the Minnesota Office of Tourism

14. T E A M P L AY E R S
3M
Andersen Corporation
Alcoholics Anonymous
Clients Aveda
metroConnections helps to plan, manage and support a range of Best Buy
events for corporations, associations, convention organizers and tour Boston Scientific
parties. Our clients include leading global brands across industries Cargill
as well as partner service companies, hotels and individual meeting Creative Memories
planners. A few of our clients are listed on the right. Department 56
Ecolab
Affiliations General Mills, Inc.
ADME - Association of Destination Management Executives Land O’Lakes
ASAE & The Center for Leadership Management Lawson Software
ISES - International Special Events Society Medtronic
MPI - Meeting Professionals International National Youth Leadership Council
PCMA - Professional Convention Management Association NCAA - Final Four (Basketball)
Northwest Airlines
Convention & Visitor Bureaus
St. Paul Travelers
Bloomington, MN (Destination Bloomington, MN)
Sietar
Chicago, IL (Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau)
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN (Meet Minneapolis Convention + Visitors Association)
Tastefully Simple
Orlando, FL (Orlando/Orange County Convention and Vistors Associaiton)
University of Minnesota
Saint Paul, MN (Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority)
Wells Fargo

15. National Youth Leadership Council
National Learning-Service Conference
April 2008
Target Corporation
National Sales Meeting
Summer 2005

16. www.metroconnections.com