Oct. 22, 2009 — San Francisco will be showcased in one of “Good Morning America’s” (GMA) holiday windows in New York City Nov. 30, 2009 through Jan. 4, 2010. For the third consecutive year, GMA will transform its Times Square Studios into a winter wonderland by showcasing three U.S. cities in their three street-level windows located in the heart of New York’s Times Square on 44th and Broadway.

The *”Only in San Francisco” window will portray the essence of San Francisco during the holidays. Designer and sculptor Tom Greenfield has creatively showcased many of San Francisco’s most recognizable attractions and icons, including the Golden Gate Bridge; San Francisco’s famed cable cars; Coit Tower; AT&T Park – home of the San Francisco Giants; the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park; Macy’s Union Square and holiday ice rink; and San Francisco International Airport. Beach Blanket Babylon, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, will also be represented, as will Wicked, which is in San Francisco for an extended engagement. The San Francisco CityPass, which provides visitors access to some of San Francisco’s most visited attractions, including SFMOMA; Aquarium of the Bay; Blue & Gold Fleet bay cruise; the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, and the Exploratorium will also be represented in the holiday window design. The “Only in San Francisco” banner will be carried by a replica of a Virgin America plane, San Francisco’s award-winning hometown airline.

The San Francisco window will be unveiled on “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 by Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB), along with GMA’s morning anchor team; Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion. The segment will also include a live performance by Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue. Cast member Caitlin McGinty will sing “San Francisco” while wearing the show’s signature San Francisco skyline hat which measures 11′4″ tall, 10′ wide and 4′4″ deep and features the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, SFMOMA, a moving cable car and other city landmarks.

“It is an incredible opportunity to have the city of San Francisco showcased in Times Square, one of the most visited attractions in the world,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the SFCVB. “And, we warmly welcome every Good Morning America viewer to visit our city and create their own ‘Only in San Francisco’ experience.”

The SFCVB and American Express have created special offers for the winter holiday season with the “Stay & Shop SF” promotion for travel on Oct. 1, 2009-Jan. 31, 2010. Visitors who book two nights on the Only in San Francisco Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, and pay with any American Express card will receive a $50 Westfield gift card, complimentary parking and breakfast (limit of one gift card per stay of two or more nights). The offer is limited to the first 400 “Stay & Shop SF” packages sold. For more information about participating retailers, special events and specific deals in the “Shop SF. Get More” promotion, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/shopsf.

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For general information on hotel packages and reservations; events; activities and transportation in San Francisco, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. For lodging reservations, call 800-637-5196 within North America or 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD) elsewhere.

The San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide is available at the Visitor Information Center, 900 Market St., at the corner of Powell and Market streets, lower level, Hallidie Plaza. A virtual edition of the guide is also available online: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/weaver/sfovg208/ A visitor’s kit may also be ordered online at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com, by phone at 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD), by written request to the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, 900 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102, or via email to vic1@sanfrancisco.travel. Domestic and international shipping charges apply.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop links with more than 30 international points on 25 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com.

Note to editors: To access and download images from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s online photo gallery, click on the link http://www.sfcvb.org/travel_media/photolibrary.asp.

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