MEET MINNEAPOLIS AND SPONG LAUNCH A VIRTUAL CONCIERGE FOR VISITORS DURING 2014 MLB ALL-STAR WEEK

MINNEAPOLIS (July 7, 2014) During the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Week, Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association, has teamed up with Minneapolis-based PR firm, Spong, and assembled an all-star team to host a social media command center to assist the more than 160,000 visitors to Minneapolis. Kicking off July 11, visitors who use #askMPLS to ask questions will receive responses from Minneapolis tourism experts and Twin Cities social media professionals who will recommend nearby places to visit and things to do.

The #askMPLS Social Media Command Center Powered by Meet Minneapolis and Spong was designed to help visitors get the most out of their time in the city by providing them with a virtual concierge, directing visitors to the best local establishments per their requests, including restaurants, bars, hotels, parks, walking trails, movie theaters and more.

The social media command center and #askMPLS is a large-scale, focused effort to engage visitors through the entire Minneapolis experience, said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. Meet Minneapolis and Spong representatives are looking forward to being a real-time resource recommending great places based on everything from nearby convenience to nationally known establishments in Minneapolis.

Spongs social engagement team built the command center at its headquarters located at the center of All-Star action in downtown Minneapolis just across the street from the All-Star game location at Target Field. Spong worked with Meet Minneapolis in recruiting social media professionals from Twin Cities companies to partner with Spong social experts and provide timely answers to the thousands of visitors expected to reach out to attend All-Star Week events.

We know that smartphones and tablets are essential tools for travelers, and the top three reasons they use them are to look for restaurants, things to do and to get recommendations in general, said Julie Batliner, managing director, Spong, and Meet Minneapolis board member. Our social team is seasoned at trafficking inquiries, and were all passionate about Minneapolis and want to share our knowledge, so its a natural fit.

In addition, Minneapolis network of Minneapolis DID Ambassadors, local hotels and restaurants will be promoting #askMPLS. The command center will be open starting on July 11 at 8:15 a.m. and wrapping up operations the morning of July 16.

ABOUT SPONG

Spong is one of the most decorated public relations firms. The firm was named Creative Agency of the Year in 2013 by The Holmes Report and is a four-time recipient of the PR Agency of the Year award by national trade journals PRWeek, PR News and The Holmes Report. The firm represents a select portfolio of envied brands with staff in Minneapolis and New York. Spong is a division of Carmichael Lynch Inc., which is owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (NYSE: IPG), New York. Visit www.SpongPR.com for more information.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.

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