NO PLACE LIKE HARTFORD

 WHEN IT COMES TO HOMECOURT HOSPITALITY 

---NEWS RELEASE---

(March 2, 2007)--- Mayor Eddie Perez says Hartford is rolling out the welcome mat for a big weekend in the Capital City!  The Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament (March 3^rd – 6^th) and not one, but two Home Shows (March 2^nd-4^th), one at the Connecticut Convention Center and the other at the Connecticut Expo Center!

Then, Hartford hosts another round of hoops March 18^th-20^th.  That’s when the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women’s Tournament come back to the Civic Center.  Basketball alone is expected to boost the City’s economy by $2 million.  At least 4,000 hotel rooms are expected to be booked.

Mayor Perez says, “Last year, 240,000 new visitors experienced Hartford for the first time.  It is important to build on this momentum.  We have great hotels, restaurants, and cultural venues.  Most importantly, we have welcoming residents.  The Hartford Hospitality Task Force has done a great job preparing brochures, billboards and banners to inform folks about Hartford, the events, and area entertainment, activities and discounts.”

The Star Shuttle will run extended hours (In addition to the normal operation hours of Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Shuttle will run Saturday, March 3^rd from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday, March 4^th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Most Downtown parking garages and lots will offer Special Event parking rates for the games--- $10 for a single session or $15 for all day parking.  At the 11^th Annual Connecticut Spring Home Show at the Connecticut Expo Center, parking is free with the on-line coupon otherwise it is $5.  The 60^th Original Connecticut Home and Lifestyles Exposition at the Connecticut Convention Center offers hourly rates for Friday, but $9 events parking for Saturday and Sunday.