CityPASS

CityPASS

Industry	Travel
Founded	June 1997 by Mike Gallagher and Mike Morey
Headquarters	CityPASS 27 Arrow Root Lane Victor, Idaho 83455
Products	Atlanta CityPASS Boston CityPASS Chicago CityPASS Hollywood CityPASS Houston CityPASS New York CityPASS San Francisco CityPASS Seattle CityPASS Philadelphia CityPASS Southern California CityPASS Toronto CityPASS
Website	www.citypass.com

CityPASS is an American company that produces and sells booklets containing entrance tickets (deeply discounted from the regular admission prices) to groups of attractions in 11 North American destinations: 10 major cities and the theme parks of Southern California.^[1]

Description

CityPASS (formerly CityPass) is a privately held company that produces and sells booklets containing entrance tickets (deeply discounted from the regular admission prices) to groups of attractions in 11 North American destinations: 10 major cities and the theme parks of Southern California. The CityPASS cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto. Once travelers have purchased a CityPASS ticket booklet, they pay no additional fees to get into any of the included attractions. For the aforementioned cities, the price of a CityPASS ticket booklet is between 43-51 percent less* than the combined cost of purchasing individual tickets to each attraction. (*CityPASS ticket booklet prices and resulting discounts vary from city to city.)

CityPASS also produces a Southern California ticket booklet that covers admission (at a 29 percent discount) to several theme parks, including Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, SeaWorld San Diego, Universal Studios Hollywood, and a choice between either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.^[2]

CityPASS’ headquarters are located in Victor, Idaho.^[3] In January 2010, the company changed the spelling of its name from CityPass to CityPASS. Both versions of the name are trademarked.

History — The Idea (1996)

The idea for CityPASS grew out of the combined tourism experiences of Mike Gallagher and Mike Morey, both of whom continue to serve as co-CEOs of the company. Gallagher’s professional career includes various marketing, operations and executive positions at SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo and Marine World Africa USA (now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom).^[4] Morey is the founder and former owner of Morey & Associates, a market research and consulting firm that specializes in serving museums, aquariums and zoos.^[5]

Gallagher's and Morey’s idea for CityPASS was simple: Choose no more than six iconic attractions within a city or region, work with the attractions to significantly discount their admission tickets, and then sell the ticket booklets directly to consumers. With one purchase — the CityPASS ticket booklet — travelers enjoy pre-paid admission to the included attractions.

CityPASS has also been beneficial for destinations, which view it as a tool that enhances economic development.^[6][7] Because CityPASS ticket holders tend to stay longer than the average visitor, their per-trip spending is also higher. In terms of economic impact on a given community, CityPASS' end result is positive.

History — The Launch (1997)

In June 1997, the CityPASS program was launched simultaneously in Seattle and San Francisco.^[8]

History — Adding Destinations (1998-2008)

CityPASS ticket booklets for other destinations followed:

• 1998 — New York and Boston
• 1999 — Philadelphia
• 2000 — Chicago ^[9] and Hollywood
• 2003 — Southern California (Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego and the San Diego Zoo) ^[10]
• 2004 — Toronto ^[11]
• 2006 — Atlanta ^[12]
• 2008 — Houston ^[13]

References

1. ^ CityPASS Company Profile — www.citypass.com/press/profile.html
2. ^ CityPASS Southern California Price Comparison Page
3. ^ CityPASS Profile
4. ^ Benson, Colleen (Dec. 4, 1995). “People in Business,” San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate.com.
5. ^ Dipersio, Cindy et al. (June 1991). “Highlights Of The 22nd Annual TTRA Conference,” Journal of Travel Research, Vol. 30, No. 1, 45-54.
6. ^ Sixel, L.M. (May 2, 2008). "Houston tourism chalks up a gain: CityPass puts city on list with some top U.S. destinations," Houston Chronicle.
7. ^ Hall, Christine (May 16, 2008). "CVB hopes CityPass will define Houston as tourist destination," Houston Business Journal.
8. ^ Travel Trade Gazette | TTG Live (June 8, 2007). “Don't let these money-saving cards pass you by,” TTG Live.
9. ^ Ogintz, Eileen. (Oct. 24, 2000). “Taking the Kids: Chicago — that toddler town,” CNN.com.
10. ^ Haru Fisher, Robert. (Feb. 6, 2003). “Gao Gao, Shamu and Mickey on the Cheap: CityPass Discounts Southern California Theme Parks,” Frommer’s Budget Travel.
11. ^ Catto, Susan. (July 11, 2004). “Travel Advisory: Toronto’s Top Draws in a Single Package,” The New York Times.
12. ^ Schwartz, Michael A. (Sept. 29, 2006). “CityPass launches in Atlanta,” USA Today.
13. ^ TravelAge West (May 30, 2008). “Houston Introduces CityPass,” TravelAge West magazine.

External Links | Reference Articles

• CityPASS Website — www.citypass.com
• CityPASS Company Profile — Link to profile
• CityPASS Facebook Page — www.facebook.com/citypass
• CityPASS Blog — www.citypass.com/blog
• CityPASS Twitter — twitter.com/citypass
• PlanetEye Traveler (June 6, 2010) — Save Time & Money with Hollywood's CityPass
• Frugal Mom Digest (Feb. 20, 2010) — Southern California CityPass: Visit 5 Famous Attractions for One Low Price
• Frommer's Budget Travel (Dec. 21, 2009) — Toronto Destination Guide
• AARP, The Magazine (November/December 2009) — Travel: A Rare Chance to Save
• Real Simple (May 2009) — How to Save on Summer Entertainment
• TravelAge West (May 30, 2008) — Houston Introduces CityPass
• Houston Business Journal (May 16, 2008) — CVB hopes CityPass will define Houston as tourist destination
• Frommer’s Budget Travel (April 28, 2008) — Making Sense of New York City's Sightseeing Passes
• USA Today (Sept. 29, 2006) — CityPass launches in Atlanta
• Consumer Affairs (Feb. 25, 2006) — CityPass Coupons Save Sightseeing Dollars''
• The New York Times (July 11, 2004) — Travel Advisory: Toronto's Top Draws in a Single Package
• SFGate.com (Dec. 4, 1995) — People in Business
• Expedia.com — Chicago CityPass