DALLAS (July 7, 2011) – This September, the Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will celebrate gay Pride with a weekend of activities leading up to the 28^th annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade.  To commemorate, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is giving away a vacation package for two to visit Dallas during Pride weekend, September 16 – 19, 2011. For official rules and a chance to enter, visit www.glbtdallas.com.

“Dallas is a diverse, progressive destination with much to see and do for lesbian and gay travelers,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB. “Visitors in September have the opportunity to participate in our city’s Pride festivities, and it’s also a great time of year to experience Dallas’ world class arts, shopping, dining and entertainment options.”

The winner of the sweepstakes will receive round trip airfare to Dallas provided by American Airlines, corporate sponsor of the Dallas CVB; accommodations by the luxurious W Dallas – Victory, which includes a dinner for two at Craft Dallas; passes to Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments of Dallas Voice; and VIP passes to Gaybingo Dallas, compliments of Resource Center Dallas.

Dallas Pride weekend offers several events that showcase the city’s friendly and diverse LGBT community.  The highlight of the weekend is the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade.  Now in its 28^th year, the parade is expected to include nearly 2,000 marching participants and draw more than 40,000 spectators from across the nation and around the world.

Organized by the Dallas Tavern Guild, this year’s Dallas Pride theme is “It only gets better”.  The Pride Festival will immediately follow at the conclusion of the parade. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit www.dallasprideparade.com.

Entries for the sweepstakes will be accepted online through noon on August 12, 2011, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter.  The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.  For official rules and to enter, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.^TM

After a nearly ten-year hiatus, lesbian and gay community organizers have revived Razzle Dazzle Dallas to celebrate National Pride Month in June with a five-day festival June 1 -5, 2011. To commemorate this year’s celebration, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) has launched an online sweepstakes.

The Razzle Dazzle Sweepstakes provides one lucky winner and their guest with accommodations for three nights (June 2-4) at the historic Warwick Melrose Hotel, VIP access to all Razzle Dazzle Dallas events, exclusive gift bags and more.

“June is an exciting month to visit Dallas,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB. “We welcome the return of Razzle Dazzle Dallas, as both visitors and residents have an opportunity to participate in five days of events and entertainment created by the city’s vibrant LGBT population—the nation’s sixth largest. While they’re here, our VIP guests will also see Dallas’ world class arts, shopping, dining and entertainment.”

Razzle Dazzle Dallas is a five-day event that combines charity events with entertainment and shopping opportunities that celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride. The main event for Razzle Dazzle Dallas is the free Cedar Springs Street Festival on Saturday, June 4, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.  The festival will feature three entertainment stages, vendor booths with art and food, area retail stores and more.

Other events throughout the week include a wine stroll and pub crawl, the annual fundraiser MetroBall, sidewalk sale and street fairs and tea dances. Live entertainment throughout the weekend includes performances by Deborah Cox, Cazwell, Billy Halliday, The Bright Band and more.

For a complete entertainment listing and schedule of events for Razzle Dazzle Dallas, please visit www.razzledazzledallas.org.

Entries for the Razzle Dazzle Sweepstakes will be accepted online through noon on May 13, 2011, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter.  The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.  For official rules and to enter, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.^TM

DALLAS (December 14, 2010) – Two lucky football fans will attend Super Bowl XLV in North Texas for only $20, courtesy of a Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) online raffle that kicked off last week on www.VisitDallas.com/raffle.

Entrants can purchase an unlimited number of tickets at $20 each through midnight on January 20, 2011 for a chance to win two tickets and premium seats for the “Big Game” at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011. A random drawing is scheduled for January 21, 2011.

“As a founding sponsor of the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee, the bureau is happy to be able to share two tickets with the public, and you can’t beat this price,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB. “The winners will enjoy premium seating in a spectacular new stadium that is receiving international acclaim. In addition, they’ll experience North Texas like never before as thousands of fellow football fans converge on the region for the many events and activities planned throughout the week. Our Dallas slogan is ‘Live Large, Think Big’ and it just doesn’t get bigger or better than this.”

Participants must be legal U.S. residents age 18 or older who reside in the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. Proof of residency and age must be verifiable through documentation to win.

A portion of the proceeds from this raffle will go to the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA), operators of The Bridge, Dallas’ new campus of services that helps the homeless get back on their feet into jobs and housing. “The City of Dallas, Dallas CVB and other organizations such as Downtown Dallas, Inc. regularly work side by side on programs that create a vibrant and inviting urban core that is attractive to visitors and residents,” said Ross Crusemann, Senior Vice President of Marketing at the Dallas CVB. “In a short time, The Bridge has become a valuable conduit to many programs that assist the underprivileged in Dallas. We’re proud that they will be able to benefit from this raffle.”

All major credit cards are accepted. Face value of the prize is $2,500. The raffle offer does not include airfare, lodging or other potential expenses that may be associated with game attendance. The winner will be notified by telephone and/or certified mail. Odds of winning are contingent on the number of tickets sold.

For more Big Game information, visit www.visitdallas.com/xlv.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (October 12, 2010) – When it comes to glitter and gore, there is no better place in the Southwest to celebrate Halloween than Dallas. The annual Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party returns on October 30, 2010 where thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) enthusiasts are expected to celebrate.

“The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party showcases Dallas’ vibrant LGBT community,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The street party is one of the most popular outdoor Halloween events in the city and is an attraction for both residents and visitors.”

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party originally began as an unplanned outing by hundreds of costumed party-goers along the Cedar Springs strip. The outing gained recognition and eventually evolved into the annual event known today. Patrons, spectators and participants dress up and mingle along the strip, socializing and showing off their elaborately designed costumes.

The highlight of the event is an official costume contest where patrons have the opportunity to display their costumes as they walk down the catwalk on the Cedar Springs strip. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of food and drinks as well as live entertainment.

“Visitors plan trips to Dallas around the Halloween Street Party, and it provides them an opportunity to experience the things that make Dallas a great destination – vibrant entertainment districts, the nation’s largest urban arts district, a thriving culinary scene and the best shopping in the Southwest U.S.,” said Jones.

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party begins at 7 p.m. at the 3900 block of Cedar Springs Road, between Oak Lawn Avenue and Throckmorton Street. The event wraps up at 2 a.m.

Dallas is an affordable destination that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers. For information and resources for planning a trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (July 15, 2010) – The Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is gearing up for the city’s 27th annual gay pride celebration. This year’s theme, “One Heart, One World, One Pride”, will highlight the direction of the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade and subsequent Pride Festival at Lee Park on September 19, 2010.

“Dallas appreciates and celebrates its cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, and September is the perfect time for visitors to enjoy one of the nation’s largest pride parades and the many other festivities throughout the weekend,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Dallas Pride weekend offers numerous events across the city. The highlight of the weekend is the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Now in its 27th year, the parade is expecting to include nearly 2,000 marching participants and draw more than 40,000 spectators from across the nation and around the world. Immediately following the parade will be the Pride Festival at Lee Park. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit www.dallasprideparade.com.

Like many gay pride celebrations, Dallas Pride roots back to the late 70s when up to 300 men and women marched through downtown Dallas waving flags and shouting gay rights slogans. The Dallas Tavern Guild adopted the parade from volunteers in 1982 and named it the Texas Freedom Parade in 1983. The organization remains committed to making the celebration grow each year.

This year, grand marshals of the Parade will include Erin Moore, known for her work with the Dallas Young Democrats organization, and Paul Lewis, the long-time organizer of the Parade who also worked with Alan Ross for many years.

Just as it has for the past 27 years, the Parade will begin at Wycliff Avenue at 2 p.m. and march down Cedar Springs Road to Robert E. Lee Park. The celebration will continue with a festival that includes vendor booths, live music performances and more.

For more information on Dallas’ LGBT community and to book a trip to Dallas, complete with a customized itinerary, visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (May 25, 2010) – The Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will celebrate 27 years of pride this September. To commemorate, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is giving away a vacation package for two to visit Dallas during Pride weekend, September 17 – 20, 2010. For a chance to win, visit www.glbtdallas.com for entry and official rules and regulations.

“Dallas is one of the most affordable and appealing destinations in the Southwest and Dallas Pride is a great opportunity for visitors to experience why we are the No. 1 travel destination in Texas,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB.

The winner of the sweepstake will receive round trip airfare to Dallas provided by American Airlines, corporate sponsor of the Dallas CVB; accommodations by W Dallas – Victory, which includes a dinner at the unique Craft restaurant; passes to Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments of Dallas Voice; and VIP passes to Gaybingo Dallas, compliments of Resource Center Dallas.

Dallas Pride weekend offers several events that showcase the city’s friendly and diverse LGBT community. The highlight of the weekend is the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Now in its 27th year, the parade is expecting to include nearly 2,000 marching participants and draw more than 40,000 spectators from across the nation and around the world.

Organized by the Dallas Tavern Guild, this year’s Dallas Pride theme is “One Heart, One World, One Pride”. Immediately following the parade will be the Pride Festival at Lee Park. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit www.dallasprideparade.com.

“With exclusive shopping destinations, a world-class arts district, a diverse culinary scene and vibrant nightlife, Dallas is truly a one-size fits all shoe that makes this city the perfect travel destination for LGBT travelers,” said Jones.

Entries for the sweepstakes will be accepted online through July 29, 2010, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. For official rules and to enter, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (March 1, 2010) – The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is providing travelers with an opportunity to experience the “Big D” Easter weekend! Together with the Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, one lucky winner will win a three-night hotel stay in Dallas.

“Easter is a fantastic time to visit Dallas as the city bursts with springtime excitement,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “LGBT travelers will especially enjoy Easter in the Park, which represents the 25 year tradition of one of Dallas’ largest and most diverse outdoor celebrations.”

Easter in the Park attracts thousands of attendees to celebrate the holiday with food, fun, music and a healthy dose of camp. Organized by the Turtle Creek Association, the 25th Annual Easter in the Park celebration will be held on Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be held at Lee Park, located at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue.

Easter in the Park is a popular celebration that features beautiful scenery, priceless entertainment, a live classical music concert by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and fashionista pooches in the Pooch Parade and Costume Contest. Attendees can bring their own picnic items or enjoy the variety of foods offered by vendors. In addition, both local and national organizations will be present with booths and tents for spectators to visit.

The Easter celebration is popular in the local gay community, attracting large groups of friends dressed in colorfully coordinated outfits and elaborately decorated bonnets. Many attendees even set up tents and decorate them with fabulous Easter décor, inviting other attendees to stop by and mingle.

Easter in the Park festivities include a Pooch Parade and Costume Contest, which features more than 150 dogs and their owners vying for awards and prizes. All attendees are welcome to bring their dog, but animals must remain on a leash at all times.

Contestants can enter the parade for a small fee and compete for best-dressed dog, best large dog, best little dog and best owner/pet look-alike. The contest is preceded by an SPCA of Texas parade of adoptable dogs.

In addition, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform live in the park at 3 p.m. The Easter in the Park performance is a wonderful opportunity for patrons to experience the world-renowned Orchestra with a concerto of sound.

Many in the LGBT community continue the celebration at bars and clubs along the Cedar Springs strip in Oak Lawn, where prizes will be awarded for best bonnet. Other festivities include events and services at Cathedral of Hope, the largest LGBT church in the world. Admission to Easter in the Park is free, and street parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, the Dallas CVB has you covered. Visit www.glbtdallas.com March 1-24, 2010 to enter to win a three-night stay in Dallas Easter weekend. Accommodations are provided by the pet-friendly Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, conveniently located near the Oak Lawn neighborhood.

For information and additional resources for planning your spring trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.™

DALLAS (December 7, 2009) – The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is providing three individuals with an opportunity to experience the AT&T Performing Arts Center firsthand with tickets to the opening night performance of the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra (URO) at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.

The AT&T Performing Arts Center is a new multi-venue center for theatre, opera, contemporary dance, ballet, music and other events. The Center debuted in October with a week-long grand opening, leading up to an estimated 45,000 people participating in a community open house with events throughout the Dallas Arts District. The inaugural season of the AT&T Performing Arts Center includes more than 500 performances and events.

“We are extremely proud of the value the AT&T Performing Arts Center adds to the Dallas Arts District,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB). “The largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation now has a performing arts center that is comparable to New York’s Lincoln Center; truly an attraction for those interested in performing arts.”

The Dallas CVB is giving three lucky winners an opportunity to experience the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra at the Wyly Theatre. The winners will each receive a pair of passes to the opening night performance on December 29, 2009. Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra is 19 incredible musicians and singers performing songs from the most decadent and glitter-crazed era of rock ‘n’ roll. URO presents the often heard but rarely performed crown jewels of classic rock, including Queen, The Who, David Bowie, The Beatles and more.

The promotion runs now through December 20. To enter the promotion and for official rules, visit the GLBT Dallas Web site at www.glbtdallas.com. To purchase individual or group tickets to the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra, or any other event at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, please visit www.attpac.org or call the box office at 214-880-0202.

Dallas is an affordable destination that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers.  For information and resources for planning a trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with four cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (September 30, 2009) – On October 24, 2009, Cedar Springs Road comes to life as thousands of Halloween fanatics participate in the annual Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party. One of the top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) events in Dallas, this year is expected to draw an eclectic crowd.

“The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party continues to be one of the most exciting outdoor events in our city. Both residents and visitors alike look forward to this event each year,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Festive by nature, the Street Party is a fantastic example of how Dallas’ LGBT community comes together.”

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party originally began as an unplanned outing by hundreds of costumed party-goers along the Cedar Springs strip. The outing gained popularity and eventually evolved into the annual event known today. Patrons, spectators and participants dress up and mingle along the strip, socializing and showing off their elaborately designed costumes.

The block-long center catwalk is the highlight of the event where an official costume show takes place. Patrons have the opportunity to strut their stuff and display their costumes as they walk down the strip. For party-goers who work up a hunger and thirst, booths line the sidewalk along the Cedar Springs strip selling a variety of food and drinks. Many of the LGBT bars in the area host costume contests of their own and feature drink specials.

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party begins at 8 p.m. in the 3900 block of Cedar Springs Road, between Oak Lawn Avenue and Throckmorton Street. The event wraps at 2 a.m. Traffic is cordoned off throughout the evening.

Dallas is an affordable destination that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers. For information and resources for planning a trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with four cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.TM

DALLAS (June 1, 2009) – This September, the Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will celebrate 26 years of pride. To commemorate, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is inviting LGBT travelers from across the U.S. to visit www.glbtdallas.com to enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Dallas during Pride weekend, September 18‐21, 2009.

“Dallas is an affordable destination getaway that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers, and what better time to visit our city than during Dallas Pride,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB. “From incredible dining, exceptional arts, unrivaled entertainment and the best shopping in the Southwest, Dallas is truly a destination that delivers.”

Roundtrip airfare is provided by American Airlines, corporate sponsor of the Dallas CVB. Accommodations will be provided by The Joule, Dallas and include breakfast at the luxurious Charlie Palmer restaurant. The winner also receives passes to Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments of the Dallas Voice.

Dallas Pride weekend offers several events that showcase the city’s diverse and eclectic LGBT community. The highlight of the weekend is the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Now in its 26th year, the parade features more than 2,200 marching participants and thousands of spectators.

In addition to the numerous Pride weekend activities, Dallas visitors discover a city with exclusive shopping destinations, a leading arts district, a thriving culinary scene and vibrant nightlife.

Entries for the sweepstakes will be accepted through July 31, 2009, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. For official rules and to enter, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

About Dallas

Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas. As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, the Dallas area offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, 70,000 hotel rooms, ranging from luxury to boutique, and more than 200 golf courses. The city boasts the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. with five cultural venues designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. In addition, the Dallas metropolitan area is the only one in the Southwest to host teams representing five major professional sports leagues, including the legendary Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas area is also the largest film and television production center in Texas and the location of the Dallas Film Commission. Dallas embraces diversity, boasting one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or www.visitdallas.com. Live Large. Think Big.