(MINNEAPOLIS)Feb. 23, 2012While this winter has been easy on us and the recession is starting to show signs of ending, moods are lifted and you might even be considering some new purchases this spring. If a new automobile is on your list, theres no better time or place to check out the latest and greatest than the Twin Cities Auto Show. Head downtown to the Minneapolis Convention Center, March 10-18, to spend some quality time admiring your choices and then stay in Minneapolis to get quality meals, entertainment options and restful sleep in a top hotel with one of the many deals offered at www.minneapolis.org/promotions.

Dont waste the opportunity to get more out of your trip to the city or your precious funds: Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, offers deals like 20 percent off your stay at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, foodie nights at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant where you get free cover and a $10 bottle of wine with a $20 food purchase per person and Minneapolis Coupon book deals that are available all year long on minneapolis.org.

The 39th consecutive Twin Cities Auto Show will have an estimated $15 million in new vehicles this year, as well as features like Luxury Lane (the most popular new attraction last year), the Biodiesel Green Room, Pin Day (first 5,000 attendees on Friday, March 16 get a commemorative show pin!), free toy cars to the first 500 kids 10 and under each Saturday and Sunday and a job fair for the auto industry on Wednesday, March 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Select vehicles will also be made available for attendees to Ride & Drive outside the convention center.

Rock the Auto Show on Saturday, March 17, when Blood, Sweat & Tears perform at the Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium at 8 p.m. The first 2,000 people to buy tickets will receive free admission to the show. Tickets for the concert and discounts for the show are available at www.twincitiesautoshow.com.

To get a few more ideas for your Minneapolis winter getaway, check out the video at minneapolis.org (lower right square) and decide whether you are in or out this season, then book your room today!

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.

Online: www.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

VIDEO AVAILABLE

Watch and share Are you in or are you out? from our Vimeo channel at http://vimeo.com/34792002. This downloadable 1080 HD video is 1:05 and can be used with sound or as b-roll.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter

###