FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2007 

DC'S STARRING ROLE IN "NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS" SPARKS NEW PROMOTION

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage)'s quest for treasure brings him back to DC this winter in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, the action-packed follow-up to Disney's high-octane 2004 release. Much of the story unfolds in the nation's capital, and the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation (WCTC) has launched a new promotion to celebrate the city's starring role. As history buffs and movie lovers follow "Trails to Treasure," a self-guided tour developed by WCTC to highlight the sites featured in the film, they'll also have the chance to uncover a few of DC's hidden secrets, book movie-themed getaway packages, and enter an online competition to win some "treasure" of their own.

In National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight and Justin Bartha reprise their roles as history-savvy treasure hunters who set out to uncover the truth behind the Lincoln assassination. Their quest takes them to intriguing locations like the Library of Congress, the White House, the University of Maryland and George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and links DC to other great capitals of the world.

DC visitors can create their own treasure hunt by visiting trailstotreasure.com, where National Treasure-inspired packages can be booked at more than a dozen Washington hotels. Winter travelers won't have to part with as much of their personal "treasure;" packages start as low as $109 per night. Sample packages include:

• The Melrose Hotel (2430 Pennsylvania Ave, NW): Located near Georgetown, where scenes of the movie were filmed, The Melrose Hotel's movie-themed package starts at $129 per night and includes one complimentary in-room movie per night. melrosehotelwashingtondc.com
• Savoy Suites Hotel (2505 Wisconsin Ave, NW); Treasure-hunters can take advantage of family-friendly themed packages including one in-room treasure chest per child with pirate's booty including treasure maps and eye patches and one complimentary breakfast per child per day (two children maximum). The package also includes complimentary parking, Internet, shuttle to Metro and use of the nearby Washington Sports Club, starting at $149 per night. savoysuites.com
• The Fairmont Washington, D.C. (2401 M St, NW); Nicolas Cage checked into the Fairmont during the filming of National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Follow in his footsteps and enjoy overnight accommodations for two, two Tourmobile tickets, a diary to document your own DC secrets and a special chocolate turndown amenity of the U.S. Constitution, starting at $259 per night. fairmont.com/washington

All packages come with a printed "treasure map" brochure highlighting the locations and themes featured in the film. Following the spirit of the adventure, the brochure offers travelers the chance to solve a series of historical clues to enter to win a trip for two to the nation's capital. Clues are posted at the custom website, trailstotreasure.com.

Visitors and movie fans who log on to trailstotreasure.com will also be able to download a video podcast starring Jay Bulger, a DC native, actor, director and former Armani model. The multi-episode podcast takes a humorous, entertaining yet informative in-depth look at the sites featured in the film.

** Note to editor: The trailstotreasure.com site will be live before the movie hits theatres December 21. In the meantime, please visit Washington.org/pressroom for more information.

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About Destination DC: Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com