SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America, the California-based airline on a mission to reinvent domestic air travel, today brings together thousands of attendees for the annual California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women in Long Beach, California. As the official domestic airline sponsor of the conference, Virgin America is flying many of the world-renowned speakers, hosting a presence on the event floor, and is bringing teammates to the event -- including the start-up carrier's female leadership, pilots and crew.
This year's conference is expected to bring together 14,000 women, and presenters will include Condoleezza Rice, Bono, Warren Buffett, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Matthews, Rachael Ray, Madeleine Albright and more. The airline's in-flight team members will be staffing a demonstration on the event floor of the carrier's unique features, including Virgin America's award-winning Red(tm) In-flight Entertainment system.
"As the only airline based here in the Golden State, it is an honor to participate in a California tradition and an event known around the world for bringing together luminaries from all walks of life to help empower positive change in people's lives," said Virgin America Vice President of Planning and Sales, Diana Walke. "Virgin America's mission to reinvent domestic travel was in large part shaped by our state's famous entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. In true California fashion, this conference brings together innovators across fields and disciplines to encourage progressive change."
Headquartered in San Francisco, Virgin America offers upscale, tech-savvy features like cabin moodlighting and touch-screen entertainment with 30 on-demand films, videogames and seat-to-seat chat. Since launching in August of 2007, the airline has captured a list of industry best-in-class awards, including most recently "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. With one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets in the U.S., the carrier is committed to integrating sustainability into its business model and finding new ways to lead the industry on climate issues.
"The California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women is designed to bring together people from around the state, country, and world to empower them to make positive changes in their lives," said Conference Executive Director Erin Stein, "and we are proud Virgin America is helping us make this happen."
Virgin America currently flies to seven cities with numerous daily flights from: San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX), SFO to New York (JFK), SFO to San Diego (SAN), SFO to Washington (IAD), SFO to Las Vegas (LAS), SFO to Seattle (SEA), LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, LAX to SEA, and JFK-LAS.
About Virgin America: Launched in August 2007, Virgin America is a California-based airline that offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Virgin America's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's ultra-modern and convenient International Terminal. The airline's new Airbus A320-family aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets for laptops and other electronic gear. In September 2008, Virgin America took the top honors for "Best Business Class" among domestic carriers in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Business Travel Poll. In July 2008, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards and in Zagat's 2007 Global Airlines Survey, the airline was ranked #1 among U.S. carriers for quality in First/Business Class and #2 in Main Cabin. To learn more: www.virginamerica.com
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EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline and an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.
About the Women's Conference: Hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, The Women's Conference is the nation's premier forum for women where more than seventy of the world's greatest hearts and minds gather every year to unite thousands of diverse women with a shared conversation and a common purpose -- to empower, inspire and educate women everywhere to be Architects of Change in their own lives, in their communities, and around the world. For more information, visit: www.californiawomen.org.