Airport News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2006

Green, OH: Northeast Ohio has a new destination on the web. The totally redesigned www.akroncantonairport.com is sure to become a mandatory stop before heading to the airport, or even booking your next flight. The site launched today offers innovative, customer focused content designed to expand the airport's renowned customer experience from outside the airport terminal to inside your computer terminal, car and onto the airplane.

The new website offers all the information travelers expect including, parking options, airlines, rental cars, directions to the terminal and real-time arrivals and departures. What makes this site unique are the features that travelers do not expect but will love; including an on-line travel booking engine, a new customer focused relaxation station and a blog port.

"When we set out to redesign our site, we wanted to create a customer experience unparalleled by any airport site in existence," said airport marketing and communications director Kristie VanAuken. "Unique features like the relaxation station, easy navigation and online booking capabilities perfectly support our brand. This new website is - a better way to go® -on the web."

The site was designed and programmed by The Karcher Group in Canton, Ohio with help from Derby Brand Creative, the airport's creative agency."We have been honored to work on this project with the team at the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) and add them to our growing client roster," said Geoff Karcher, president of The Karcher Group.  "This site is a unique web extension of the airport's brand, which is centered on offering a great customer experience. That's why we combined savvy design with effortless navigation, a clean look, and web-only features that customers will love. Plus, it is well optimized to increase visitor traffic."

Innovative sections

The relaxation station includes stretches to help you relax while you are on the airplane, downloadable jazz music and nature sounds for your drive to the airport, and advice about how to improve your travel experience.

The full-service online booking tool offers the ability to search and book flights from Akron-Canton Airport (other airports can be checked too because we aren't afraid). Vacations, rental car, cruises and hotel packages will be added to the site within the next month. The content is provided in partnership with Traveline Travel based in Mentor, Ohio. Visitors who book a flight (or multiple flights) between February 8 and April 30, 2006, at www.akroncantonairport.comwill be entered to win a seven-day Princess Caribbean Cruise.The winner will sail aboard the Caribbean Princess out of Ft. Lauderdale Saturday, September 23, 2006. The prize includes airfare, accommodations for two, taxes and transfers courtesy of Princess Cruises, AirTran Airways and Traveline.

The blog port collapses traditional organizational boundaries, offering insights and perspectives about CAK. Three newcomers to the blogosphere include airport director Fred Krum, with Views from 1228' (our elevation), marketing and communications director Kristie VanAuken, with It's a Trip, and customer service manager David Regula with Inside CAK.

About the Karcher Group

The Karcher Group provides web design services programming and ecommerce solutions, as well as advanced search engine marketing strategies to Web site owners.  Located in Canton, Ohio, The Karcher Group combines design, talent and technology with extraordinary customer service.  For more information, please call 1-800-301-0317 or visit www.thekarchergroup.com.

About the Akron-Canton Airport

Nearly 1.45 million passengers traveled to/ from the airport last year, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase; and according to US Department of Transportation statistics, CAK was the second fastest growing airport in the nation from 2001-2004, increasing capacity (as measured by increased seats) by more than 100 percent. In 2006 the airport will dedicate the new gate concourse, add new food service options and will add to poor punch dummy's "big airport" travel advertising. Additionally, the airport is currently in the final phase of the $60 million, five-year STAR expansion project. The first two phases included longer runways, a new baggage claim wing and additional car parking. Additional airport information is available at www.akroncantonairport.com.Akron-Canton Airport, a better way to go.