California Welcome Center- San Bernardino Selects Voice for Animatronic "Berdoo Bear"

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. (April 18, 2007) – A ten-year old performing arts girl from Crestline, Calif., was selected to be the official voice of Berdoo Bear, an animatronics bear designed for the California Welcome Center in San Bernardino. Katriona (pronounced Cat-row-nuh) Kennedy, age 10, was selected from 16 Inland Empire youth, ages 7-10 years old, who auditioned Thursday at the Channel 3 KCSB studios in San Bernardino. The San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau (SBCVB), on behalf of the California Welcome Center in San Bernardino, held auditions for the Voice of Berdoo Bear.

“We are pleased that so many area youth participated in the Berdoo Bear Voice Auditions and all of the children were so energetic and great to work with,” Andrea Winter, bureau spokeswoman said. “Berdoo Bear will be a great attraction at the California Welcome Center and it is great to see community interest already generated.”

Each candidate read through the script in front of a five-person selection panel that included Garner Holt, SBCVB board members and Welcome Center staff. Berdoo Bear is a three-foot tall animatronics bear designed by Garner Holt Productions Inc. that will move and speak. Garner Holt Productions, Inc. is one of the world’s fastest growing leaders and the largest manufacturer of animatronics and robotic figures. Garner Holt’s work is displayed in theme parks, museums, casinos, retail, restaurants and exhibits throughout the world. “Foster Farms Chickens,” the giant mouse “Chuck E. Cheese,” and many characters in Disney Theme Parks worldwide were brought to life by Garner Holt Productions, Inc. of San Bernardino.

Katriona Kennedy was born April 8, 1997 to parents Karen and Sean Kennedy, native Australians. She has been involved in two LifeHouse Theater (in Redlands, CA) productions, the most recent being The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin in 2007. Katriona’s interests include singing and acting.

The California Welcome Center (CWC) in San Bernardino, the regional representative for tourism in the Inland Empire, is scheduled to open during May 2007 at 1955 Hunts Lane, adjacent to the I-10 Freeway and Hospitality Lane. The State of California Department of Tourism awarded the SBCVB the 13th official CWC designation in September 2006. According to statewide surveys, provided by Certified Folder Display Service, Inc., a welcome center near a major California highway has potential to attract 100,000 domestic and international visitors annually. Studies also indicate that 66 percent of travelers visit a welcome center after identifying the state’s traveling bear logo on Interstate signage. The Welcome Center in San Bernardino is uniquely designed with a Route 66 theme with a gallery-like atmosphere, backlit displays, Internet kiosk and an authentic jukebox. The center’s concierge-style service will assist tourists, business travelers and regional residents with their vacation and relocation planning needs.

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The San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau (San Bernardino CVB) is a private, non-profit corporation composed of hospitality organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. As a sales and marketing organization, the main objective of the San Bernardino CVB is to promote and market the San Bernardino Area as a tourism destination and meeting site.

San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau d.b.a. California Welcome Center- San Bernardino
1955 Hunts Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92408
www.cwcinlandempire.com
Press Contact: Andrea Winter; andrea@san-bernardino.org

This release was published on openPR.