Travel firm with GOP ties to book convention

Chicago company will manage reservations for about 16,000 hotel rooms.

Star Tribune

Last update: January 31, 2008 - 11:42 PM

A Chicago firm whose chairman contributed to the reelection of Sen. Norm Coleman and to other GOP campaigns has been picked to manage hotel arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities.

Tom Baur, chairman and owner of Travel Technology Group, has given $3,000 to Coleman's 2008 campaign. The contributions were made last June and August.

Baur also gave $1,000 to Gov. Tim Pawlenty a week after he won reelection in November 2006, and $1,000 to the 2003 campaign of U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.

Expertise cited

Asked whether the contributions played a role in the firm's selection, convention spokesman Matt Burns said: "Travel Technology was selected because they are experts in their field -- and they will ensure our ... guests coming to Minneapolis-St. Paul have an easy-to-navigate, online reservation tool."

Burns said the firm will receive a service-related fee for the rooms they book.

"The senator had no input, role or recommendation of this selection," said Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan. "Never spoke to anyone about it and wasn't aware of it until after it happened."

Baur did not respond to phone or e-mail messages.

PAT DOYLE

Recent Politically Connected stories

Senate OKs final passage of legislation giving businesses more incentives to hire the jobless - January 31, 2008

Senate OKs final passage of legislation giving businesses more incentives to hire the jobless - Companies that hire unemployed workers will get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill that easily won congressional approval Wednesday in what Democrats hope is just the first of several election-year measures aimed at boosting hiring. More