Last-Minute Voting!
The Raleigh-Cary area is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best places to live, work, start a business and raise a family, but now the editors of Southern Living magazine have selected Raleigh as one of the 10 cities in the running to be named “Tastiest Town in the South” by an online reader poll. Southern Living editors chose the Top 10 “Tastiest Towns in the South” based on numerous criteria including: food as a cultural identity, buzz-worthy food events, local and sustainable food practices and hot chefs on the rise. Help Raleigh win this honorable distinction by visiting www.southernliving.com/tasty. Voting is open daily until January 31.

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Film Production Hits High Mark
Movies are big business, and in November, the feature Arthur Newman, Golf Pro filmed scenes in downtown Raleigh and throughout the Triangle region. This filming also marked the Triangle Regional Film Commission’s (TRFC’s) first full year of operation. The TRFC reports that production spending in the region has grown from $0 reported in 2010 to nearly $4,000,000 in 2011, with more than $500,000 being spent in the Triangle just for Arthur Newman, Golf Pro. To read more about the TRFC’s success in 2011, click here.

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Praises from the Press
2012 is off to a great start with numerous articles written about the Raleigh area as both a meetings and a leisure destination. Here are links to the articles that were featured in Business Traveler, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AAA GO Carolinas, Wrightsville Beach Magazine, Group Tour Magazine, Tifton (Ga.) Gazette and Successful Meetings. Men’s Health magazine also ranked the Raleigh area in the top 10 of their annual “America’s Best Cities for Men 2012” list, and Women’s Health magazine ranked Raleigh as the “Healthiest City for Women.”

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(Table) Tennis, Anyone?
Want to see Olympic Athletes begin their path to Team USA for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London? Take the opportunity to volunteer your time during the U.S. Olympic Table Tennis Trials, which will be held Feb. 9-12 at Cary’s Bond Park Community Center. If you can’t volunteer, you can still purchase daily tickets at both the event website, www.cary2012.com, and at the Cary Arts Center Box Office.

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GRCVB Wins Two Prestigious Awards
The GRCVB has been named a 2012 Readers’ Choice Award winner by SportsEvents Magazine. The award was determined by an online vote of sports event owners, planners and organizers. The magazine described the winners as “some of the United States’ and Canada’s most creative and professional convention and visitors bureaus, sports commissions and venues.” The GRCVB also received a Platinum Choice Award from Smart Meetings magazine. The GRCVB was honored among CVBs, as well as properties, for upholding high standards while continuing to raise the bar in terms of service, facilities, amenities and accommodations. Congratulations to the entire GRCVB staff!

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Love Is in the Air
It’s the time of year again when the colors change from holiday green to Valentine’s Day red. The Bureau is collecting information on any Valentine’s or romance-specific deals, offers or specials for inclusion in email and social media promotions. Please send deals to tourism marketing manager Nolan Garner, ngarner@visitRaleigh.com. Also, these deals don’t have to be valid just for Valentine’s Day; we love to include romance deals in leisure marketing promotions all year long. Gotta love Raleigh!

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Arts in the Triangle
The Triangle has developed a reputation as a world-class arts destination, and the GRCVB, Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau and Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau have formed a partnership that aims to cross-promote arts through the dedicated website portal www.artsinthetriangle.com. The website portal highlights the many arts assets, the upcoming events and sample itineraries that will appeal to arts-lovers region-wide. The website provides a snapshot of the three counties, Orange, Durham and Wake, with arts offerings and links to each of the DMOs’ individual and robust arts listings, allowing visitors to connect further for more detailed information, special packages and ticket options for venues, events and exhibitions. To learn more, visit the website or click here.

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On the Road
The GRCVB staff is crossing the country to promote the area as a premier leisure, meeting and sports destination. From the Sports Marketing Department, Jason Philbeck attended both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s annual convention in Kansas City and the U.S. Lacrosse annual convention in Philadelphia. GRCVB sales team members Kumi Anzalone, CMP, CASE, and Stephen Jackson, CMP, represented Greater Raleigh at Professional Convention Management Association in San Diego, Jana Rae Oliver attended Religious Conference Management Association in Kansas City, Loretta Yingling, CMP, attended Society of Government Meeting Professionals meeting in Charlotte and also attended Meeting Planners International-Carolina Chapter in Myrtle Beach with Malinda Pettaway, CMP, CASE. Ryan Smith traveled to New York City to attend a media event sponsored by the N.C. Division of Tourism. Julie Brakenbury and Tammy Jeffries of the GRCVB Services Department attended Event Service Professionals Association (formerly ACOM) Conference in San Diego.

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Get Your Tickets!
February is designated as Adrenaline Junkie month in Greater Raleigh, and the Carolina Hurricanes will celebrate two Family Nights, when tickets start at just $39 for a four-pack and hot dogs are only $1. On Sat., Feb. 4, the Canes play the L.A. Kings, and on Mon., Feb. 20, they face off against the Washington Capitals. GRCVB will promote the Family Nights as well as a special hotel deal to Adrenaline Junkie visitors, but everyone can get discounted Family Night tickets here!

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