Dates to Remember
Calling all hotel and attraction partners… the Bureau will host a quarterly Hotel and Attractions Meeting on Wednesday, May 19, at the Four Points By Sheraton Raleigh Cary. Contact Charissa Todd for details. Also, mark your calendars on Wednesday, September 1, for the Bureau’s Annual Meeting at the Raleigh Convention Center. Last year’s format of strategy sessions prior to the awards luncheon was so successful, we’re doing it again! Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

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Nomination Time
It’s that time of year again to start thinking about Annual Meeting awards. Each year the Bureau honors outstanding individuals in the Wake County hospitality industries. The Horizon Award recognizes a management-level employee who demonstrates the skills to be a future leader in the visitor sector. The Isaac Hunter Excellence in Service Awards honor front-line staff for outstanding visitor service in accommodations, attractions and dining categories. For more information and to submit a nomination, go to http://www.visitraleigh.com/awards/.

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Sports Scene
Memorial Day weekend promises to be an exciting time for area sports fans, as major events are planned for the area. The NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Championships will take place at N.C. State University, while the Walnut Creek Softball Complex hosts the USSSA Tarheel Classic Softball Tournament. The 8th Annual National Black Heritage Championship Swim Meet returns to the Triangle Aquatic Center for its second year, and Game Day USA North Carolina State Games (Baseball) will take place at Thomas Brooks Park. For a complete listing of area sporting events and more information on the specific events listed above, click here.

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Travel Matters
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau will join hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide in recognition of the 27th Annual National Tourism Week, May 8-16. In conjunction with National Tourism Week, North Carolina is celebrating with National Tourism Day, May 11, with activities throughout downtown Raleigh and the N.C. State Legislative Building.

This year's theme “U.S. Travel Rally Day” emphasizes the economic benefits travel and tourism bring to local communities and demonstrates the importance of travel. This event is part of a larger effort led by the U.S. Travel Association with rallies in dozens of cities nationwide. For more information on how your organization can get involved with National Tourism Week, click here.

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An Early Start
Bureau staff members were at the N.C. Museum of Art on opening day for the taping of the CBS Early Show. Weatherman Dave Price reported live from both the Rodin Courtyard and interior of the new museum. This is the second time in less than three years that the CBS Early Show has filmed from Raleigh. To see the segment, click here.

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Volunteer Opportunities
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) will hold its 95th Annual Convention in Raleigh, September 29 – October 3. ASALH was the founder of Black History Month, and the organization today continues the mission of its founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson (the “Father of Black History”). ASALH is seeking local residents to be involved as volunteers during the convention. IronKids Raleigh, a youth triathlon held June 27 is looking for volunteers and groups to assist in duties such as: set up, swim marshal, course marshal and transition area. Want to referee? Volunteers needed at The 30th Annual Korean American South East Summer Olympics, June 11- 12, at venues throughout the area. For detailed information, click here.

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Potpourri
If you are one of the few people who haven’t heard, the N.C. Museum of Art reopened its doors on April 24. The new building is open Tuesday–Sunday. Check out the museum’s new website for information on special events, gallery hours and exhibitions. The Raleigh Convention Center (RCC) has launched its new Facebook page, Raleigh Connection, aimed at highlighting events and happenings at the RCC, Raleigh Amphitheatre and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Midtown has completed an extensive makeover with renovations to its Gatehouse and 144 suites. Owned by Summit Hospitality, the Residence Inn Raleigh Midtown sports some of the largest suites in the Triangle, as 36 bi-level units offer around 800 square feet of space. JetBlue Airlines is tripling its flights from RDU to Boston with two additional daily flights. The N.C. Museum of History has the nation’s largest collection of furniture made by Thomas Day, a free man of color who owned and operated one of North Carolina’s largest cabinet shops prior to the Civil War. On May 22, the museum will open Behind the Veneer: Thomas Day, Master Cabinetmaker, a major exhibit showcasing approximately 70 pieces of furniture crafted by this accomplished artisan and entrepreneur.

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Awards & Honors
Forbes.com once again listed Raleigh as one of the “Best Places for Business and Careers” in its annual survey. The area, which ranked third in 2010, was previously at the top of the list in 2009. It was no surprise to those of us who call the area home, but Raleigh has been ranked “8th Best Place to Live” by www.RelocateAmerica.com. Rankings were based on interviews with local leaders, feedback from residents and a compilation of data related to the community’s economic, environment, education, crime, employment and housing stability. Congratulations to Sam Hobgood, owner of Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant, who was awarded the Excellence in Education Champion Award from the North Carolina Hospitality Education Foundation.

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