Last Call
It's hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner, but the Bureau is getting ready by compiling events, giveaways, special packages and promotions. If your organization or hotel is offering special rates, incentives or packages during the holiday season (November – January), please email Charissa Todd, ctodd@visitRaleigh.com.

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Sports Center
November should be designated as soccer month in the Raleigh area. For six weeks, the largest youth sporting event in Triangle history begins as 1,100 youth soccer teams from throughout the U.S. travel to Greater Raleigh for the CASL visitRaleigh.com National Soccer Series presented by Chelsea Football Club. Games are being played in 13 venues throughout Wake County. Combined, the National Soccer Series will generate more than 31,000 hotel room-nights and more than $8.2 million in direct visitor spending.

The NCAA has announced that Raleigh will be the site of an NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional in 2012. Dates will either be March 24-26 or March 25-27. N.C. State University will once again serve as the official host institution along with its primary partners, the RBC Center and the Greater Raleigh CVB. The winner of the Raleigh Regional will advance to the 2012 Women’s Final Four in Denver. This will mark the sixth time in the last 11 years that N.C. State has hosted NCAA men’s or women’s basketball tournament games at the RBC Center.

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Another One for the Trophy Case
A big round of applause for the Bureau’s Marketing Team and Triangle Blvd, a local lifestyle and entertainment company, for winning a Silver Davey Award for the ongoing video project. The videos highlight area attractions, sporting venues, hotels, dining and shopping and give visitors a visual picture of what makes our area a dynamic, celebratory, smart and unique destination. The Davey Awards is an international creative award focused exclusively on honoring outstanding creative work from the best small firms worldwide. The 2010 Davey Awards received over 4,000 entries from ad agencies, interactive agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms and public relations firms.

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Housekeeping
Bureau offices will be closed on November 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving and on December 24, 27 and December 31 for Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

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Fashionistas Rejoice!
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has announced an exciting, new marketing program focused downtown Raleigh retail stores. To create awareness about the unique retailers located in the center city, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is launching a “Shop Downtown” campaign that consists of a detailed map and guide highlighting 32 participating retailers, a website featuring a Great Gift Idea page, a Holiday Shopping Passport with incentives and prizes and special events including A Taste of Retail and Sip, Shop and Cinema. For more information, see www.shopdowntownraleigh.com.

Downtown Raleigh’s City Market just got a bit more hip with the grand opening of four new retail establishments. Blake Street Studios, located behind Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant, is home to two art galleries: Emerge Fine Art and Patina Collaborative; Scentuosity, specializing in natural and aromatic body products; and Triangle Treasures, a consignment store with more than 50 vendors.

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Occupancy Increase
September was a big month for occupancy rates in Wake County. In September, Wake County’s hotels had an occupancy rate of 61.7 percent, a 7.2 percent increase over September 2009. Year to date, occupancy is 58.7 percent, compared to 56.6 percent for the previous year to date. Wake County’s figures are well above the 54.6 percent average for North Carolina and 59.9 percent average for the country for the same month. These figures were reported by Smith Travel Research, an independent research company serving the hotel industry.

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Come On and Take a Free Ride
Looking for ways to avoid traffic during major sporting events, concerts or events at the RBC Center? The Pepsi Caniac Coach Program is the solution. The Pepsi Caniac Coach is a new, FREE and convenient door-to-door luxury bus service to and from Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, the NHL All-Star Game and select concerts Held at the RBC Center from Pepsi Partner restaurants. Busses pick up and drop off at designated spots around downtown Raleigh and drop you off at the RBC Center. Just hop on the bus after the event. Go to www.caniaccoach.com for more details.

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