2004/2005 Accomplishments
Advocacy
• Modified the Bureau's mission statement and reengaged the commitment of the GRCVB Board and The Conference Table through the development of strategic visions supported by four task forces.
Meetings/Conventions
• Assisted in booking 202 new meetings/conventions generating more than 23,230 room nights and nearly $17 million in economic impact.
• Assisted plans for Raleigh's new convention center and headquarters hotel by preparing with the convention center staff a marketing plan and budget this and next fiscal year.
• Helped select an agency partner (Capstrat) to assist execution of the marketing plan.
• Developed and prospected a target list of 250 groups most likely to utilize area venues per capacity and geographic requirements.
• Hosted three dedicated convention center events for 150 future meeting planner users.
Sports Marketing
• Assisted with 41 definite bookings, for a combined estimated economic impact of $26.5 million and 92,500 total hotel room nights.
• Coordinated the community's bid for the 2006-2008 MEAC Basketball Tournaments.
• Other prominent assisted bookings included: 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, First & Second Rounds; 2005 and 2006 State Games of North Carolina; 2005 National Invitational Club Kickoff (The NICK); 2005 USA Roller Sports US Championships; 2005 ACC Tennis Championships; 2005 Raleigh Women's Bowling Association State Tournament; 2005 USA South Softball Championship; 2005 AAU Boys Basketball Super Regional; 2005 ECHO (Inline Hockey) National Championships; 2005 NC Senior Games; 2005 Great American Cross Country Festival.
• Developed and debuted http://www.raleighsports.org/, the official site of the Wake County sports event industry.
Destination Marketing
• Partnered with ALLTEL Pavilion, RBC Center, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, NC Museum of Art's Park Theater, City of Raleigh's Alive After Five, Budweiser Downtown Live and Ticketmaster on Summer Rocks promotion.
• Partnered with the NC Museum of Art to promote the three-month Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris exhibition via a converged marketing approach as the exhibition exceeded attendance projections by 25% to almost 125,000 and generated some $9.5 million in economic impact on the Raleigh area.
• Partnership marketing efforts generated almost $459,000 in financial and in-kind media support for GRCVB leisure programs, exceeding financial goals by 115% and total partnership goals by 29%.
• The TGIF weekend leisure promotion reached its fourth year of productivity and is expected to generate 4,500 FY room nights. Over 16,000 room nights have been generated since spring 2001 launch.
• Overall visitor inquiries totaled 923,520, a 63% increase over the 2003/04 record year.
• Thanks to a thriving online marketing partnership with USDM.net and five online campaigns, the web site generated 98% of the overall visitor inquiries with user sessions increasing 70% to 1.8 million.
• RaleighNow's web site continues to be an important source for local cultural event information with user sessions increasing 56% and registered users growing 56%.
• Introduced Carynow.com as the official web site for Cary event information in partnership with the Town of Cary, Cary Chamber of Commerce and the Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
• Extended the marketing reach by coordinating statewide radio promotions through more than 3,000 live or on-air mentions on 26 NC stations for a media trade value of $238,000 (almost doubled the paid schedule for traditional media).
• Increased editorial exposure about Greater Raleigh outside of North Carolina by 70% to more than $1.7 million, including big hits in Country Living, Food & Wine and Turner South Network's "3-Day Weekend."
Services
• Partnered with various local organizations to successfully plan and host the following major sporting events: PONY Softball Fastpitch Nationals; Pop-Warner Mid-South Football & Cheerleading Championships; Women's College Cup; CIAA Basketball Tournament; ACC Men's & Women's Tennis Championships; NCAA DIII Softball National Championship; US Roller Sports U.S. Championships; NCHSAA State Championships (13 total).
• Provided visitor services to 187 groups, totaling an economic impact of $41.1 million.
• Offered online housing services for NC League of Municipalities and NC Association of Educators.
• Provided housing assistance for the 2005 US Open Golf Championship by working with 77 Wake County properties.
Awards
The GRCVB won 16 awards the past year.
Ad Club of the Triangle
Addy Award – VisitRaleigh.com
American Graphic Design Awards
2004 Visitors Guide
NHL Entry Draft Brochure
Raleigh Rocks Concert Flyer
Baseball and Tennis Bid Covers
American Inhouse Design Awards
Raleigh Rocks Concert Ticket Wrap
Raleigh Itinerary Shell
Communicator Awards
Award of Distinction – 2005 Official Visitors Guide (overall publication quality)
Award of Distinction – 2005 Official Visitors Guide (overall design quality)
Award of Distinction – Raleigh Rankings Flyer (marketing/promotion flier)
Award of Distinction – "Get Plugged In" Direct Mailer/Postcard (marketing/promotion postcard)
American Inhouse Design Awards
Raleigh Rocks Concert Ticket Wrap
Raleigh Itinerary Shell
North Carolina Association of Convention and Visitor Bureau Awards
Gold Award – Tourism eNews
Gold Award - City Life, Carolina Style Meetings Ad
Web Marketing Association Awards
Best Sports Online Campaign – NC Golf Co-op
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