Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News
Welcome to the fourth issue of Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News… presented by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB). This monthly e-News is the metamorphosis of two CVB communications tools (Visitor Advance and Matter of Fax). Please let us know about any news pertaining to Wake County's billion dollar visitor industry for possible inclusion in future issues.
IN VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4:
• New Convention Center/Hotel Update
• Raleigh Rocks Concert Promotion
• Tony Avent Unearths 10 Garden Tips
• Summer Hotel Hot Deals
• Annual Luncheon on July 14
• CVB Seeks Award Nominations
• Assisted Bureau Bookings in April
• Sales/Sports News
• In the News
• CVB Secures Two Communicator Awards
• Events in Greater Raleigh This Month
New Convention Center/Hotel Update
On May 12, approximately 40 local elected officials and community leaders toured the new Washington (DC) Convention Center designed by Thompson Ventulett Stainback (TVS). That site visit is expected to provide an enhanced perspective as the Raleigh City Council and Wake County Commissioners are scheduled to meet on May 20 at 4 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Raleigh Convention Center to review the costs of four final convention center schemes from national architect TVS and local architects Clearscapes and OBrien Atkins Associates. The Stormont-Noble hotel development agreement will likely be presented to the City Council in the coming month. The new convention center and 400-room Marriott hotel are scheduled to open in late 2007.
In late April, the sales department joined the convention center staff to host a Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board event in conjunction with a Broadway Series South performance. The local corporate community will be tremendous ambassadors for this new convention facility since many are members of state, regional and national organizations and groups that will be potential future users.
The new convention center complex will result in 900 additional new jobs and more than $50 million additional economic benefit annually for Wake County. Click here for more details
Raleigh Rocks Concert Promotion
A new "Raleigh Rocks!" promotion launched last week by the Bureau invites visitors to come this summer and see why North Carolina's Capital City checked in at No. 4 on Esquire magazine's list of "Cities That Rock" in the April issue.
The concert season heats up with a wide range of top acts like Fleetwood Mac, Harry Connick Jr., Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Britney Spears, Dave Matthews Band, Sarah McLachlan, John Mayer, Sting and more.
And visitors can plan their entire trip with just a few clicks by visiting www.VisitRaleigh.com/concerts. This user-friendly resource includes all of the latest concert dates and venues -- from intimate outdoor amphitheatres and world-class outdoor music centers to state-of-the-art arenas -- plus information on restaurants, shopping and more. The site also allows users to build their own concert/event getaway by featuring the guaranteed lowest hotel rates and some exclusive concert ticket discounts.
Tony Avent Unearths 10 Garden Tips
The spring, the GRCVB and renowned gardener, author, and Raleigh native Tony Avent team up to unearth "10 Over The Top Garden Tips" on www.visitraleigh.com/gardens. The list features uncommon advice for showing up the Joneses. Log-on for the tips, then discover "Tony's Tour," a guide to the best garden sites to visit on a weekend getaway to the Raleigh area.
The renowned author of the new book So, You Want to Start a Nursery, and numerous magazine articles, Tony Avent is a master gardener, with numerous awards to his credit, including Nursery Innovator of the Month Award, Robert Balentine Horticulture Award, and American Horticulture Society Outstanding Commercial Award. He's also the mastermind behind Juniper Level Botanic Gardens, featuring hard-to-find garden perennials.
Bureau to Promote Summer Hotel Hot Deals
New data from the Travel Industry Association (TIA) indicates that the combination of a strengthening economy along with an increase in consumer confidence and spending is helping to make 2004 one of the strongest years in travel in "quite some time." Wake County accommodations have an opportunity to take advantage of this trend by submitting packages that are promoted online. The Bureau is currently accepting summer hot deals and encourages all properties to take advantage of this free website exposure. For more information, please contact the Bureau's director of partnership and tourism marketing Shawn Braden at 919-645-2663 or sbraden@visitraleigh.com.
Save the Date: CVB Annual Luncheon on July 14
Kirk Watson, a former two-term mayor of Austin, Texas and a catalyst in Austin expanding their downtown convention center, will deliver the keynote speech at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau's 17th annual luncheon on Wednesday, July 14.
Also on the agenda is the presentation of the Thad Eure, Jr. Memorial Award and the John B. Ross, Jr. Leadership Award. Previous recipients of the Eure Award include Dr. Jim Goodnight and Ann Goodnight of SAS Institute, James F. Goodmon of Capitol Broadcasting and Bill Cavanaugh of Progress Energy. For more information about sponsorships and ticket information, please contact the Bureau's director of operations Linda Bonine at 919-645-2662 or lbonine@visitraleigh.com.
CVB Seeks Award Nominations
The Bureau will honor outstanding individuals in the Wake County hospitality industry with two award programs. The Horizon Award recognizes a management-level employee who demonstrates the skills to be a future leader in the industry and the Isaac Hunter Excellence in Service Awards honor front-line staff for outstanding visitor service. The winners will be honored during the Bureau's 17th Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, July 14.
Take a few minutes and nominate a worthy person today via our online process or contact director of visitor services Theresa Tyler at 919-645-2659 or ttyler@visitraleigh.com.
Assisted Bookings in April
• 6 AAU Youth Baseball Events in SW Wake County (Spring/Summer 2004; $935,000 EEI)
• Conference on Evangelizing Black America (July 5-9, 2004; $816,000 EEI)
• World Changers (June 26-July 2, 2004; $560,000 EEI)
• Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries (July 20-23; $538,200 EEI)
• Institute of Government (Nov. 15-19, 2004; $114,500 EEI)
Sales/Sports News
The Sales Department hosted site inspections in April for Soul Saving Station and MC Communications. The Bureau made a bid presentation in Greensboro on May 10 to North Carolina Amateur Sports to host the State Games of North Carolina in 2005 and 2006. The majority of the events would be held in Town of Cary facilities. Other bid cities were Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. A decision is expected later this month.
Two CVB staffers assumed industry leadership positions as Scott Dupree was named to a three-year term on the National Association of Sports Commissions Board of Directors and Amy Higgins was elected to the North Carolina Society of Government Meeting Planners Board of Directors.
In the News
The CVB assisted two Turner South Network broadcast opportunities as "3-Day Weekend" filmed an upcoming episode in Raleigh and "Blue Ribbon" was in town featuring the N.C. State's mascots. Nancy Chapman visited for three days while on assignment for the Boston Herald, while Exploris hosted Chinese journalist Hengyuan Yan (Economic Daily) who was interested in viewing the "China On Tour" exhibit while in town for a press trip at RTRP.
The Food Network's "$40 A Day" and Arthur Frommer's The Carolinas and Georgia Guidebook will be in the area later in May. Meanwhile, Martin Armes spent two days in New York last month and made almost a dozen media calls with journalists representing Successful Meetings, Meeting News, Business Travel News, Golf for Women, Country Living Gardener, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, Travel & Leisure Golf, Travel & Leisure Family, Country Living, Family Circle, National Geographic Traveler and More Magazine.
Bureau Garners Two Communicator Awards
Two CVB publications recently won Communicator Awards for 2004. The NHL Draft Brochure and 2004 Visitors Guide were honored with an "Award of Distinction" among more than 3,700 total entries. Entries and winners in the competition came from advertising and public relation agencies, corporate communication departments, education institutions, government entities, broadcast and cable operations and other businesses throughout the U.S. and foreign countries.
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