Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News
Welcome to the Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News … presented by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB). Please let us know about any news pertaining to Wake County's billion dollar visitor industry for possible inclusion in future issues.
IN VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3:
Raleigh Lands MEAC Basketball Tournament
Open Arms
Save the Date: CVB Annual Luncheon on July 13
Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
Raleigh Civil War Markers Unveiled
CVB Secures Two Awards
Dateline Raleigh
Events Through Next Month
Raleigh Lands MEAC Basketball Tournament
The Bureau worked in partnership with the City of Raleigh, Wake County, Gail Force Sports & Entertainment and the Centennial Authority to bring the 2006-2008 Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament to the RBC Center. Richmond had hosted the event since 1998.
The MEAC is made up of 11 historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman College, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University and South Carolina State University.
It is projected the 2006 MEAC Tournament (March 6-11) will attract 55,000 fans and generate 5,500 hotel room nights, with a projected economic impact on the area of $4.4 million. Though different tournaments in many respects, local officials do hope to grow the event much like CIAA's economic impact surged from $7.8 million in 2000 to $12.0 million in 2005.
Open Arms
The recent U.S. Open golf tournament in nearby Pinehurst proved an immediate and future economic generator for North Carolina and its Capital City area as the Bureau teamed with fellow CVBs and the North Carolina Division of Tourism on a pair of events.
The sales team hosted some of Greater Raleigh's top meeting planner prospects, while the area was a featured stop on the 5th Annual North Carolina Golf Cup Challenge – a Ryder Cup style event bringing 25 top-flight travel journalists and tour operators from North America (United States and Canada) and Europe (United Kingdom and Germany). The latter event featured representatives from Air Canada, Ottawa Sun, Merit Golf, Ultimate Golf Vacations, Golf Digest, Great Lakes Golf Magazine, Golf International, Golf Aktuell, Whole World Golf and more.
Save the Date: CVB Annual Luncheon on July 13
John K. Smith, retired general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta and a catalyst in the three expansions of the convention facility, the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park, will deliver the keynote speech at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau's 18th annual luncheon on Wednesday, July 13.
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. James Goodnight and Ann Goodnight of SAS Institute, James F. Goodmon of Capitol Broadcasting and Bill Cavanaugh of Progress Energy. For more information, please contact the Bureau's director of operations Linda Bonine at 919-645-2662 or lbonine@visitraleigh.com.
Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
There are many ways to leverage CVB programs and assist your business goals through the area's billion dollar visitor industry.
Some exciting cooperative partnerships have been developed that offer ways to join forces with CVB campaigns via online, magazine, newspaper and guidebook advertising with participation rates starting from $250. The Bureau has been able to negotiate unprecedented affordable rates in Southern Living, Our State Magazine, North Carolina Travel Guide and Valassis newspaper insert throughout North Carolina, not to mention three online endeavors.
For more information about these co-op marketing opportunities, please contact the Bureau's director of partnership and tourism marketing Shawn Braden at 919-645-2663 or sbraden@visitraleigh.com.
Raleigh Civil War Markers Unveiled
Bureau president & CEO Dave Heinl participated in a news conference to commemorate North Carolina's Civil War history by unveiling two new Civil War Trail markers (State Capitol and St. Mary's College). The colorful markers highlight sites throughout the state describing how North Carolina's involvement in the war began and ended at the Capitol and are part of an effort with Virginia and Maryland to define a multi-state Civil War Trail.
Funding for the Civil War Trail program came from a $1.1 million federal transportation enhancement grant with local communities matching 20 percent and agreeing to maintain the markers. So far, North Carolina has erected 150 markers with at least 100 more planned.
CVB Secures Two Awards
The Bureau garnered two Gold awards at the NCACVB annual meeting in Asheville for its Tourism eNews communication and City Life, Carolina Style Meetings creative. In all, the CVB collected 10 accolades in various competitions this year. Pictured (left-right) are Heidi Walters, Dave Heinl and Kathleen Murphy.
Dateline Raleigh
According to the June/July 2005 issue of CitySmart Magazine, "(Raleigh is a city) well worth your time, in a region you will want to experience again and again. The many shops, restaurants and local diversions are sure to be listed among your favorite spots to visit, whether you're there for the history, the shopping, the food or the atmosphere."
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