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 8:
Hoopdaflying Basketball Tournament and Reunion of the Year
Out with the Old and In with the New
New Raleigh Convention Center Officially Rivals Great Pyramids
Another Cool Tool
Raleigh Area Rates No. 3 on Hotwire's Travel Value Index
Planning Big 2006 Weekends is No Big Thing with TGIF
Angus Barn Chef to Appear on "Iron Chef America"
2006 Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
Sales/Sports News
Assisted Bureau Bookings in December
Events Through Next Month
Hoopdaflying Basketball Tournament and Reunion of the Year
Don't miss the Hoopdaflying Funkdaflying Superflying Tournament and Reunion of the Year at the 2006 MEAC Basketball Tournament from March 6-11. Featuring Showtime at the Apollo with Mo'Nique, Tom Joyner Sky Show, Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary Concert, Greek Step Show, Fashion Show, Old School Alumni Party and After-Parties featuring Doug E. Fresh, and of course, exciting MEAC basketball with all the Madness of March. Learn more at www.meachoops.com.
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 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.
Out with the Old and In with the New
The wrecking ball will put the finishing touches on demolition of the old Raleigh Convention and Conference Center in February. Meanwhile, immediately to the west, construction of the new Raleigh Convention Center charges ahead with opening slated for Spring 2008. Work will soon commence on the underground parking deck to accommodate 926 parking spaces below the 400-room convention center Raleigh Marriott City Center hotel. Click here for a virtual tour of the new convention center.
New Raleigh Convention Center Officially Rivals Great Pyramids
The new Raleigh Convention Center – now just a construction site – has already joined a pantheon that includes the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids and the beaches of Bora Bora. They're all ranked among the world's best webcams on the seventh annual list as selected by EarthCam.com. Using a live robotic webcam coupled with a high-definition megapixel camera, viewers across the globe can watch as the centerpiece of downtown Raleigh's renaissance takes shape. You can experience the webcam – or the RCC Television Network as it's known to insiders – at www.rccproject.com.
The Bureau just unveiled another high-tech online feature on VisitRaleigh.com with an interactive version of the 2006 Visitors Guide to Raleigh and Wake County. A similar application for the new Meeting Planners Guide will launch in a few months. Experience the many cool aspects of this state-of-the-art technology by clicking on the icon to the right.
Raleigh Area Rates No. 3 on Hotwire's Travel Value Index
Raleigh recently ranked third on the Hotwire Travel Value Index of Top U.S. Places for Bargains for its discounts offered to travelers, low published-rate prices and presence of affordable entertainment and outdoor attractions. With more than 20 free attractions, affordable airfare with most of the major carriers represented at RDU and many price points among 123 current hotel properties tallying some 13,500 rooms, Greater Raleigh indeed offers traveling Americans the best value for their money. Denver and Greenville-Spartanburg topped with the list with Knoxville, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Orlando-Daytona Beach, Reno, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles rounding out the Top 10. Learn more.
Planning Big 2006 Weekends is No Big Thing with TGIF
The Bureau's TGIF promotion reinforces the area's No. 3 ranking on the Hotwire Travel Value Index of Top U.S. Places for Bargains for its discounts offered to travelers, low published-rate prices and presence of affordable entertainment and outdoor attractions. Visitors receive those same benefits when booking a TGIF rate each and every weekend (Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday night) throughout 2006: Guaranteed lowest available TGIF starting from $49 per night at 25 participating hotel properties; 20 minute Sprint calling card to call home; free $10 shopping card to either Cary Towne Center, Crabtree Valley Mall or Triangle Town Center; 2006 Visitor Rewards card good for almost 50 valuable discount offers to participating local attractions, stores, museums, restaurants and golf clubs, including special American Express cardmember offers; Guaranteed lowest available TGIF golf rates any day of the week at four courses. Learn more at www.VisitRaleigh.com/tgif.
Bureau staff will be attending the NC Military Travel Shows Feb. 24-26 promoting weekend travel to the Raleigh area at Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point. Among the collateral distributed will be the 2006 TGIF brochure of which 80,000 were printed.
Angus Barn Chef to Appear on "Iron Chef America"
Walter Royal, executive chef of the Angus Barn restaurant, is one of 23 nationally acclaimed chefs invited to display their culinary expertise, creativity and competitiveness on season three of Food Network's "Iron Chef America" television series. Royal traveled to New York City for a taping of the show on Jan. 23.
Based on the format of the Japanese cult sensation, "Iron Chef America" carries on the legend of Kitchen Stadium and the famed "secret ingredient" revealed at the beginning of each episode. The show features world-class chefs taking on the reigning Iron Chefs in a 60-minute culinary showdown. After a distinguished panel of judges scores each dish based on taste, presentation and originality, Chairman Mark Dacascos declares the winner. This season's Iron Chefs include Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto and Cat Cora.
Chef Royal is only one of two chefs from the South, and the only one in the Carolinas, selected to participate this season. "Iron Chef America" is slated to kick off its third season on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. Two new episodes will air in March, and additional episodes will air between May and December 2006. The air date of the episode featuring Chef Royal will be announced at a later time.
2006 Destination and Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
There are many ways to leverage CVB programs and assist your business goals through the area's billion dollar visitor industry. Many beneficial cooperative partnerships have been developed that offer ways to join forces with CVB campaigns via online, magazine and guidebook advertising with participation rates starting from $250. The Bureau has been able to negotiate unprecedented affordable rates in Southern Living and Our State Magazine, not to mention six online endeavors and four new opportunities to advertise on VisitRaleigh.com.
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.
Sales/Sports News
The sales staff submitted six formal proposals for almost $5.3 million of future business, including 2012 Adventist Service International, 2009-2011 Human Rights Campaign, 2010 Barbershop Quartet, 2008 NC Center for Nonprofits, 2008 Garden Writers Association and 2007 NC Association of Environmental Professionals. It also hosted site inspections for the Society of Information Display and Elks Southern Division.
Meanwhile, the sports squad teamed with NC State and the RBC Center to begin the bid process for the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments with a decision expected in July 2006. It also worked with NC Youth Soccer Association to lay the groundwork to bid on the 2008 USYSA Region III Tournament.
Assisted Bureau Bookings in Decemberz
- Nationwide Hospitality, Throughout 2006 (5,000 TRN; $2,908,947 EEI)
- NC Senior Games, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2006 (1,700 TRN, $559,800 EEI)
- Pulte Homes, Jan. 23-27, 2006 (350 TRN; $388,245 EEI)
- Elks Southern Division, Oct. 25-30, 2006 (525 TRN; $209,025 EEI)
- NC Rural Letter Carriers Association, June 24-28, 2006 (255 TRN; $164,205 EEI)
- NC Housing Officers, Oct. 11-13, 2006 (150 TRN; $156,348 EEI)
TRN=total room nights; EEI=estimated economic impact
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