Leadership and Outreach

Successfully led more than two years of efforts to gain approval to build a new convention center in downtown Raleigh and a 400-room Marriott headquarters hotel. The Raleigh City Council and Wake County Commissioners agreed to spend up to $200 million on the project that are among a billion dollars of new downtown Raleigh projects to open by the end of 2007.

Scott Dupree chairs the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, a coalition of 20 local sports business officials who take a leadership role in developing strategy and long-term plans for sports development, and was recently elected to a three-year board term for the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Dave Heinl is treasurer of NCACVB, Shawn Braden and Shirley Tucker serve on various committees, while Martin Armes assists with the public relations activities. Among their contributions was a Time Warner Television partnership.

Heidi Walters serves as president of the MPI-Carolinas Chapter, while Amy Higgins was elected to the North Carolina Society of Government Meeting Planners Board of Directors. Two sales staff members were actively involved in the 2003 National Tour Association convention in Charlotte.

Armes sits as treasurer of the North Carolina Golf Marketing Alliance and organized all four North Carolina Golf Cup Challenges (which produced over $250,000 in editorial exposure in 2002 alone).

Heinl served as president of the Rotary Club of Raleigh, the oldest civic club in North Carolina. He also served as treasurer of the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition, Director on the Board of Governors of the Capital City Club and North Carolina Travel Industry Association.

Shawn Braden conducted seasonal presentations to Capital Area Visitors Center, NC Welcome Centers, Wake County Chambers of Commerce, RDU International Airport Volunteer Ambassadors, Raleigh museums staff, Crabtree Valley Mall and Triangle Town Center Volunteers and the NC Military Bases to build alliances that can support bureau promotions financially or through in-kind support, and to educate visitor service area representatives on leisure promotions and how to sell them.

Secured visitor information pages on seven Wake County Chamber municipality web sites. Presentations were made quarterly to all 12 chambers of commerce in Wake County during the chamber leadership dinners. The executive directors of the various chambers are periodically invited to give a presentation at a Bureau staff meeting.

Heinl and Braden served on the Visitor Center Task Force to assist in the Capital Area Visitor Center transition plan and move into the NC Museum of History.
Coordinated a pair of Wake County Hotel Strategic Planning Meetings.

The Conference Table, an executive advocacy group for the visitor sector of our economy, met four times at unique venues with topical speakers.
Approximately 400 people attended the July 2003 Annual Luncheon where recognition was given to local leaders in the hospitality industry, an annual report distributed and comments delivered by Bill Hudnut.

GRCVB participated in a special National Tourism Day event in May in cooperation with the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development with a small exhibit.

Dave Heinl and Board Chairman Doyle Parrish attended the Chamber's Inter-City Visit to Jacksonville, Fla., which brought together about 80 civic and corporate leaders resulting in not only networking, but also specific focus on current issues.

The Bureau's Board of Directors held its board meeting in three different municipalities (Holly Springs, Wake Forest, Wendell) during this fiscal year to maintain strong outreach to all areas.