Meeting, Convention & Event Services

Overall Efforts
• Visitor Services coordinated housing for three large events: N.C. League of Municipalities (1224 Room Nights), The CIAA Basketball Tournament (154 Reservations at Headquarter Hotels) and the N.C. Association of Educators (506 Room Nights).

• The Raleigh Ambassadors, an all volunteer group, is currently active with 50 members. The Raleigh Ambassadors worked a total of 503.75 hours at 23 various events.

• Worked with Pinehurst on a monthly basis to report the number of rooms booked by 77 Wake County properties which offered accommodations during the 2005 US Open.

• Used on-line housing with two groups (N.C. League of Municipalities and NCAE)

• Updated Visitor Information Manual for use by front line staff and sent to Wake County hotels, attractions and Chambers of Commerce.

• Built a database for internal use of Visitor Services, including categories for advertising companies to entertainers to emergency contact information, etc.

• Gathered information from restaurants and hotels about specials and packages for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter and Mother's Day. Posted specials and packages on the internet and to have available internally when assisting potential visitors.

• Gathered rooms available during Hurricane Frances, September 2004, in order to assist those evactuated from areas in the path of the storm. Room availability was faxed to the I-95 Welcome Center and preperations were made to fax updated information to coastal information centers.

• Did quarterly presentations to RDU information staff and taxi cab drivers on bureau programs, things to see and do and upcoming events.

Groups Serviced

Groups requiring service -- 187

Total attendees for meetings serviced by the GRCVB -- 129,605

Economic impact -- $41,134,081

*Note: many groups require services for several months prior to a meeting. The Bureau provides services such as meeting consultations, housing operations, the Raleigh Ambassadors volunteer program, registration clerks, brochure distribution, unique meeting site information, tour ideas and other support.

What's Ahead
• Industry education research for Wake County.

• Coordinate MEAC housing.