Welcome...to
the July issue of Pulse, the official newsletter of the Greater
Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. If you have questions, or would
like to be included in the August edition of Pulse, please contact
Ryan Smith at rsmith@visitRaleigh.com
In this issue...
Make
Room in the Trophy Case | Foodie
News | City
Plaza Update | Potpourri
| In
the News | Jimmy
V Collaboration | Get
Off Your County Seat | Leadership
and Guidance
Make
Room in the Trophy Case
The Bureau has done it again and proves
why we have the best staff in the hospitality industry. Congratulations
to Visitor Center Manager Reggi Powell and her daughters, Ainsley and
Caitlin, who were awarded the Raleigh City Museum Volunteer
Award. Almost as good as an Oscar®, the Telly Awards honor
the best in local, regional and cable television commercials among other
programs – and, the Bureau, along with partners OddFellows Marketing
& Design and Trailblazer Studios, won a Bronze Telly Award
for the Greater Raleigh Destination DVD. Director of Convention Services,
Julie Brakenbury, has been named a Destination Champion
by the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) for the
creation and implementation of the Red Carpet Welcome Program. The official
announcement will be given at DMAI’s Annual Convention.
Back to top
Foodie
News
There are a few new places in the Raleigh area
to tempt your taste buds with menus ranging from American to Greek and
traditional Italian. The Lighthouse Café in the Progress Energy Building
has closed and is now the Plaza Café serving American
and Mediterranean fare, while Gravy, the newest Empire
Eats restaurant venture, serves up traditional Italian. Peppermill
Family Restaurant opened in downtown Fuquay-Varina, and Buffalo
Wings and Rings is in Morrisville. The Red Room Tapas
Lounge in downtown Raleigh's Glenwood South district has been
named 'Best Place to Salsa Dance' by the Independent Weekly's
2009 Best of Triangle Awards.
Back to top
City
Plaza Update
Construction continues on downtown Raleigh’s City Plaza, which is scheduled to open in late October. Currently, the sides and roofs of the four glass pavilions have been completed, and installation of the floor to ceiling windows is in progress. The City of Oaks light towers, designed by local sculpture Jim Gallucci, are being installed, and planters and walkways are being constructed.
Back to top
Potpourri
Take note that parking at RDU has just gotten
a little more expensive. Rates in the daily section of the parking garages
will increase to $2 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $10. Citing
budget cuts, the N.C. Department of Transportation has suspended the
roadside wildflower program and limited the frequency of the inmate
litter program; the Bureau is currently lobbying against these cutbacks.
Forbes.com named Apex (#3) and Cary (#7) in its annual list of Best
Places to Relocate, and the Hilton North Raleigh has been named one
of the Top 25 Hilton’s in the Country. Bon Appétit magazine
featured the Top 10 New BBQ Restaurants, and local favorite The Pit
made the list. The Bureau has discontinued the Raleigh Wide Discovery
Guide as of July. Currently a different piece containing a map and highlighting
events on a monthly basis is in development and will be available for
partners’ information desks in the next month.
Back to top
In
the News
The Bureau’s Communication Department hosted
six travel journalists in May for a press tour highlighting hotels,
restaurants, attractions and events throughout Wake County. Positive
coverage of the destination has already appeared in national publications
with more to come in the following months. The Queens Chronicle,
The Tennessee Tribune, Luxuryweb.com
and Trazzler.com have all featured a variety
of hospitality partners. The New York Times
featured the Triangle in “36-Hours in the Research Triangle” and mentioned
the N.C. Museum of Art, Father and Sons Antiques, Poole’s Diner, the
Umstead Hotel and Spa and the Raleigh Times Bar.
Back to top
Jimmy
V Collaboration
The Bureau has undertaken a year-long social responsibility campaign with The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Partnering with The V Foundation affords the Bureau a unique opportunity to raise awareness and support of cancer research. Through marketing opportunities and packaged messages, meeting and convention groups interested in adding a social responsibility element to their events can choose options like “Party with a Purpose,” fundraising activities or hands-on volunteer opportunities to benefit cancer research. Bureau sales team members will also incorporate The V Foundation’s message into trade show booth interactions and giveaways.
Back to top
Get Off Your County Seat
The Bureau is launching a year-long marketing campaign, beginning this month, which will target leisure visitors to the Raleigh area who live in North Carolina. The campaign, a sweepstakes entitled Get Off Your County Seat, will award a weekend getaway to one winner from each of the 100 counties in the state. Stay tuned for more information.
Back
to top
Leadership
and Guidance
The Bureau has announced its slate of officers
for the 2009/2010 Board of Directors. David Strong,
president of Rex Healthcare will remain board chairman for a second
consecutive term. Dale Whitworth, vice president and
controller of Golden Corral Corporation, will remain vice chairman,
Ken Crockett, president of Crockett Capital Corporation,
remains treasurer and Ian Sauer, vice president and
general manager of Summit Hospitality Group, is secretary, a position
he filled in March 2009. Barry Mitsch, vice president
of Pyramid Resource Group, also serves on the executive committee as
immediate past chairman. We look forward to this distinguished team
helping to guide our organization.
Back
to top
