Welcome...to the March 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 April edition of Pulse, please contact Ryan Smith at rsmith@visitRaleigh.com

In this issue...
Rally in Raleigh | On the Ice | Sporting News | Awards & Honors | GRCVB Notes

Rally in Raleigh
North Carolina’s love of sports was the theme of the 2009 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, where more than 550 tourism, business and government leaders “rallied in Raleigh” (the conference’s theme). Held at the Raleigh Convention Center and Raleigh Marriott City Center, the conference provided professional development workshops, networking events and break-out sessions. The opening night reception, sponsored by the Greater Raleigh CVB, was a tailgate party featuring mascots from N.C. State, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Carolina Mudcats. The 2010 conference will be held in New Bern.

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On the Ice
The Greater Raleigh CVB Sales and Sports Marketing Departments hosted more than 20 clients for a night at the RBC Center, where the Carolina Hurricanes took to the ice against the Buffalo Sabres. The event, which was attended by representatives from the N.C. State Bar, N.C. Fireman’s Association and the N.C. Association of Pharmacists, was highlighted by a ride around the rink on a Zamboni for a few lucky clients during the game.

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Sporting News
Thirty-two youth soccer teams will descend on Raleigh, July 16-19, as the 2009 US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is played at the WRAL Soccer Center in North Raleigh. This national championship event will bring an expected 1,600 total room-nights with an economic impact of $300,000 to the area. The Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) is the official host organization, and the Greater Raleigh CVB Sports Marketing will serve as the primary host partner. The New Wave Swim Team and the Triangle Aquatic Center hosted 87 swim teams from seven states at the Senior Sections Swim Meet this weekend. Three Olympic athletes, including Gold Medalist Cullen Jones, competed along with nearly 800 swimmers. The economic impact of this event is estimated to be $430,000.

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Awards & Honors
The Greater Raleigh CVB Sales team has an incredible reputation in the meetings industry, and Malinda Pettaway, CASE, Associate Director of Sales, and Loretta Yingling, National Sales Manager, have raised the bar once again. Yingling recently passed the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) exam. The CMP is the foremost certification of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry and recognizes individuals who have achieved the industry’s highest standard of professionalism. The requirements for certification are based on professional experience and a written examination. Pettaway recently was elected to serve on Meeting Professionals International (MPI) – Carolinas Chapter Board of Directors for a two-year term.

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GRCVB Notes
Beginning in March, the official Visitor Information Center, located in the Raleigh City Museum, will be closed on certain Mondays. The center remains open on Saturdays from 10am-5pm. Visitors can check out www.visitRaleigh.com 24-hours-a-day for the latest in event, accommodation, dining and attraction information.

Effective April 1 the Bureau will discontinue its Post Office Box address. If PO Box 1879 is the current address you have on file for the Bureau, please change this to 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505; Raleigh, NC 27601. For questions please contact Linda Bonine at lbonine@visitraleigh.com

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