Welcome...to the october 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 November edition of PULSE, please contact Ryan Smith at rsmith@visitRaleigh.com
In this issue...
Oh Canada! | South Africa | Take Time for a Great Time | Cary Named NCAA Championship City | SmartCard Discount Program | Holiday Packages | Communication Notes | Where They're Going | Dates to Know.......................................................................................................................................................................
Oh, Canada
Tourism marketing manager Charissa Todd joined representatives from across the state during the N.C. Division of Tourism’s Canadian Sales Mission to Toronto and Montreal, September 21-26. The group met with more than 60 travel professionals from newspapers and meeting magazines, as well as meeting planners, incentive travel providers, group tour operators and suppliers through a variety of sales calls, receptions, luncheons and dinners. In 2007 North Carolina was host to more than 946,000 visitors from Canada.
South Africa
More than 500 participants from 60 countries, including Loren Gold, executive vice president, and Julie Brakenbury, director of convention services for the Bureau, traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 25th International Association of Science Parks World Conference 2008. Gold and Brakenbury, along with representatives from The Research Triangle Park, attended to assist with attendance building for the 2009 conference, which will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, June 1-5.
As part of the Bureau’s newest initiative, The Red Carpet Welcome Program, the Bureau works with groups utilizing 500 or more room- nights to provide additional welcome materials, discount cards, customizable email templates and other specialized attendance promotion tools.
Take Time for a Great Time!
The Bureau has created a special page on visitRaleigh.com to assist visitors in finding special rates and available hotels in Wake County from October 16-26, during the N.C. State Fair. The N.C. State Fair is the largest annual event in North Carolina and attracts more than 850,000 visitors during its 10 days. Click here for more information on State Fair packages.
Cary Named NCAA Championship City
The NCAA has selected six cities—Cary, N.C., Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, San Diego and San Antonio—to serve as inaugural members in its new “NCAA Championship City” pilot program. The Bureau, N.C. State University and the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) are key partners with the Town of Cary in this new NCAA initiative.
Whereas most cities that have been selected to host an NCAA championship focus on a specific division or sport, the Championship City pilot will provide the six cities with the privilege to host specific NCAA championships in Division I, II and III; a wider range of sports to host, which opens the city to a broader and diverse range of fans; rights to use enhanced NCAA marks; and NCAA marketing initiatives that identify it as a city selected specifically by the NCAA for the Championship City pilot program. | Click to see full news release
Get Smart with the SmartCard Discount Program
Everyone loves a deal, especially convention attendees and sporting groups, so the Bureau and ZSpotlight.com have partnered to offer deals and incentives through a Greater Raleigh SmartCard program. The card, available exclusively through the Bureau, contains more than 50 special discounts at restaurants, retails and attractions. Click here to learn how your organization can get smart.
Holiday Packages
It’s hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner, and the Bureau is getting ready compiling events, giveaways, special packages and promotions. If your organization or hotel is offering special rates, incentives or packages during the holiday season (November – January), please email Charissa Todd.
Ad Sales for 2009 Visitors Guide
It’s a brand new day for Raleigh and Wake County, and this is your chance to promote your business to the more than 10.4 million visitors who visit our area by advertising in the 2009 Official Visitors Guide to Raleigh, Cary and Wake County. The Official Visitors Guide includes information on things to see and do in Wake County, maps, a calendar of selected events, editorial on unique Wake County sites, accommodations and dining listings. The guide is distributed in state welcome centers, at RDU, attractions, hotels, during conventions, sporting events, special community events and other visitor points of interest. For information about advertising in the 2009 guide, contact S&A Cherokee’s Bill Zadeits or Amanda Dunlap at (919) 674-6020.
Communication Notes
The Raleigh area is gaining notoriety as a premiere place to hold a meeting and convention, as the communications department continues to successfully pitch national meeting publications on story ideas and unique angles. In the October issue of Meetings South, the Raleigh Marriott City Center, Artspace, Angus Barn and Koka Booth Amphitheatre are mentioned in a North Carolina feature while the Raleigh Convention Center, the NC Museum of Art, the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel and the new Raleigh Marriott City Center are featured in a full-page Raleigh Renaissance story. Tradeshow Week, which previously ran a story on the opening of the Raleigh Convention Center, highlighted CenterPlate for its commitment to using local products. Click here to see full articles.
Where They're Going
Director of Communications Ryan Smith will attend the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) annual conference in Houston, TX (Oct. 16-21), where she will meet one-on-one with travel writers, editors and photographers to pitch Raleigh area story ideas.Director of Sales Jana Rae Oliver will attend Meetings Market West Chicago (Oct. 22), while Stephen Jackson, convention sales manager, and Dennis Edwards, senior account executive at the Raleigh Marriott City Center, will attend the Rejuvenate Conference for religious planners in Virginia Beach (Nov. 11-13) and the National Pan-Hellenic Conference in Stone Mountain, GA (Nov. 16-17).
The Sports Marketing Department will promote Wake County’s reputation as a sporting mecca at TEAMS in Pittsburgh (Oct. 22-24) and at the Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) Annual Conference in Cancun (Oct. 27-Nov. 1).
Dates to Know
North Carolina State Fair 2008. Oct. 16-26; NC State Fairgrounds; $0-$7; (919) 821-7400
Art Raleigh. Oct. 18-19; Lichtin Plaza at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts; Free; (919) 832-8699
2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Oct. 19; RBC Center; $29-$75; (919) 834-4000
Yeston & Kopit's Phantom: North Carolina Theatre. Oct. 18-26; Memorial Auditorium at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts; $20-$63; (919) 834-4000
Walking with Dinosaurs - The Live Experience. Oct. 22-26; RBC Center; $32-$69; (919) 834-4000
Croctober. Oct. 25; North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences; Free; (919) 733-7450
The Sony Ericsson City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon. Nov. 2; 26 miles throughout Raleigh area; $55-$85; (919) 515-3799