RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 15, 2026) – After nearly 20 years as President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB/Visit Raleigh), Dennis Edwards has announced his retirement effective December 31, 2026.

A 44-year veteran in the hospitality industry, Edwards became President and CEO of Visit Raleigh in April 2007. Prior to taking the helm in Raleigh, he held leadership roles with a number of convention and visitor bureaus including Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Palm Springs, Cali.; Culver City, Cali.; and Sioux City, Iowa.

Since beginning his role at Visit Raleigh in 2007, Wake County has experienced significant growth in tourism. Hotel occupancy tax collections jumped from $14 million to over $41 million and prepared food and beverage tax revenues increased from $16 million to nearly $49 million. Visitation surged from10.4 million in 2007 to 19.1 million in 2025, while visitor spending went from $1.7 billion to over $3.4 billion respectfully.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to work for such a dynamic destination with an incredibly talented staff at the GRCVB. Wake County has experienced unprecedented growth in tourism over the past 20 years, and the future is extremely bright for our entire hospitality community,” said Dennis Edwards.

During his leadership, Wake County hosted numerous major events such as the NHL All-Star Game, NHL Stadium Series, NCAA Men’s basketball tournaments, NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups, The Soccer Tournament, IBMA World of Bluegrass, Dreamville and GalaxyCon, among others.

Edwards oversaw the creation of the 10-year Wake County Destination Strategic Plan 2028 (DSP 2028), which provided a foundation for the approval and development of the new Red Hat Amphitheater, Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center (formerly known as the Raleigh Convention Center) expansion, the 600-room Omni Hotel and the enhancements taking place at the Lenovo Center. Wake County is currently undergoing over $2 billion in tourism infrastructure development addressing many of the priorities in the DSP 2028. He also worked with Travel South and Visit North Carolina to bring the MICHELIN Guide to Wake County and North Carolina.

Edwards oversees a staff of 35 with a budget of $12.5 million. He is the current chair of the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Board and serves on numerous other boards including the U.S. Travel Association, North Carolina Travel & Tourism Coalition, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Dix Park Conservancy and Wake County Economic Development.

“Denny is a true veteran and pioneer who began his journey in Raleigh nearly 20 years ago, dedicating himself to strategizing, advocating for and advancing tourism in Wake County. Through his passion, vision and relentless drive, Wake County has truly become a destination of choice for so many. Although Denny will be deeply missed, his greatest legacy is the pathway he created and the strong foundation he established under his leadership. His impact will continue to guide Wake County tourism forward, inspiring others to build upon his vision and carry it to even greater heights,” said Melissa Chunn, general manager at Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel and chair of the GRCVB Board of Directors. “On behalf of the GRCVB Board of Directors we want to thank Denny for his leadership, passion and unwavering commitment to making Wake County a destination that shines.”

The GRCVB Board of Directors has a succession plan and anticipates making an announcement on Edwards’ replacement soon.
 

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, Visit Raleigh is responsible for promoting Wake County as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, the organization strengthens the industry and community's economic position and provides opportunities for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 19.1 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.43 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $342 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $743 in taxes annually. visitRaleigh.com

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Jessica Holt
Director of Public Relations
919.645.2654
jholt@visitRaleigh.com

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