THE GREATER RALEIGH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
ANNOUNCES HINTON + GRUSICH AS EXTERNAL SALES TEAM

Raleigh, NC (January 6, 2009) - The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau
(GRCVB) has signed a contract with national sales office, hinton + grusich. The contract
began January 1, 2009.

Based in Chicago, IL, hinton + grusich is a leading national meeting and convention sales
office representing hotels and destinations throughout the county and worldwide. The
company has regional offices in key feeder markets including: New York, Atlanta and
Denver.

The company's ten sales staff will work on the GRCVB's behalf to source qualified
meeting and convention leads through prospecting, scheduling targeted sales calls,
sending qualified meeting leads and hosting client events throughout key markets. The
GRCVB's in-house sales department filters those leads to participating hotels and the
Raleigh Convention Center.

"We are excited about having our world-class facilities marketed by such a respected
industry organization," said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the GRCVB. "This
dynamic partnership will build brand awareness for our area and generate direct
economic impact. It will also allow Wake County's hotels and meeting space to be
presented in markets where we currently have limited representation."

"The Raleigh area is undergoing significant change and revitalization with the opening of
the Raleigh Convention Center, new hotels and meeting space," said Bill Grusich,
president of hinton + grusich. "We are excited to represent an area that is quickly gaining
notoriety as a premier meeting and convention destination."