GRCVB wins bronze in Stella Awards, one of the highest honors in the meetings industry 

Raleigh, N.C. (Nov. 8, 2019) – Earlier this week Northstar Meetings Group and its principal brands (Meetings & Conventions and Successful Meetings) announced the recipients of the Third Annual Stella Awards. The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) won bronze in the Best CVB/DMO Southeast category, making it one of the top three best CVBs/DMOs in the Southeast.

The Stella Awards recognize the best hotels, convention centers, conference centers, convention and visitor bureaus (CVB), destination marketing organizations (DMO), destination management companies, airlines and cruise lines in the United States and around the world. These awards are one of the highest honors to receive in the meetings industry.

“We’re honored to be recognized by such a broad community of planners and esteemed judges. The Stella Awards set a standard all CVBs/DMOs in our industry seek to achieve," said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh). “Aside from the stellar customer service our team prides itself on, it’s truly the state-of-the-art facilities, unique off-site venues, innovative service providers, passionate-minded locals and collaborative nature that truly make Raleigh, N.C., a compelling, and now top-ranked destination for meetings, conventions and sporting events throughout the year.”

Winners of the Stella Awards are nominated through an open voting period for industry professionals and then selected by an expert judge’s panel overseen by Northstar’s editors (Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News and Incentive magazines). This year, nearly 10,000 votes were casted worldwide. In the Best CVB/DMO Southeast category Visit Orlando received gold and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau received the silver award. Other finalists included the Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau, New Orleans & Company and Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater. Visit Raleigh also won bronze in the Best CVB/DMO Southeast category in 2018.

"The real value of the Stellas is not just to those who are being recognized for their excellence, but to the tens of thousands of other planners who look to their peers for recommendations and advice," said David Blansfield, executive vice president and group publisher of Northstar Meetings Group. "The Stellas provide an objective, curated and credible majority view on the best of the best in the meetings industry."

A complete list of winners and finalists can be found at NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com/Stellas.
 

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (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 economic position of and provide opportunity for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes nearly 17 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.7 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 27,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $268 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $700 in taxes annually. VisitRaleigh.com.

About Northstar Meetings Group:
Northstar Meetings Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the business meetings, events, sports and incentives market, including full-time and part-time meeting planners, as well as corporate, association, sports and not-for-profit decision-makers, and incentive professionals, facilitating their professional development and achievement of business goals. Its influential brands in the US – Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News, Incentive and SportsTravel – currently serve over 350,000 active meeting and event planners and incentive professionals, across an integrated suite of data, digital, events and print products. For more information, please visit NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com.
 

Media Contact:
Jessica Holt, Visit Raleigh
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.645.2654
jholt@visitRaleigh.com

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