Long-Time Urban Planner to Direct Efforts Involving Events, Attractions and More

Raleigh, N.C. (March 4, 2019) – The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) has retained the services of Dan Douglas, Urban Strategy Group, to oversee several key priorities of the Wake County Destination Strategic Plan (DSP) also known as the “Destination 2028 Plan,” which was unveiled last year. Under the scope of his contract with Visit Raleigh, Douglas will serve as the bureau’s Director of Destination Development.

The Destination 2028 Plan, commissioned by Visit Raleigh and conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is organized according to eight priorities and meant to serve as a blueprint for destination development across all of Wake County. It has already been widely adopted by Wake County and City of Raleigh leaders as well as the 11 other municipalities within Wake County.

Douglas will be spearheading Visit Raleigh’s efforts around four of the eight priorities within the Destination 2028 Plan; that being Events, Key Attractors, Destination Development and Quality of Place.

“Dan brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will help us address and execute many aspects of the Destination 2028 Plan, working with all of our municipalities and partners throughout Wake County,” said President and CEO, of Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), Dennis Edwards. “We are thrilled to have him as part of our team.”

Douglas specializes in creating innovative models of urban revitalization, tourism planning, entertainment districts and sustainable economic development. He has master planned both public and private downtown/tourism developments in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, Concord, Wrightsville Beach and Kannapolis in North Carolina and nationally in South Carolina, Virginia, California and Alaska.

His public sector experience includes seven years as the founder and Director of the Raleigh Urban Design Center – charged with revitalizing downtown Raleigh, N.C. He led the city’s strategic planning effort that leveraged over $3.5 billion dollars of downtown investment. In 2008, Douglas was honored to receive the first ever Downtown Advocate Award from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

He also has experience in conference and event planning having helped to organize and found the International Making Cities Livable Conference and the NC State University/City of Raleigh Conference on Urban Design. Douglas has served on the City of Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Center Commission - chairing the Dorothea Dix Sub-Committee, sat on the Visit Raleigh Conference Table of Advisors, the Building Committee of the expansion of North Carolina Museum of Natural History, on the Hopscotch Music Festival Advisory Board and as a founding member of the Triangle Art Works Board.

"I am excited to work with Visit Raleigh as they embark on implementation of the Destination 2028 Plan” said Dan Douglas, Urban Strategy Group. “The Plan charts an ambitious course for tourism development in Wake County. For me, there is nothing more gratifying than working with a talented team on creative projects designed to shape the future of a community, especially the one I call home.”

Douglas’ began working on the project February 1, 2019, and his services have been retained for 12 months at this time.
 

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes more than 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.5 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,170 local jobs in Wake County and generates more than $250 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $671 in taxes annually. VisitRaleigh.com.
 

Media Contact:

Scott Peacock
919.645.2676
speacock@visitRaleigh.com

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