RDU International Airport Gains Two Nonstop Destinations

Travelers from two major cities will have better access to Raleigh, N.C., starting soon. Delta announced a new, daily, nonstop flight between Austin's Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and RDU beginning March 9. Allegiant Air has also announced new nonstop service between New Orleans's Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and RDU. The flights from New Orleans, which begin Feb. 16, 2017, will operate once daily on Thurs. and Sun. Austin and New Orleans will become RDU's 46th and 47th nonstop destinations.

North Hills Hotel Set for Big Upgrades

The four-star Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel will undergo a renovation in early 2017, expecting to spend between $7 million and $9 million to upfit the 229 rooms and nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Starting in late Jan. 2017, the renovation is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer. New design details will feature distinct elements inspired by the Raleigh area, giving travelers a warm welcome to the capital city.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa Receives Big Honor

The Umstead Hotel and Spa earned a spot on Conde Nast's recently released list of The 50 Best Hotels in the World. The publication cites its tranquil location just minutes outside the center of Raleigh, top-notch service and wonderful food (Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa) as reasons to book a stay at the state's only hotel to receive a Five-Star Rating Award from Forbes Travel Guide plus a Five Diamond Award in the hotel category from AAA.

GRCVB Wins Awards

A trio of convention and meetings-related honors were recently awarded to GRCVB. Smart Meetings magazine readers voted GRCVB as a winner of the 2016 Platinum Choice Award, recognizing excellence in sales, services and marketing efforts; ConventionSouth magazine readers voted GRCVB as a 2016 Readers' Choice Award recipient; and Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine awarded GRCVB the 2016 Award of Excellence for achievements in innovation, professionalism, marketing and service.