Sales

IMPACT GOAL EXCEEDED
Conducted more than 110 site visits with potential clients, produced 833 leads and brought 109,438 definite room-nights to Wake County. The direct economic impact for this business reached nearly $77 million, which exceeded the 2012-2013 goal of $57 million by 35 percent.

INDUSTRY EVENTS
Participated in over 300 industry-associated events including chapter, board and committee meetings and trade shows, increasing the visibility and profile of Greater Raleigh in all markets. Placed extra focus on the Northeast U.S. market, thus additional tradeshow participation and sales calls were added in this region.

KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
Partnered with Wake County Economic Development to aid in bringing strong business into Wake County, as well as to find meetings and conferences with which leaders of these business are associated, thus pursuing these meetings and conferences for Wake County.

ASSOCIATIONS
Highly involved and active in many key industry associations: seven Meeting Professionals International (MPI) chapters, American Society of Association Executives, Association Executives of N.C., seven chapters of Professional Convention Management Association, N.C. Technology Association, Femfessionals, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Religious Conference Management Association, Christian Meetings and Conventions Association, Society of Government Meeting Planners (SGMP) and the N.C. Chapter of SGMP. All Sales Department members are serving on industry association boards and committees, including our Young Professional Member, who was appointed Chair of MPI-Carolinas Chapter Triangle Education Lite.

CONNECTOR DETECTOR
Hired a well-connected, Raleigh-based liaison to assist in bringing local business leadership together with our sales team, identifying technical, educational, medical, scientific green and government organizations. These "connectors," who attend or know of industry-related conferences, will offer support to bring these conferences to Wake County.

MULTICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS 
Hosted GRCVB's third annual Multicultural Community Stakeholders Reception (with record attendance), focusing this year on LGBT, Hispanic and African-American leadership in Wake County. The event honored leaders who have been influential in bringing large conferences to Wake County, as well as educating fellow leaders of the community on how to best partner with the GRCVB to bring additional multicultural conferences and events to the area.

LOCAL/REGIONAL MEETING PLANNERS
Hosted three events for planners. The first event was for third-party planners located within a two-hour flight or drive time from Raleigh. Eight planners registered, and the event was successful in educating them on our great city and many of the things we offer. The second event was "Lunch in Raleigh," where the nine planners who attended were shown some of our exceptional venues then treated to "Lunch in Raleigh." The planners were also given a presentation on how Pinterest can be a valuable tool in the hospitality industries. The third event, in conjunction with Plan Your Meeting, an Atlanta-based organization that brings together hospitality members of all sectors for networking and education, brought over 80 registered planners together with GRCVB Sales staff. Many familiar, and some new faces, enjoyed the informative program.

EVENT OF THE SEASON
Successfully hosted the fifth anniversary of this Midwest-based planners reception, with over 100 planners with potential business for Wake County in attendance.  The "Event of the Season" is held during Holiday Showcase, an Association Forum-affiliated tradeshow, in Chicago.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Served on boards and committees with state, regional and national organizations in the meeting planning industry to position GRCVB and its sales managers as leaders with influence.

  • Jamie Rice
    Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA): Membership Committee
    PCMA, Capital Chapter: Co-Chair of the Marketing Committee
  • Loretta Yingling, CMP
    N.C. Technology Association: Board of Advisors
    Association Executives of N.C.: Golf Committee
    Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Carolinas Chapter: Awards and Recognition Committee
  • Jana Rae Oliver
    MPI, Chicago Area Chapter: Membership Committee
    MPI, Kansas City Chapter: Special Events Site Selection Committee
  • Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE
    MPI, Carolinas Chapter: President Elect
    MPI, Georgia Chapter: Member Retention Committee
  • Nicole Robinson
    MPI, Carolinas Chapter: Chair of Education Lite Programs Committee