Posts by Jonathan Freeze, CDME, EDP

Author: Jonathan Freeze, CDME, EDP

Jonathan Freeze, CDME, EDP, has built a career in the marketing of places, leading the Greater Raleigh CVB's marketing efforts since 2008. Recently he has earned the Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credential and received The Old North State Award (presented by the N.C. governor to recognize 20+ years of dedication, excellence and service). Learn more

The 2026-2027 Official Visitors Guide to Raleigh, Cary and Wake County is the last piece of its kind that our Bureau will produce: that guide will continue in circulation throughout this fiscal year. We’re stepping back from annual magazine production with our custom publisher Compass Media...

United States of Hospitality: America's 250th Anniversary

In July 1776 America declared its independence (though the Revolutionary War that had started in 1775 would not be fully concluded until 1783). Now 250 years later, the U.S. is embarking on a semiquincentennial celebration—with a focus on 2026 but with additional programs continuing through...

At GRCVB, staff retirements are rare (despite our staff’s combined 340 years of service!), and though certain staffers lately have retired after decades shaping their department’s strategic scope, it is an even rarer occasion we face this month with the retirement of GRCVB’s...

Since the 2005 publication of Destination BrandScience by our international industry association and the rapid adoption of its recommended practices, CVBs around the world have become the most relevant stewards of their communities’ brand identity/strategy to most of the audiences or...

Readying the Official Tourism Website for the Next Generation

“Do you surf the Web, and are you on the information superhighway?” While these questions seem quaint and even humorous today, they were questions on everyone’s mind, in all seriousness, in the mid-to-late 1990s, as many U.S. companies and individuals created their first...

Back to the Future: Partnership Marketing Builds Destination Strength

While attending our Tourism Talk Live this quarter, I was reminded how much destination marketing is really based in good partner relations and in relationships that are mutually beneficial, two-way and interactive. I also was reminded of how many new faces and other changes we’re still...

Adding Value to the Historic Work of Destination Marketing

Like most industries, the CVB industry has evolved tremendously since its formation. Unlike some industries, though, individual CVBs almost always have collaborated and had a strong industry association (now called Destinations International, est. 1915) that helps to shape evolution of the business.

Each year since revamping its community engagement strategies officially in 2018, GRCVB has arranged its communications with local community stakeholders around annual themes of import, and this year is no different. In calendar years 2019 and 2020, Bureau staff created and implemented a multilevel

Area Tourism Data Indicating Gradual Rebuild

One of the important responsibilities that GRCVB bears for Wake County is the collection and constant monitoring of tourism-related statistics. As you can imagine during the past year, we have seen some jubilant highs and jarring lows as tourism numbers, across the board, have been reported. As is

GRCVB’s New Photo and Video Projects with Partners

As announced in the GRCVB Annual Meeting on Aug. 26 and further outlined in our Sept. 30 Coronavirus Briefing, the Bureau is currently investing in two major photo/video projects around Wake County, to respond to special needs being felt by the destination’s customers as well as by our area...

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Author: Jonathan Freeze, CDME, EDP

Optimizing the Official Visitors Guide

United States of Hospitality: America's 250th Anniversary

Faithful to the Brand: On Karen DeSollar’s GRCVB Retirement

Reassessing the Raleigh/Wake County Destination Brand

Readying the Official Tourism Website for the Next Generation

Back to the Future: Partnership Marketing Builds Destination Strength

Adding Value to the Historic Work of Destination Marketing

Discerning Themes That May Define 2021

Area Tourism Data Indicating Gradual Rebuild

GRCVB’s New Photo and Video Projects with Partners

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Author: Jonathan Freeze, CDME, EDP

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