We're in full gear for the 2023 GRCVB Annual Meeting, scheduled for Thurs., Aug. 17, at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in downtown Raleigh's Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. We will be sending both print and email invitations with options to purchase tickets in a few weeks. In the meantime, we're working behind the scenes to literally set the stage for the event.

One of our favorite parts of the Annual Meeting is the presentation of industry awards to deserving professionals across Wake County, from a wide range of categories, tenures and specialties. Today we're calling for nominations from you for the Horizon Award for management-level employees and the Issac Hunter Excellence in Service Award for others on the front lines.

• The Horizon Award acknowledges management-level employees who are demonstrating the skills and professionalism to be future leaders of the hospitality community. Learn more
• The Isaac Hunter Excellence in Service Award honors front-line staff for outstanding visitor service in accommodations, attractions, dining or other visitor-sector businesses. Learn more

If you have employees or colleagues who fit either of these categories, who enjoy introducing visitors to all our destination has to offer, are conscientious, pleasant to work with, customer service-oriented and bound for success, please nominate them for one of the 2023 awards!

In case you missed last year's Annual Meeting, here's the video that was used to introduce 2022 Hunter Award winner Catalina Lopez:

We're planning to produce similar videos for this year's award winners and celebrate them from the stage as we always do!

P.S. Opportunities are still open for businesses/organizations that would like to sponsor the Annual Meeting. You can submit a sponsorship here.