Tourism Talk blog

GRCVB's Board of Directors has announced that executive vice president Loren Gold will become president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2027. The board voted unanimously to hire Gold as the next president and CEO after sitting leader Dennis Edwards announced last month that he will retire at the end...

After nearly 20 years as president and CEO of GRCVB, Dennis Edwards has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2026. A 44-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Edwards became president and CEO of GRCVB in April 2007. Before taking the helm in Raleigh, he held leadership roles with several

For partners who missed our 2026 Annual Meeting earlier this month, GRCVB Board of Directors chair Melissa Chunn (general manager, Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel) shared updates on the Bureau's progress toward increasing visitor and convention business during fiscal year 2025-2026. Some

GRCVB’s 2025-2026 Annual Report was released last week, with the online report including summaries from each of the Bureau’s departments (Convention Sales, Destination Services, Marketing and Communications, Public Relations and International Tourism, Sports Marketing, Administration...

GRCVB is proud to join the U.S. Travel Association in an annual celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) May 3-9, 2026, recognizing the travel industry’s vital contributions to the U.S. economy. This year’s celebration takes on special significance as the country prepares...

Spring is quickly moving toward summer, and that means we're prepping for our new fiscal year on July 1. GRCVB welcomes Wake County hospitality partners to our Tourism Talk Live, Wed., May 20, at Red Bird at the Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown. If you're new to partnering with us, Tourism...

Earlier this month, GRCVB staff traveled to Cleveland to attend Destinations International’s Marketing and Communications Summit. The event welcomes visitors bureaus, agencies and other partners in the destination management industry from around the world to network, share ideas and learn...

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...

GRCVB’s 2024-2025 Annual Report was released last week, with the online report including summaries from each of the Bureau’s departments (Convention Sales, Destination Services, Marketing and Communications, Public Relations and International Tourism, Sports Marketing, Administration...

GRCVB’s seventh annual Meeting Professionals Summit (MPS) took place on Fri., July 11, at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel. The event welcomed meeting planners and hospitality professionals from across the region for a full day of education, networking and collaboration. This...