Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News
Welcome to the ninth issue of Greater Raleigh Tourism e-News … presented by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB). This monthly e-News is the metamorphosis of two CVB communications tools (Visitor Advance and Matter of Fax). Please let us know about any news pertaining to Wake County's billion dollar visitor industry for possible inclusion in future issues.
IN VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9:
Convention Center's Schematic Design Approved
'Tis the Season for Holiday Promotions
November 10 Industry Update Meetings
2005 Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
Ad Sales Wrapping Up for 2005 Visitors Guide
Natural Sciences Museum Named Top Field Trip Attraction
Assisted Bureau Bookings in September
On the Road
In the News
Events in Greater Raleigh This Month
Convention Center's Schematic Design Approved
The Raleigh City Council and Wake County Commissioners on October 14 voted to accept a schematic design for the new convention center (pictured here) – slated to open in February 2008. The chosen design was a direct response to the opportunities of the building's program, the context and history of Raleigh and the feedback from more than 80 public meetings. The elected officials recognized the team of architects for engaging all four streets with civic strength and dignity and for making the building pedestrian friendly.
The project's architects designed the convention center facility based on the assumptions that:
- much of Raleigh's identity is derived from its role as the capital of North Carolina.
- the design of the convention center should convey the transition from Raleigh's heritage to its emerging knowledge-based future.
- the building materials used in the convention center should reinforce this transition by using traditional materials in contemporary ways.
- the building should respond to the goals of the Livable Streets Program.
- the center's art should amplify North Carolina as the state of arts.
Within the next month, the architectural team of O'Brien Atkins, Clearscapes and TVS will present a design recommendation and the elected officials will review an adjusted budget and interlocal agreement. It also appears that the agreement with Noble Investment Group to build the 400-room Marriott hotel will be finalized over the next month.
The new convention center complex is expected to result in 900 additional new jobs and more than $50 million additional economic benefit annually for Wake County. Click here for more details.
'Tis the Season for Holiday Promotions
Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to crank up the publicity machine and bring visitors to Greater Raleigh for the holidays. What follows are seven GRCVB programs designed to do just that: (1) The 2004 TGIF holiday promotion features a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree to either Crabtree Valley Mall or Triangle Town Center when booking a TGIF hotel rate at one of 28 participating hotels. (2) Continued promotion of the Matisse/Picasso exhibition with AAA Travel selling packages at 12 participating hotels. (3) A unique online email campaign with 13 partners, a collaborative ad in the Charlotte Observer with seven partners and radio spots in the Triad highlight some of the holiday advertising efforts. (4) The 2004 Greater Raleigh Holiday Calendar is complete with shopping information and details on more than 100 events throughout Wake County. More than 55,000 calendars will be distributed in the weeks ahead; plus all the information is featured on the Bureau's web site; (5) Editorial in state and regional magazines; (6) Calendars and news releases sent to almost 400 media outlets in N.C. and the Southeast; and (7) Appearances by GRCVB staff on radio talk shows in Eastern N.C.
Why all the fuss? Well, there are three good reasons: Wake County is a bustling holiday destination, with more than 100 special events planned this year, not to mention an array of outstanding shopping selections; hotels offer super deals based on availability in November and December; and many of the events are on weekends, when hotels typically need the business more (compared to weeknights).
November 10 Industry Update Meetings
The GRCVB will update the industry at a pair of meetings on Wednesday, November 10 at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center.
A Hotel/Lodging Strategy Meeting will take place from 9-11 am in which the Bureau sales staff will present an update on federal per diems and the new convention center including its design overview, plans for staff structure, marketing of new facility; and timeline for building, street closings and openings. Other topics will include the 2006-08 CIAA Basketball bid process and updates on the PONY softball and NICK soccer tournaments.
At both meetings, including a 1-3 pm attractions/venues presentation, attendees will learn the latest Internet Best Practices from the tourism industry's leader in online destination marketing. Representatives from the GRCVB's internet marketing consultant, USDM.net, will provide tips to evaluate Internet initiatives and maximize return on your online investment. See how hotels and attractions are benefiting from turnkey Internet marketing and web technology experience and how you can further leverage opportunities with the Bureau by participating in 2005 GRCVB leisure programs.
For more information about the November 10 meetings, please contact the Bureau's director of partnership and tourism marketing Shawn Braden at 919-645-2663 or sbraden@visitraleigh.com.
2005 Cooperative Marketing Opportunities
From significant sporting events like the U.S. Open Golf Championship in nearby Pinehurst to hundreds of holiday and spring events, there are many ways to leverage CVB programs and assist your business goals through the area's billion dollar visitor industry.
Some exciting cooperative partnerships are being developed for 2005 that offer ways to join forces with CVB campaigns via online, magazine and newspaper advertising with participation rates starting from $250. Information on how to participate will be distributed by mid-November.
For more information about these co-op marketing opportunities, please contact the Bureau's director of partnership and tourism marketing Shawn Braden at 919-645-2663 or sbraden@visitraleigh.com.
Ad Sales Wrapping Up for 2005 Visitors Guide
Advertising sales for the 2005 Visitors Guide to Raleigh and Wake County are wrapping up with rates starting from $125 for this signature publication distributed to more than 300,000 people. For more information, please contact Candi Griffin at 919-645-2676 or adsales@visitraleigh.com. Space commitments are due by Monday, October 25.
Natural Sciences Museum Named Top Field Trip Attraction
According to Carolina Field Trips magazine, Raleigh is the state's field trip mecca as the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences (pictured here) was the top-ranked field-trip attraction in the state for 2003 in the first survey of the state's educational field trip attractions. Last year, 187,570 students and teachers (representing 3,953 field trips) visited the Raleigh museum, which is now celebrating its 125th year. Other Raleigh attractions in the Top 20 were No. 5 Exploris, No. 6 North Carolina Museum of History, No. 9 North Carolina State Capitol and No. 14 Poe Center for Health Education.
Assisted Bureau Bookings in September
- National Invitational Club Kickoff (Soccer), July/Aug. 2005, (31,200 TRN; $7.1 million EEI)
- USA League Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships, 2005/2006 (2400 TRN; $525,600 EEI)
- Andrew Wommack Ministries, Jan. 20-23, 2005 (403 TRN; $372,840)
- NC Baptist State Convention Prayer Conference, March 18-19, 2005 (150 TRN; $139,950)
- NC Department of Administration, March 27-29, 2005 (275 TRN; $133,725)
On the Road
The sales department prospected future business last month at Affordable Meetings in Washington, D.C., a Charlotte chapter meeting of Association Executives of North Carolina and a Meeting Professionals International – PEC host meeting.
The sports sales team represented the area at the AAU National Convention in Connecticut and coordinated the state's cooperative marketing effort during the event's tradeshow and marketplace. In addition, a sports staffer delivered a presentation at the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association's quarterly meeting in Greensboro in hopes of luring NCISAA's fall and spring championships to Wake County beginning with the 2005-06 academic year.
Meanwhile, the communications team embarked on an Atlanta media tour and pitched various Raleigh story ideas to CNN, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, TravelGirl, Art & Antiques and other outlets.
In the News
Said the Miami Herald on September 5, "Raleigh has morphed from a friendly-but-sleepy college-government town into a high-tech center where the largest employers include IBM, SAS software and Cisco systems. Still some of Raleigh's finest attributes remain: The sheltering green of oaks and pines, iced tea served sweet, friendly locals with deceptively slow Southern accents masking Ph.D-quick minds."
According to the Chicago Sun-Times in its October 3 issue, "An exhibit of Impressionist, Modernist and other 19th and early 20th century European masters opens Oct. 10 at the North Carolina Musueum of Art."
The Detroit News touted on October 3,"Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris will feature 34 paintings, sculptures and drawings. In addition to works by Matisse and Picasso, the show will include works by Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne …"
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