Save the date for the Austin CVB Annual Luncheon
Austin CVB's fifth annual hospitality luncheon takes place on Friday, May 6 at the Austin Convention Center. A celebration of live music and tourism, this year's event marks the 20th anniversary of Austin's branding as the Live Music Capital of the World®. Some of the city's best local artists will perform, and guests will also hear from Austin CVB President and CEO, Bob Lander, about how music continues to drive tourism in Texas' capital city.
The keynote presentation will be delivered by Peter Yesawich, the back-by-popular-demand Chairman & CEO of the Ypartnership, a leading tourism and hospitality research firm. Also back by popular demand is the Bureau's educational session on Social Media 2.0, lead by Martin Stoll of the GoSeeTell Network. Last year's session was one of our best, and with so many changes in social media, this will be another great learning opportunity.
Sponsorships are available at various levels; contact Mary Kay Hackley, mhackley@austintexas.org or 512-583-7215. Stay tuned for more information on purchasing a table or individual seats.
Austin CVB sells the city at PCMA's Party with a Purpose and Southwest Showcase
For the fourth year, the Austin CVB was the official music sponsor of the Professional Convention Management Association's Party with a Purpose at their Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. Austin's own Skyrocket brought the Live Music Capital of the World® to the entertainment capital of the world. This event, which raised money for St. Jude's Ranch for Children, PCMA's Network for the Needy and the PMCA Education Foundation, has continued to grow since the Austin CVB brought live music to it – and for the first time, the event was sold out. For more information, visit www.pcma.org.
In addition, the Bureau represented Austin at Southwest Showcase, the annual tradeshow and educational conference put on by the Texas Society of Association Executives, International Association of Exhibitions & Events, and Meeting Professionals International. Together with our hospitality partners, the Bureau showcased Austin as a growing convention destination with a vibrant live music scene, compact downtown and high-tech amenities among hundreds of corporate, association and third-party meeting planners.
"Austin Music Volume 10" CD now available
2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Austin's branding as the Live Music Capital of the World®. But that's not the only musical landmark being recognized by the Austin CVB this year. In addition, this year brings listeners the 10th annual "Austin Music" compilation produced by the Austin Music Office.
"Austin Music Volume 10" celebrates the city's rich musical history while showcasing the future of established musicians alongside the voices of rising stars. Featured artists include The Bright Light Social Hour, Sahara Smith, Ocote Soul Sounds, The Marshall Ford Swing Band, Tee Double & James Speer, and Mother Falcon, among others.
The "Austin Music Volume 10" CD Release Party was hosted by The Parish where guests enjoyed performances by featured album artists and drink specials from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Sweet Leaf Tea.
Special thanks to additional sponsors: Austin Convention Center, Freeman, Frank and Radisson Austin Hotel & Suites.
GoGreen Conference arrives to Austin
GoGreen '11 Austin takes place at the Austin Convention Center on April 6th, and features a full day of educational sessions to make any business more sustainable. Attendees can learn from and network with more than 60 cutting-edge, business-leader experts in sustainability. This year's programming includes a keynote address by Lucia Athens, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Austin, and multiple breakout sessions on such topics as The New Manufacturing Renaissance: Innovative Companies Changing the Playing Field and Collaborative Approaches to Achieving Zero Waste in Your Business. Early bird registration ($125) is open until March 1. More information is available at http://austin.gogreenconference.net.
Austin CVB partners with Brandivity to increase international market presence
The Austin CVB has appointed Brandivity, a full-service marketing and communications agency based in London, to generate awareness for the city in the international MICE (meetings, incentive, convention and events) market. With a long-term strategy to ensure Austin is top-of-mind for organizations seeking meeting destinations, Brandivity can deliver international media coverage, tailor messaging for the global community, and have an on-the-ground presence with international meeting planners.
Spencer Cohen, Director of Brandivity, says, "We are excited about working with the team at the Austin CVB and look forward to communicating the wonderful opportunities the city affords."
Margo Richards, Director of Tourism for the Austin CVB, adds, "With Formula 1 coming to Austin in 2012, this is a perfect opportunity for us to enter the international meetings market. Austin will be on the world's stage like never before. Now with Brandivity's proven sales and marketing experience we are confident that Austin will be positioned for success within the MICE and Association sectors."
National industry events bring together Austin hospitality community
The Texas Hotel & Lodging Association hosted the 2011 Converge on the Capitol on February 23 at the Austin Convention Center and Texas Capitol. This annual event offered an opportunity for hospitality professionals to participate in the legislative process by becoming educated on the lodging and tourism industry's three key legislative priorities for 2011, then sitting in on meeting with key legislators as THLA representatives briefed them on the importance of the industry. Participation from all segments of the Texas hospitality community shows legislators the faces of the people their decisions affect – and helps THLA achieve success in gaining government support.
In addition, the U.S. Travel Association's National Travel & Tourism Week takes place May 7-15. Travel Rally Day is May 10. Each year, one city in each state puts together a gathering of local hospitality and tourism professionals to demonstrate travel’s impact on people, businesses and economies. Austin is hosting the 2011 event.
The goal of Travel Rally Day is to unite a community's travel workers and supporters and publicly represent the industry to media, elected officials and residents a message that travel matters to the U.S. and to the local community. The Austin CVB will be spearheading the city's local efforts; stay tuned for more information on how to get involved. For details, visit www.ustravel.org.
Customer Advisory Board Returns to Austin
The Austin CVB welcomes back our Customer Advisory Board (CAB), a group of industry leaders representing associations and meeting management firms from across the country, March 30-Apr.1. With 16 new members having been recruited for this meeting, the CAB will meet at the Renaissance Austin to provide critical feedback and insight relating to the city's growth as a premier meetings and convention destination.
These meetings of the Customer Advisory Board help to make Austin even more competitive in today's challenging convention landscape. The Bureau continues to solicit new business in vertical markets and "fit industries" (music, education, government) in order to ensure the destination's ongoing success.
Austin CVB Welcomes New Director of Eastern Regional Sales
This month, Kristen Parker joins the Austin CVB as Director of Eastern Regional Sales. Based in Washington, DC, Kristen handles national associations based in the greater DC area, as well as a portion of groups based in the northeast. She will be working with Jim Doherty in promoting and selling this critical market.
Most recently, Parker was the senior account manager for the St. Louis Union Station Marriott Hotel, focusing on the DC and Chicago national association markets. She has also served as a senior account executive with the Renaissance Austin Hotel, where she launched the hotel's first remote sales office in Washington, DC and successfully doubled the property’s revenue production from the national association market.
Throughout her career, Parker has been involved in major industry associations, including the Professional Convention Management Association and American Society of Association Executives.
