Texas Gridiron Kickoff presented by USA Football Launches 2010 Football Season
In anticipation of another action-packed football season, the Austin Sports Commission hosts the third annual Texas Gridiron Kickoff presented by USA Football, featuring University of Texas Longhorns Head Coach Mack Brown, on August 5 at the Austin Convention Center. Three levels of participation are available. Individual tickets are $55 per person. A table of 10 (general seating) is $500. Or, for those interested in a close encounter with an up-and-coming football star, sponsorships of $750 are available for preferred seating with an Austin American-Statesman Preseason All Centex Team player. Registration information is available at www.austinsports.org.
The event launches the season and offers fans an opportunity to rally around leading members of the Central Texas football community. A drum line and cheerleaders set the mood as guests arrive. Craig Way, the "Voice of the Longhorns," serves as emcee and reveals the 2010 Austin American-Statesman Preseason All-Centex Team as he details the upcoming Central Texas high school football season. ESPN Commentator, Ron Franklin, moderates the keynote presentation, a panel discussion with The University of Texas Longhorns coaching staff Mack Brown (Head Coach), Greg Davis (Offensive Coordinator) and Will Muschamp (Defensive Coordinator) about the upcoming Longhorns season and what fans can expect to see from the team.
Austin Rocks the Big Apple BBQ Block Party
The Austin CVB brought the Live Music Capital of the World® to New York City for the Big Apple BBQ Block Party in Madison Square Park last month. By sponsoring the stage, the Bureau helped book four Austin bands (Bob Schneider, Carolyn Wonderland, Nick Curran & the Lowlifes, and The Derailers) for the annual event, which welcomes more than 120,000 people over two days. In addition, Austin CVB staff manned an Austin booth, distributing information about Texas' capital city and sharing travel tips. Attendees registered to win a Gibson® SG Special guitar, a trip to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, or a trip to the Austin Film Festival. Hotel Saint Cecilia and The County Line also partnered by providing discounts or comps to Big Apple BBQ guests, and the Austin-based social media outlet, Gowalla, produced a special badge for guests to check in at the Austin booth. Visit our YouTube Channel to check out what people are saying about Austin at the BBQ.
While in New York, Bureau staff also met with leading national media from such outlets as Every Day with Rachael Ray, Successful Meetings and Meeting News, Brides, Lucky, Budget Travel and Esquire in order to garner editorial coverage. Keep an eye out for Austin in each of these publications!
Austin CVB launches mobile marketing tools
Now visitors can find information about Austin via Austin CVB's new mobile website and iPhone application that serve as instant, interactive guides to the city.
Austin CVB's mobile website, available on smartphones at www.austintexas.org, welcomes visitors to browse hotel, restaurant and attraction listings and discover discounts by joining the Austin Insiders Club. Users can also click to purchase Austin music, check a calendar of events and link directly to the Bureau's booking engine to make accommodation and tour reservations.
The Austin iPhone application, the Austin Guide, is available for free from the iTunes app store. Users can download the program to search and find out where to stay, dine, tour, hear live music and more. Visitors can also use the app to book tours and accommodations and listen to "Austin Music Volume 9" to explore the sounds of Austin's vibrant live music scene.
The Bureau continues to communicate directly with visitors via the social media outlets, twitter, facebook and YouTube.
Austin CVB sells Texas' capital city in Chicago
Austin CVB sales representatives recently visited Chicago in order to increase awareness of Austin as a premiere meeting and convention destination, generate leads, and maintain face-to-face relationships with association and corporation clients based in the area.
In addition to hosting 50 sales calls, the Bureau hosted an Austin event, which nearly 50 meeting professionals attended. The luncheon featured a keynote address by Martin Stoll, founder of the GoSeeTell Network, a leading social media firm for the travel industry. Danny Malone provided live music.
Rob Hampton, vice president of sales for the Austin CVB, reports that 60 percent of appointments hosted represented new business opportunities for Austin, including three city-wide leads. The trip solicited nearly 500,000 room nights.
Austin CVB Annual Luncheon Report
The Austin CVB recently welcomed nearly 700 members of the local hospitality community to recognize the power of travel and tourism during the Bureau's fourth Annual Luncheon. The program kicked off with a sold-out educational seminar led by Martin Stoll, founder of the GoSeeTell Network, on how hospitality and travel industry professionals can gain measurable ROI from social media. The luncheon keynote was delivered by by Philip Wolf, founder and CEO of PhoCusWright (one of the world's leading travel research firms), and followed an address by Mayor Lee Leffingwell, who presented the winner of the Austin High School photography contest.
In addition, Bob Lander, president and CEO of the Austin CVB, presented the Bruce Walcutt Spirit of Hospitality Award to former Austin CVB Board Chair, Glenn West. In his 23 years serving the Austin hospitality community, West has served as president and CEO of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, where he led efforts to grow and diversify the local economy, among other leading local roles. His passion and advocacy for Austin, as well as his strong community involvement and collaborative spirit, have assisted the Austin CVB in building and nurturing relationships with community leaders, thus significantly increasing local awareness of the impact of the convention and travel industry.
Austin CVB welcomes new staff
Margo Richards has joined the Austin CVB has director of tourism marketing. In this role, Richards oversees the Bureau's international marketing efforts, and also manages group tour sales and leisure travel promotions. Richards most recently served as public relations coordinator for the Texas Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism, where she developed and advocated for domestic and international travel to the U.S. She also has experience with the Texas Historical Commission.
The Austin CVB also welcomes Lori Whidden as convention services manager and Narissa Trammell as convention services coordinator. Whidden works with inbound meeting and convention groups to connect them with the city's premier off-site venues, restaurants, vendors and service providers. Trammell supports the Convention Services department by providing client services and maintaining databases.
Austin Shines at Americana Music Conference and Festival
Austin musicians and the Texas music industry bring the Live Music Capital of the World® to the Americana Music Conference and Festival, Sept. 8-11. Austin artists highlight musical showcases, and fans can catch 100 additional shows throughout the weekend including performances by Mickey and the Motorcars, Hayes Carll, Sarah Jarosz, and more. Texas has a major presence at this year’s festival and conference, as Patty Griffin, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ryan Bingham, Steve Earle and the Band of Heathens have been nominated for Americana Music Association Honors and Awards. For ticket information and a full conference schedule, visit www.americanamusic.org. For more information on Austin music, visit www.austintexas.org/music.
Austin grows as a film and television production destination
"My Generation," a documentary-style show that revisits a group of high-schoolers ten years after they finish their senior year at an Austin high school, is currently filming in Austin. The Austin Film Commission, a division of the Austin CVB, reports that "My Generation" is the second major network television show to film in the area, following NBC's "Friday Night Lights." "My Generation" will be part of ABC's primetime lineup this fall. For more information, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/my-generation.
In addition to this new project, recent shows filmed in Austin have been nominated for 17 total Emmy® Awards. Friday Night Lights actors Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama, respectively. The HBO Original Film, "Temple Grandin" received 15 total nominations, including Best Made for Television Movie and Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Claire Danes).
Austin lift increases with new flights to Kansas City, New York
American Airlines inaugurated nonstop service to New York's JFK airport on July 2. They are the third provider to fly nonstop to the New York City area; JetBlue also flies to JFK and Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Austin CVB, offers nonstops to Newark. Earlier this month, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials also announced that Frontier Airlines offers nonstop service from Austin to Kansas City, starting Nov. 18. The flight easily connects passengers to the 13 other destinations serviced nonstop by Frontier, from Kansas City. Fares are currently available at www.frontierairlines.com. For more information, visit www.abia.org.
