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Noteworthy
Austin Ranks Among America's Top Cities―Travel + Leisure magazine and CNN Headline News have released the 2007 survey of "America's Favorite Cities." After ranking second among favorite cities in the 2004 poll, Austin again appears among the country's most popular destinations. Travelers are asked to vote for their favorites at both wwww.cnn.com/travel and www.travelandleisure.com/afc. Voting continues through July 15. Survey results will be announced on CNN Headline News and via the websites on Oct. 10, as well as in the November issue of Travel + Leisure.
On the Move at the CVB―Austin CVB recently announced the hire and promotion of staff in the Convention Sales and Convention Services departments. Meredith Brown joins the organization as account director for eastern regional sales. Experience in coordinating meetings for Destination Marketing Association International and for the American Council of Engineering Companies gives her a personal awareness of clients' needs from the meeting planner's point of view.
ACVB also announces the promotion of Lindsey Thomas, who formerly served as convention sales coordinator, to executive meetings manager, effective June 11. In her new role, Thomas will book short-term meetings for groups based in the western region of the country.
Convention Services welcomes Betsy Richardson as the new convention services manager. Richardson's recent experience as a legal assistant for Terry Bryant, LLP, provides her with exceptional skills in organization, project leadership and client management.
ABIA Flies Above the Rest―Corporate Meetings & Incentives takes a look at how air travel impacts the meeting and conventions market in the June feature, "Wild Ride." The article positions Austin as a unique second-tier meeting destination with good airlift and an appeal as a smaller destination that saves attendees from spending long hours in transit. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) now links passengers to 46 destinations (36 outside of Texas) on nonstop flights. With a projected 7.6 percent increase in available capacity in 2007, ABIA is cited as one of the five biggest "seat movers" among the 50 largest US airports, having recently welcomed ExpressJet, JetBlue and AeroMexico to the runways. American Airlines has added nonstop flights to Seattle and Orange County. Summer vacationers can also fly directly to Cancun via FunJet Vacations.
AeroMexico Increases Nonstop Service to Mexico City―Aeromexico, Mexico's largest airline, announced that it will increase its service between Austin and Mexico City from the current four times weekly service to daily flights, starting July 9. In addition to the frequency increase, the AeroMexico will switch aircraft to the more efficient Embraer RJ-145. Flights will depart Austin daily at 3:00 p.m., arriving in Mexico City at 5:10 p.m. For more information, visit
www.aeromexico.com.
June Heats Up with Sports―From volleyball to cycling, athletes take to the court, field and street to compete during a busy month of sports events. More than 5,000 athletes visit Austin in June to generate at least $2.2 million in economic impact for the city.
Austin Junior Volleyball returns to the Austin Convention Center on June 8 for the annual Third Coast Championship tournament. Some 3,000 participants and attendees bump, set and spike their way to a championship title. The Great American Shootout, AT&T Austin Downtown Crit cycling event and Subaru Urban Assault Challenge bring an additional 2,000 visitors.
Educational Conferences Exchange Ideas―More than 7,500 attendees of educational conferences arrive over their summer break to hone their knowledge. From June 13-15, the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association meet at the Austin Convention Center and Renaissance Austin Hotel. Their combined presence welcomes some 4,700 attendees and generates an estimated economic impact of more than $6 million.
On June 22-23, the Christian Home Education Association brings 1,500 people to the Palmer Events Center for the 20th Annual Home Educators Conference and Book Fair. Another 2,000 attendees are expected for the 2007 Texas Girls Coaches Association Annual Convention at the Austin Convention Center, July 10-13.
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Austin Ranks Among America's Top Cities
