Austin CVB Receives Industry Award
Austin CVB has been voted a winner of Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine's 23rd annual "Award of Excellence" for the tenth consecutive year. Winners are selected by the magazine's subscribers, who vote for bureaus that best serve their corporate meetings and incentive travel programs. Publication readers include more than 40,000 meeting and incentive travel planners and key executives who are responsible for making decisions about meeting locations.
Register for Austin Sports Commission Golf Classic
The Austin Sports Commission hosts the 2nd Annual Golf Classic on November 24, to raise awareness of and funds for its efforts in bringing athletic events to Austin.
Teams are invited to participate and enjoy scenic golf, live music and great food while helping to promote the region as a prime sports destination. To register, call 512-583-7258. Registration is $200 per person. The event takes place at the University of Texas Golf Club with sign-in at 10:30 a.m., lunch at 11 and a shotgun start at noon. A reception follows with catering and live music.
Austin Sports Commission books events that generate more than $50 million in economic impact every year. In October and November, Austin Sports Commission is working with the Longhorn Ironman 70.3 Austin triathlon, USBC Bowling Association 2008 Texas State Mixed Tournament, and Capital Area Tennis Associations USTA Texas Section Adult Masters Championships, among others.
New Holiday Decor for Congress Avenue
Congress Avenue is getting a new look for the holidays, starting November 15. Austin CVB is supporting the Downtown Austin Alliance in creating new daytime and nighttime elements, with LED lights, festive lamppost décor and seasonal banners. Block and post sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Lacy LaBorde, lacy@downtownaustin.com or 512-381-6267.
Austin CVB Events Celebrate Film, Nightlife, Football
Austin CVB has recently hosted events commemorating the city's reputation as a film production location, nightlife hotspot, and sports hub.
The Austin Film Commission and Austin Film Festival put on a special screening of Kings of the Evening. The film, which was shot near Austin, tells the Depression-era story of Homer Hobbs, who discovers a unique way to combat poverty: fashion. Kings of the Evening swept the San Diego Black Film Festival and is currently seeking distribution. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/kingsoftheevening.
Austin CVB's Communications Department hosted the 5th Annual Austin Cocktail Throwdown. This year's winner, Ranch 616, presented "Fire in the Hole," a unique blend of Tito's Handmade Vodka, Paula's Texas Orange and fresh squeezed lime juice – served up in a jalapeno – and chased with a "darn near frozen" Lone Star beer. Other finalists included 18th Over Austin, Marker 10, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and The Driskill Bar.
The Austin Sports Commission produced the inaugural Texas Gridiron Kickoff in August. This inaugural luncheon launched the football season and offered fans an opportunity to hear from leading members of the Central Texas football community. Emcee Craig Way, the "Voice of the Longhorns", revealed the 2008 Austin American-Statesman Preseason All-CenTex Team before ESPN Commentator, Ron Franklin, presented a panel discussion with The University of Texas Longhorns coaching staff including Mack Brown (Head Coach), Greg Davis (Offensive Coordinator) and Will Muschamp (Defensive Coordinator).
Customer Advisory Board Completes Fourth Meeting
Austin CVB recently hosted the fourth meeting of the Bureau's Customer Advisory Board (CAB), a group of industry leaders representing associations and meeting management firms from across the country. Members of the board met at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin to provide critical feedback and insight relating to the city's growth as a premier meetings and convention destination.
Since the CAB's last meeting, Austin CVB has acted on several key recommendations, including creation of "green" collateral, joint marketing with Austin Convention Center and the development of a digital marketing kit.
CAB members enjoyed an opening night dinner at TRIO at the Four Seasons. The following day, the group toured downtown Austin to learn about citywide developments. Finally, the CAB was treated to dinner at the Gibson Guitar Showroom and live music by Hot Club of Cowtown, featuring Elana Jaymes.
Promotional Opportunities for Tourism Partners
In order to promote Austin as a premier international and domestic leisure destination, area attractions and hotels can partner with Austin CVB to gain worldwide exposure via leading tour operators and destination providers.
TravelSpike: Partners can promote their own unique travel packages and offer room reservations via AustinTexas.org with TravelSpike, Austin CVB's new reservations system.
Tourico Holidays, which serves as a destination resource for more than 2,000 international tour operators and agents, markets Austin via more than 150 global tourism websites and operates in 23 languages in 100 countries.
American Tours International, North America's leading international tour operator, works with travel agents and tour providers in more than 70 countries worldwide. On the domestic side, programs are sold through AAA, which markets to a membership base of some 40 million customers.
Ultimate Golf Vacations: Canada's leading golf tour operator recently added the Texas Hill Country to its list of premier golf destinations.
Partnership opportunities are also available with ClipaTrip.com, which promotes destinations by providing discount vouchers online; FTI, which provides information to more than 12,000 German travel agencies; and Booking.com, the European leader in online hotel reservations with more than 30 million hits per month.
In addition, starting October 7, web users can check out www.southwest.com to view a unique promotion created by the Tourism Department to help area hotels and attractions gain exposure to Southwest’s diverse client base.
For more information, contact Adriana Jimenez, 512-583-7228 or ajimenez@austintexas.org.
Austin in the Media
Click here to read about Austin in The Financial Times, Meetings South, AAA's Texas Journeys, Western Living and Hispanic magazine.
