Meeting News - February 16, 2009 - (Page 31)

40 Asheville Greensboro 85 95 Boone Winston Salem Durham High Point Chapel Hill Raleigh 77 85 Pinehurst 64 Charlotte Fayetteville 40 Wilmington Wrightsville Beach Cape Hatteraas NORTH CAROLINA Raleigh Drives Forward with Its New Taxicab Regulations Raleigh officials soon will formalize proposed changes to taxi regulations meant to make cabs cleaner and more hospitable, said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau. The regulations govern over 100 cab companies in the Raleigh-Durham area. The changes, which the GRCVB submitted recently to city officials with the support of local taxi inspectors and cab companies, are part of a citywide effort to improve customer service in Raleigh’s hospitality industry, Edwards said. “From a regulation and enforcement standpoint, what we want to do is bring some consistency to our taxicabs,” Edwards said. “For many visitors, their first touch point in Raleigh—where they get their first, and many times last, impression—is at the airport when they get in a cab. We want to make sure that our convention delegates have a great experience the entire time they’re here.” Among other things, GRCVB’s suggested regulations would require Raleigh cab companies to inspect their cars on a daily basis, allow only vehicles less than five years old on the road, enforce a minimum dress code for taxi drivers, outfit all of their taxis with GPS navigation systems, mandate that their drivers accept credit cards from customers, and create a better record system for handling customer complaints. “Ninety-five percent of our cabs are in great condition; this will weed out the bad apples so we can improve our visitor experience,” said Edwards. With New Ads, Charlotte Tells Groups It’s ‘Got a Lot’ The Charlotte Regional Visitors Association (CRVA) has debuted five new visuals as part of its ongoing “Charlotte’s got a lot” advertising campaign. The ads showcase Charlotte as a world-class destination. “We’re proud to unveil these new ads that bring to life all that the region has to offer,” said Gina Sheridan, CRVA senior director of marketing and visual communications. “For potential visitors, we hope each one strikes a chord, where they see Charlotte is for fun, kicking back, retail therapy, or cultural gems. No matter the audience, the region has a lot in store.” Among the five new “Charlotte’s got a lot” visuals is one for groups and conventions: “Discover a lot.” The ad reads: “Look closely at Charlotte and you’ll discover a lot. A lot of gardens to tour. A lot of museums and galleries to browse. And a lot of world-class, group-friendly sites to experience along the way.” I TEXAS GULF COAST Galveston Island’s Preferred Meeting Destination! The Premier Resort on the W hen planning a meeting on Galveston Island, ensure your event’s success by choosing the Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort. It’s quite simply the ﬁnest facility on the Texas Gulf Coast. Home to some of the most prestigious annual conferences, conventions and executive-level meetings, the 140,000 square-foot Convention Center features 16 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and stunning Gulf views. Add to this the personalized service of an outstanding team of dedicated professionals as well as the adjoining luxuries of The San Luis Resort, Hilton Galveston Island and Holiday Inn Resort on the Beach—offering a combined inventory of 700 guestrooms and suites, eleven resort restaurants and bars, an award-winning spa and other world-class amenities. Ideally located across from the beach on Seawall Boulevard, the Convention Center is only 40 minutes from major airline transportation. At the Galveston Convention Center you will create not only an event, but a productive and memorable experience. www.galvestonhilton.com www.sanluisresort.com www.holidayinn.com For more information, please contact our sales professionals http://www.galvestonhilton.com http://www.holidayinn.com http://www.sanluisresort.com

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Meeting News - February 16, 2009

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