| Nashville CVB Updating Five-Year Strategic Plan The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB) is actively engaged in the strategic planning process: charting objectives and goals that will guide the organization over the next five years. The new strategic plan will be presented to the NCVB Board for approval this summer. To develop the new plan, the NCVB Board of Directors selected business and community leaders to chair working groups in each of the plan's four divisions: sales, branding, revenue and community. More than 50 industry and local leaders from across the city are engaged in sharing ideas, identifying opportunities and formulating recommendations for the NCVB Board to consider as they prepare the plan. The current plan, created in 2003, launched the Music City brand and projects such as the Music City Center, the Music City Walk of Fame, Nashville's Live Music Venue program, Brand Champions and the NCVB's interactive website.
Road Show is Huge Hit in Dallas  Nashville took its show on the road in April to court new clients and meet with current ones. More than 25 Hall of Fame partners joined NCVB staff for the three-day sales blitz in Dallas. Participants were divided into seven teams to conduct sales visits. The teams met with more than 90 clients or potential clients during the trip. Grammy-nominated, recording artist Josh Turner pitched in as well, performing for more than 200 guests at a reception held on the final night of the trip at dinner club Sambuca. Josh stuck around following his performance signing autographs, taking photos and selling Music City. Thanks to our hospitality partners, Downtown Convention Collection, and Southwest Airlines for their participation and sponsorship. New Southwest Flight beginning in May  Southwest Airlines is growing again, adding a daily, non-stop flight from Nashville to Norfolk, Va. beginning May 10. This additional flight will bring Nashville's largest carrier to 82 daily departures. For more information on this flight or others, visit www.southwest.com. |
||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industry Indicators
March's hotel occupancy rate was 64.9 percent, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to March 2007. The 2008 year-to-date occupancy rate is 59 percent, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared to last year. February hotel occupancy tax collections were $2,064,087, an increase of 12.9 percent compared to February 2007. Year-to-date hotel tax collections were $3,803,862, an increase of 11.6 percent compared to last year. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nashville CVB Launches Music Site  The Nashville CVB is giving visitors a backstage pass to the city's music scene via a new, interactive music website. The site offers users an in-depth look at music in music's hometown with an interactive media player featuring music and video from multiple genres. Additional enhancements include live music venue showcases, songwriter profiles and a live music map that will engage visitors and promote the Music City brand. In the coming months, the NCVB will add an insider blog on Nashville's music scene, an online music store and a new feature that will allow visitors to post stories and photos sharing their Music City experiences. Visit the new music site at www.visitmusiccity.com/music. |
| The CVB Sales, Marketing & Membership Teams: Sales The Sales team went to Travel South in Biloxi and Heartland Travel in Milwaukee. The teams returned with 49 contacts and 44 leads from Travel South and 34 contacts and 33 leads from Heartland Travel. Sales conducted over 90 sales calls during the Dallas Road Show. (see "Road Show is Huge Hit in Dallas" story below) . Key bookings for the month include the following: Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association with 10,115 total room nights, Hewlett Packard Company with 13,411 total room nights and the American Association of Equine Practitioners with 10,715 total room nights. Marketing The CVB Marketing staff worked with Hudson News to start carrying Music City merchandise in its retail store at the Nashville International Airport. Marketing coordinated a radio promotion with 45 djs from the top country radio stations across the nation to broadcast live from Nashville in conjuction with the release of Phil Vassar's new cd. The marketing staff created and marketed new vacation packages around the CMT Awards Show, CMA Music Fest and July 4th weekend. Marketing team members have redesigned and updated Nashville's Points of Interest Map to make it more user-friendly. Thanks to Gray Line for their sponsorship. |
Upcoming Member Events New Member Orientation & Branding Session Tuesday, May 13, 200811:15 a.m. NCVB Boardroom - 150 Fourth Ave. North, Suite G-250 Learn how you can make the most of your NCVB membership at the New Member Orientation, then hear from our creative marketing staff about ways you can incorporate the Music City brand into your business. Lunch will be provided by Demos' Steak and Spaghetti House. 11:15-11:45 a.m. - Lunch 11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m. - New Member Orientation 1-2 p.m. - Branding Session Sell Nashville Meeting May 22, 2008 7:45 - 9 a.m. NCVB Boardroom Network with your colleagues and learn about upcoming events, new exhibits, renovations and other industry news from hospitality professionals across the city. Nashville Backstage Training June 11, 2008 2 - 3 p.m. NCVB Boardroom A complimentary training program designed to educate NCVB members on what Music City has to offer in regards to attractions, events, tours, restaurants and nightlife. Membership Invitation If you know a company that would benefit from an NCVB membership, please let us know. We will be happy to contact them. Chris Brown, Vice President of Membership 615-259-4751 or chris@visitmusiccity.com For a complete listing of our new members as well as existing member businesses, visit our online membership section at www.visitmusiccity.com/members. |
Brand Champion  With guitars lining the lobby walls, cool music prints in each room and live entertainment in the lounge, visitors to Music City and Hotel Indigo will have no trouble connecting the city and its brand. Nashville's trendy new Hotel Indigo has done an amazing job of incorporating the Music City brand into its offerings and its decor. Congratulations to our May Brand Champion - Hotel Indigo. |
Hit of the Month  Celebrate with the gift of music. Throughout the month of May, Nashville's Visitor Centers are featuring hand-crafted or hand-painted ceramic, music-themed platters for the entertainer in your family. The platters are 20% off for the entire month. This discount cannot be combined with any other special offer. |
