Nashville Named America's Friendliest City
Nashville has once again been crowned America’s Friendliest City by Travel + Leisure magazine. The same rankings also listed the city second in the nation for live music and concerts, and fourth for an affordable getaway.

The publication’s annual America’s Favorite Cities rankings asks readers to rate 30 U.S. cities based on culture, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and more. The survey is conducted each summer and reported in October. Nashville was previously recognized as America’s Friendliest City in 2004 and 2005.

The 2009 rankings also listed Nashville among the Top 10 cities for safety, affordable hotels, bed & breakfasts, singles/bar scene and wild weekends.

Approved by Council, New Convention Center Authority Begins Work
The Metro Council confirmed each of Mayor Dean’s appointments to the city’s new Convention Center Authority last week. The nine-member board, led by Marty Dickens, will oversee construction and operation of the proposed new downtown convention center.

Convention Center Authority members are Mark Arnold, co-owner of Gray Line Nashville; Marty Dickens, former president of AT&T Tennessee; Darrell Drumwright, senior pastor of The Temple Church; Ken Levitan, co-president and founder of Vector Management; Vonda McDaniel, benefits representative for the United Steel Workers Local 1055; William McDonald, a veteran banker and chairman of the current convention center commission; Luke Simons, former senior managing director with UBS Financial Services; Mona Lisa Warren, a freelance event coordinator; and Leo Waters, a former Metro councilman and NES board chairman.

Get Your Music City Specialty License Plate Today
Express your love for music and the city it calls home with a new Music City specialty license plate designed by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB) to benefit the organization’s Music City, Inc. foundation. Applications for the plate, which will feature the city’s signature branded red music note, are currently being accepted.

There is a $36 registration deposit required for each vehicle you wish to tag using a Music City-branded plate. Tennessee residents wishing to purchase a new Music City plate can fill out a form online at www.visitmusiccity.com/licenseplate or print the form and mail it with their $36 check to the address at the bottom of that form. Forms are also available at Regions Bank branches throughout the city.

Industry Indicators
August’s hotel occupancy rate was 54.8 percent, a decrease of 12.9 percent compared to August 2008.

The 2009 year-to-date occupancy rate is 57 percent, a decrease of 10.2 percent compared to last year.

July hotel tax collections were $1,850,177, a decrease of 18.1 percent compared to July 2008.

The 2009 year-to-date collections are $12,799,812, a decrease of 16.95 percent compared to last year.

Brand Champion
Our October Brand Champion promotes the Music City brand on every piece of merchandise they sell and every marketing material they produce. Nashville Coffee & Co. has made the music brand an integral part of their identity by incorporating it into their company logo using a guitar and Nashville skyline image to flank the business name. It’s a great sales tool for a great Music City company. Congratulations to Nashville Coffee & Company – our October Brand Champion!

Upcoming Events
Nashville Backstage Training
November 4
2-3:30pm
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.

Sales Training
Topic: “Prospecting in a Down Economy”
November 19
12-1pm
NCVB Boardroom

Conventions & Meetings Calendar