As we stated at our 2008 Annual Meeting, there are a number of new initiatives beginning to take shape here at the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. In this edition, we would like to update you on our new web site, www.CincyUSA.com, our sales missions and our More in 24 customer events. We are continuing to build the momentum and look forward to creating more excitement in Cincinnati USA.

Best Regards,

Dan Lincoln,
President & CEO Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau

 

New CVB Web Site The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau's new, re-engineered, re-imaged web site, Cincyusa.com is up and running, and we want you, our members and partners, to be among the first to see it. Although it has been active for a few weeks, we will officially launch the site at the CVB Member Orientation on April 16.  The new site is designed for meeting planners, and was built with research and direct input from meeting planners themselves. Your Member Listing on CincyUSA.com Before we officially announce it to meeting planners and the public, please take a look around the site. Especially note the Member Directory section, where each of our active members and partners is listed with a picture, description, contact information and link to your site. All of our listings were created from the information the CVB currently has for you. If you would like to update any part of it, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Belinda Wunsch at BWunsch@CincyUSA.com If you would like to submit a new picture, it should be a low resolution jpg, and generally square in shape. We can format it and crop it for you. The picture size in member listings is 108 x 108 pixels. New pictures should be emailed to Ross Czarnik at RCzarnik@CincyUSA.com The new www.CincyUSA.com highlights many of the city's new developments in a technologically progressive format, echoing that Cincinnati USA is a unique and exciting destination. It works to create a visual impression with a fresh, modern presence that enhances Cincinnati USA's marketing efforts. It incorporates dramatic "wow" imagery, from sweeping skylines to a busy Fountain Square to the new Duke Energy Center facade, among others. This combination of full functionality, interactive features, a clean, accessible design, and prominent use of the Plan for More marketing messages, creates a web site that stands out among destinations. We look forward to sharing it with you.

More in 24 is shaping up to be a 'Masterpiece' The year's first More in 24 customer event is April 17-18. The impressive attendee list includes meeting planners from business trade associations, government and third-party meeting planning companies who represent hundreds of potential meetings. The theme of this More in 24 customer event is Cincinnati USA is a Masterpiece. It is meant to showcase Cincinnati's unique and impressive offsite venues. The planners arrive throughout the morning on April 17, and the opening lunch will begin at noon at Jean-Robert at Pigall's. A city tour follows, with a special stop at Skyline Chili for a taste with the mayor. For the evening's WOW event, we have an exciting progressive-style dinner in some of Cincinnati USA's acclaimed arts and architectural institutions. We will begin with a distinctive and themed cocktail party at the Duke Energy Center. The group will then travel to the Cincinnati Museum of Art for dinner's first course. After enjoying the museum, the group will travel to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal for a unique dinner experience in the rotunda and dessert in the museum. The dates for future FAMs will be held on June 26-27, August 5-6, and October 30-31.

March Sales Mission to Washington, DC Team Cincinnati USA, comprised of our sales team and the top leadership of our downtown hotels and convention center, traveled to Washington, DC March 11-13 on a Sales Mission to visit with our top customer prospects to educate them about the benefits of booking their next meeting in Cincinnati. While there, Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney joined us for a private luncheon event at the historic Hay Adams hotel (located next to the White House) with more than 30 customers. Both the mayor and city manager were extremely engaged in presenting why Cincinnati is an ideal location for their next meeting. During the afternoon event, they entertained questions and spent a lot of time with our customers, which included high profile individuals such as Ana Aponte-Curtis of the NAACP, among other top prospects. Our community's next sales mission will be May 19-21 in Chicago. From left to right:  Michel Sheer, General Manager of Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Ana Aponte-Curtis, Director, Events Planning for NAACP, Mayor Mark Mallory, City Manager Milton Dohoney, Dan Lincoln, President & CEO of Cincinnati USA CVB & Ric Booth, General Manager of the Duke Energy Center