Music City Walk of Fame Inducts Sophomore Class!


Music City, Inc. inducted the second class of six artists into the the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by Gibson Guitar, April 22, 2007 on Nashville's Music Mile. This sophomore class of inductees included: The Crickets, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Wynonna Judd, Frances Preston and Michael W. Smith. The public was invited and fans of every artist came out to enjoy the ceremony which was held in Hall of Fame Park. The six honorees were recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers during the ceremony sponsored by Great American Country (GAC). The permanent sidewalk medallions are made of stainless steel and terrazzo, and display each honoree's name in a star-and-guitar design. Nominations are now open for the next class of honorees! Visit http://www.visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame to read more about the members of the Walk of Fame and download a nomination form for the November class.


Music City Visits the Windy City

The Chicago Road Show was conducted April 2-4 with NCVB Hall of Fame partners, including hoteliers and representatives from Destination Management Companies. Seven teams spent three days in Chicago meeting with potential clients for Nashville as well as groups already booked for a future meeting in Music City. A total of 59 appointments were completed and to date four leads have been generated for 10,089 total room nights. In addition, the Public Relations staff held six media appointments which included the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Ebony magazine. The sounds of Music City could be heard throughout the Windy City as songwriter James Dean Hicks performed for and wrote a Nashville themed song with several potential clients. On the final night of the road show, clients were treated to a private concert with Universal South recording artist Phil Vassar showcasing the uniqueness of Nashville - Music City.


Mayoral Candidates Speak Out on Tourism

In conjunction with the Greater Nashville Hotel & Lodging Association, the Nashville CVB held a luncheon featuring a question & answer session with all six candidates running for Mayor of Nashville. Each candidate was given three minutes for an opening and closing statement and each answered four randomly drawn questions related to the tourism industry. Every Mayoral candidate supported the building of a new downtown convention center and each agreed the Music City brand is vital to the city as a tourist destination. Candidates also agreed that funding the city's promotion of tourism to the fullest extent allowed under state law using local hotel tax dollars was in the best interest of the city.

 

Convention Sales
Jan 06 Feb 07 Mar 07 Total
Leads 93 122 87 302
Bookings 5 22 68 95
Room Nights 2,422 22,525 66,575 91,522

Tourism Sales
Jan 06 Feb 07 Mar 07 Total
Leads 37 139 56 232
Room Nights 5,209 8,553 21,766 35,528

Marketing Activity
Jan 06 Feb 07 Mar 07 Total
Unique Visitors to Website 76,762 82,634 91,643 251,039
Articles Generated 73 39 42 154
Circulation 7,185,784 4,388,987 18,432,075 30,006,846
RMN Booked Online 226 145 332 703

Industry Indicators

March hotel occupancy was 71.3%, a increase of 1.4% compared to March 2006.

YTD hotel occupancy was 61.3%, a decrease of 0.5% compared to YTD last year.



March hotel tax collections were $1,827,846.53, an increase of 2.9% compared to March 2006.

Fiscal YTD collections were $15,825,796.43, an increase of 10.5% compared to this time last year.

 


Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center has been chosen as Brand Champion for the month of May. Gaylord Opryland has embraced the Music City brand and incorporated it into their renovation of the property. A guitar case and guitar are prominent in signs throughout the hotel explaining to guests the plans for the upgrades. The music theme is also being used in news releases, construction-barriers and bus wraps. Arthur Keith, senior vice president and general manager, stated in a recent issue of Nashville Business Journal that, "we're (Gaylord) working to embrace all kinds of music here - we're not just a country-themed hotel." Thank you for carrying out Music City's brand!

 



If you have live music in your venue at least four days a week, then make sure our visitors know. Call Allie Hardee at (615) 259-4734 or email her at allie@visitmusiccity.com to order your guitar pick sign today.



The CVB Sales, Marketing & Membership Teams:

• Participated in three FAM trips in the month of March bringing 33 attendees to Nashville. Two of the three trips were in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourism for Virgin Holidays Limited and Cosmos Tours and the third trip partnered with Gaylord Opryland Resort Travel Industry Sales for Canadian tour operators.

• Attended the Tennessee Sampler Sales Mission in Florida along with various Tennessee attractions and tourism offices. The staff visited 13 travel and AAA offices around the state. The CVB made 58 total contacts during the trip.

• Hosted, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Tourism, a reception during the Parenting Publications of America convention for editors and staff writers from over 60 Parenting Publications across the country.

• Attended Destination Showcase in Washington, D.C. This tradeshow produced 26 leads for 6300 total room nights and made contact with 52 clients.

• Booked key meetings for March including: National Guard Bureau in May 2007 for 3400 total room nights, Net Impact in November 2007 for 3100 total room nights, Curves International in November 2009 for 5100 total room nights, National Middle School Association in October 2014 for 9000 total room nights and Fiber to the Home Council in September 2008 for 3200 total room nights.

• Promoted Awesome April to attract visitors through print advertising campaigns, CVB web site promotions, a press tour bringing in 12 journalists from around the country, creating rack cards and posters and sending out a press release announcing Awesome April events.

• Proposed a visitor information sign that will wrap around the Arena Tower and increase visibility of the Visitor Center. The wrap was approved by Sports Authority on March 16.

• Held an "Art is Good Business" collaborative event with Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Conducted a membership sales phone blitz with volunteers from the Membership Advisory Board

• Sold a presenting sponsorship to Southwest Airlines and smaller level sponsorships for Music City July 4th: Let Freedom Sing event to offset expenses.

UPCOMING ITEMS:

The sales team will be attending Christian Meetings and Conventions Association, Society of Government Meeting Planners and Annual Meetings. Nashville will also be hosting the Georgia Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting.

Closing of sales for Music City Coupon Book for 2007-08

Printing 2nd edition of 2007 Music City Vacation Guide - Available June 1

May 6-8 - Music City Leadership Study Mission in Washington, D.C./Baltimore

May 16-20 - Hosting a press tour with 12 journalists from across the country

May 24 - Chairman's Lunch at Sambuca with NCVB Lead Investors



Membership Advisory Board members invite fellow business associates to join the NCVB. Currently the NCVB is celebrating over 300 members in its first year.

Ray Dayal, Nashville Hospitality Concepts (Advisory Board Vice-Chair)
Patricia Paiva, Aurora Bakery
Arthur Keith, Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center (Advisory Board Chair)
John Reynolds, Radisson Airport Hotel
Sandra Duncan, Metro Arts Commission

May 24
President's/Chairman's Lunch - Sambuca
Investors - Double Platinum, Hall of Fame and Strategic Partners
RVSP to Fatima: Fatima@visitmusiccity.com

June 14
New Member Orientation “Beyond the Benefits” and Branding Session - NCVB Boardroom
11:30-12:45pm and 1-2pm
RSVP to Fatima: Fatima@visitmusiccity.com

June 21
Creating Applause: Hospitality industry customer service training - NCVB Boardroom
3-5pm
RSVP to Fatima: Fatima@visitmusiccity.com

Membership Invitation
Please email Melinda Judd if you know a company that would benefit from an NCVB Membership. We will be happy to contact them!
Melinda Judd, VP of Membership
615-259-4751 / Melinda@visitmusiccity.com
Fatima Thompson, Member Services
615-259-4744 / Fatima@visitmusiccity.com

View the list of NCVB Members.


Whether you listen to music on your MP3 player or turntable, the Music to Check Out notepad has everything you need to feed your passion for music. You can keep track of new tunes you want to hear, write your own music reviews, and create playlists. Also included is a resource section with a list of web sites to explore and a place to record your top radio stations. Music to Check Out is a must and a great gift for any music lover. The Hit of the Month for May is 20% off the regular price of $10.99.