From the President

Debra Rhino HSMAI

Who put the “V” in Charlotte? Visit Charlotte, that’s who. The grand opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF)on Tuesday, May 11 was attended by the who’s who of Charlotte, loyal race fans, sponsors, carefully secured by Charlotte’s finest and lest we forget the “volunteers.” The stage was set on the grand plaza with the architectural structure as the backdrop drapes in white crowned by the ever-changing racing ribbon of red, green, blue, and yellow lights. On the stage were the dignitaries of NASCAR; master of ceremonies Tim Newman, keynote speaker Rick Hendrick, Mayor Anthony Foxx, and former Mayor Pat McCrory, to name a few.

On the plaza were uniformed individuals with khaki bottoms, burgundy polo shirts with the NHOF logo crested on the left torso, ready to usher, direct, and assist every guest for their moment in history. Visit Charlotte must have a crystal ball. For as this event was in tow, so were the preparations for their next large convention, the National Rifle Association (NRA). How strategic were these events scheduled, the opening of a landmark and valued asset to Charlotte and one of the nation’s largest member organizations hosting their annual convention the same week.

The announcement ceremony at the first dirt track by the airport when the target date was set for 2009 is a fond memory. Visit Charlotte must have moved the calendar strategically because the week of May 10, 2010 saw a bustling Center City. The “V” is for visionary in planning and marketing. The “V” is for vitality that Visit Charlotte brings to the hospitality industry and partners. The “V” is for visits that are increasing daily, weekly, monthly, and annually from the diligence of marketing Charlotte as the “friendly city” with so much to offer from aromatic and eclectic dishes to unique and interactive venues. The “V” is for the volunteers from all the various businesses and disciplines of hospitality, sales, and marketing working in partnership to welcome and cater to the guests of Charlotte.

HSMAI provides education of these vital areas and appreciates the “Vs” in Charlotte. Visit www.carolinashsmai.org for the upcoming educational focus on Revenue Management in June.

HSMAI’s ‘How-to’ Guide to Social Networking

Jennifer Jenkins Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy

Starting the season on a high note, more than 30 industry professionals from the HSMAI – Carolinas Chapter joined the LKM team on May 18 in an informative, interactive and collaborative discussion about the emerging world of social media.

Led by LKM social media guru Carrie Ochal, the discussion covered all aspects of social media, including Twitter, blogs and Facebook. During the candid conversation, participants discussed the power of the Twitterverse and blogosphere and examined how the messages conveyed in these worlds influence potential customers and brand reputations.

Blogger Heather Armstrong, better known as Dooce to her readers, became a verb in 2002 when she was fired for blogging about her job. Today, with her readership in the millions, she has the ability to influence her followers with 140 character tweets or 1,400 word blog entries.

Attendees left the discussion empowered to take control of their social media efforts and armed with the acumen to do it.

The Carolina's Chapter of HSMAI is hosting a series of educational and networking events throughout the Carolinas. To find out about upcoming events and HSMAI, go to www.carolinashsmai.org