In this issue...

Features

CVB Kicks Off “Dayton Drives Excitement!” 2005 Campaign
Meeting Planner Wins 2-Year Dayton Made Buick Rainier SUV Lease

The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau has begun a promotional campaign for convention planners, the winner of which takes ownership of a two-year lease for an SUV, made and provided by the GM Moraine Assembly Plant.
         The "Dayton Drives Excitement!" campaign is open to planners who book a convention, reunion, social or company event in Dayton or Montgomery County for 2005 or any future year.  Events must utilize a minimum of 50 peak Montgomery County hotel room nights and hotel and facility contracts must be signed by December 15, 2005.
         The contest is being run in partnership with the General Motors assembly plant in Moraine. GM is supplying the lease to a 2006 Buick Rainier SUV, which will be produced at the Moraine Assembly Plant.  In addition to the two-year lease the CVB’s “Dayton Drives Excitement!” campaign also offers the opportunity to win two free airline tickets.  By simply issuing a Request For Proposal with the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau, event planners are entered into a drawing to win two free airline tickets (in the continental U.S.) from Dayton, The Birthplace of Aviation! 
        "There is fierce competition among cities and communities throughout the nation for convention, meeting and event business," states Jacquelyn Y. Powell, President & CEO of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau, “and the promotional campaign is a means to ‘differentiate us from the competition.’ “
        The bureau hosted the competition in 2004 as well.  Jeffrey Farmer, president of the Open Bible Standard Churches, won a free two-year lease to a 2005 Buick Rainier SUV.  Mr. Farmer’s name was drawn in December 2004 and he was awarded his new vehicle at a ceremony at Reichard Buick Pontiac dealership in Dayton in January 2005. His group contracted to hold his organization's annual meeting this July at the Dayton Marriott Hotel. An estimated 800 people will be in attendance, generating nearly 1,000 room nights usage.
        For more information on how you can become eligible to win a free two-year lease on a Buick Rainier or win two free airline tickets contact the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 937-226-8211 or log onto www.daytoncvb.com. 

Hamvention Commits To Dayton Through 007

The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce that Dayton Hamvention has signed contracts to host their event at the Hara Complex in 2005, 2006 and 2007. 

“Hamvention is an exciting and important event for our city and has a significant economic impact on our local economy,” says Jacquelyn Y. Powell, President/CEO of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “Annually Hamvention has an estimated economic impact of close to $4 million for Montgomery County and nearly $10 million regionally.  The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau congratulates Hamvention on their success and thanks them for making a commitment to stay in the community through 2007.”

“Last May we promised that we would do all we could to keep Hamvention here in its birthplace of Dayton, Ohio” stated Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, Dayton Hamvention General Chairman. 

“Dayton is our home.  It is where the Dayton Hamvention belongs and it is where the Dayton Hamvention will stay,” added Assistant General Chairman Jim Nies, WX8F.
          Hamvention, the world’s largest amateur radio gathering, brings nearly 25,000 people to the greater Dayton area each year.  Hamvention event attendees utilize hotel rooms throughout Montgomery County as well as surrounding counties such as Miami, Greene and Warren.  The three-day May convention includes exhibits, a flea market, forums and education sessions.

For more information about Dayton Hamvention 2005 (scheduled for May 20-22), visit the website at www.hamvention.org or e-mail media@hamvention.org. 

Executive Director Emeritus of National Aviation Hall of Fame Coordinates Operation Welcome Home

The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau wishes Col. Mike Jackson, Executive Director Emeritus of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (and CVB board member) the best of luck in his new endeavors coordinating Operation Welcome Home—a simultaneous nation-wide parade for Vietnam Veterans—slated for Veterans Day Weekend 2005.  For more information log onto www.lasvegasaero.com or  www.nakedindanang.com

President's Corner

On behalf of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau----Happy New Year!

2005 holds special promise for Dayton for a variety of reasons.

2005 marks the 200th anniversary of Dayton’s official incorporation as a city.  As a community we can be proud of the prolific legacies of invention and innovation with which Daytonians have positively impacted the world.  In the relatively speaking “short” span of 200 years we have brought the world flight, electric car starters, the cash register, computer precursors and more.

In 2005 Dayton will offer much to the world in terms of cultural and sports entertainment ranging from an outstanding exhibit, “The Quest For Immortality:  Treasures of Ancient Egypt,” at the Dayton Art Institute to the USGA Senior Open at NCR Country Club.

Nearly every golf enthusiasts’ favorite---the USGA. Senior Open---will be hosted July 28-31, 2005 at the NCR Country Club’s South Course.  Tournament hosts Jack and Barbara Nicklaus will be on hand to welcome such golf legends as Chi Chi Rodriquez and Raymond Floyd.  The championship, for golfers age 50 and older, will be played at NCR Country Club, which has a rich history of hosting prestigious golf events, including two USGA national championships.  Designed by Dick Wilson and opened in 1954, the South course at NCR has been the site of the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Jane Geddes; the 1998 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by John ‘Spider’ Miller; and the 1969 PGA Championship, won by Raymond Floyd.  Tickets can be purchased by logging on to www.ussenioropen.com.

2005 will also offer Daytonians and visitors a rare opportunity to step back in time 3,000 years to ancient Egypt ---------1550-332 B.C.  The renowned Egyptian exhibit “The Quest For Immortality:  Treasures of Ancient Egypt” will be on exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute September 1, 2005—January 3, 2006.  Discover the allure of the ancient Egyptians and their quest to achieve immortality in an exhibition featuring the largest selection of antiquities ever loaned by Egypt for display in North America. More than 100 treasures from the resting places of kings and nobles---massive stone carvings, intricately painted coffins, gold death masks, and stunning glassware---provide a glimpse into a fascinating society.

And as if these few 2005 highlights weren’t reason enough to visit Dayton----the CVB is running a special “Dayton Drives Excitement” Campaign in 2005.  YOU could win a FREE two-year lease on a 2006 Dayton-made Buick Rainier SUV or two free airline tickets for travel in the continental U.S.   Call the CVB today for more information.

Best wishes for a truly prosperous 2005 in Dayton/Montgomery County!

 Jacquelyn Y. Powell

Fast Facts/News

• Coming Soon...the Drury Inn & Suites Dayton!  This 180-room property is the first of its kind in the area and is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2005 at I-75 and Benchwood Lane. 
• March Madness hits Dayton with the NCAA Men's Play-In Game between teams #64 and #65 hosted at the University of Dayton Arena Tuesday, March 15th.  For tickets call 937-229-4433. 
• The IMAX Theatre at the National Museum of the United States Air Force is proud to feature a new film, Fighter Pilot:  Operation Red Flag.  This film follows young American fighter pilot John Stratton as he makes his way through "Red Flag," the most complex, high tech military exercise conducted anywhere in the world.  Call 937-253-IMAX (4629) for schedule information or to purchase your tickets.
• Make plans to be at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery on Saturday, March 5th for the Boonshoft Annual Spring Happening (BASH).  Enjoy an evening of dancing, dinner and live entertainment for adults.  All proceeds benefit the Museum.  Call 937-275-7431 for more information or to make reservations (required). 
• Enjoy a most unique dining experience as you are served a 19th century hearth cooked meal in Newcom Tavern at Carillon Historical Park.  Guests are invited to watch, and to participate in, the preparation of the multi-course meal from fresh ingredients over the hearth.  March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 6pm.  Space is limited.  Prepaid reservations required.  Call 937-293-2841. ext. 130. 
• The 2005 Destination Dayton Visitors Guide will be available in February.  For a free copy contact the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 937-226-8211.
• The new 2005 Dayton/Montgomery County Attractions Brochure, sponsored by the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and its park partners is now available---call the CVB at 937-226-8211.
• Check out the calendar of events on the www.daytoncvb.com website for the multitude of arts, cultural and special events and activities occurring in Dayton/Montgomery County
• A four-story 102-room Courtyard by Marriott co-owned by the University of Dayton and Concord Hospitality, a Raleigh, N.C., hotel development and management company, will be built soon in the area off Interstate 75 and across from the UD Arena Sports Complex.  A family restaurant, yet to be determined, will be built on an adjacent 1.7 acres.  Targeted completion date for the project is Spring 2006.
• The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau along with the Greene County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host a free hospitality front desk staff training session (for hotel, restaurant, meeting facility and attraction personnel) on Tuesday, February 2, 2005 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from noon-3pm.  If you’re interested in attending please call 226-8257 to RSVP.

On The Road

Here’s a sampling of where Bureau staff is headed in our ongoing attempt to bring business to Dayton/Montgomery County:

January
Religious Conference Managers Association Tradeshow	St. Louis, MO
February
Heartland Travel Showcase	Grand Rapids, MI

March
IACVB Destination Showcase National	Washington D.C.

Help Us Welcome These Groups! --A Sampling. . . .