In this issue...

Features

Dayton Hosts Winter Guard International Sport of the Arts World Championships Two Consecutive April Weekends

Winter Guard International (WGI) is back home again in Dayton, Ohio for the culmination of the 2005 WGI competition season.  WGI Sport of the Arts, a not-for-profit youth organization, leads winter guard and indoor percussion activities.  It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format.  The mission of WGI Sport of the Arts is to foster positive experiences for all who participate, by promoting education, creativity and freedom of expression through the unification of pageantry and the performing arts.  Now in its 28th year and growing, WGI Sport of the Arts World Championships hosts over 11,000 participants at the April competition in Dayton.

This year there will be twice the excitement.  WGI traditionally held one weekend of competition showcasing both colorguard and percussion; but, this year there will be two back-to-back weekends of championship competition.  The 2005 WGI Color Guard World Championships will be held April 1-9 and the 2005 WGI Percussion World Championships will be held April 14-16.  At the World Championships some 400 guard and percussion groups compete over three days.  Approximately 125 volunteers manage the Championship Contest that serves the nearly 11,000 young perfumers.  Over 135 trained adjudicators service the guards and percussion line during the season.

In the thriving WGI Color Guard division, groups compete in A, Open, and World classes for either independent guards or for scholastic guards.  With the three classes for both the independent and scholastic divisions the scoring system is designed to serve the developmental progression of the groups or units.  The WGI Color Guard finals will take place Saturday evening April 9 in the University of Dayton arena.

In 1992 Indoor Percussion competition joined the already booming Color Guard division.  By 1999 Indoor Percussion offered eight classes of competition:  Independent A, Open, World; Scholastic A, Open, World; and two Concert classes.  Many referred to this division as gPercussion Theater.h  The WGI Percussion finals will take place Saturday evening April 16 at the Nutter Center.

WGI is expecting sell-out crowds for the World Finals events in Dayton.  To purchase tickets call the UD ticket office at 866-944-8273.

World's Largest Amateur Radio Gathering---Hamvention---Set For Dayton, May 20-22, 2005

The Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to welcome Dayton Hamvention to Hara Complex for their 53rd annual convention May 20-22, 2005.

Hamvention, the worldfs largest amateur radio gathering, brings nearly 25,000 people, from all 50 states and from scores of foreign countries, 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.

gHamvention is an exciting and important event for our city and has a significant economic impact on our local economy,h says Jacquelyn Y. Powell, President/CEO of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau.  gAnnually 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, welcomes them to Dayton this May and thanks them for making a commitment to stay in the community through 2007.h

gDayton is our home.  It is where the Dayton Hamvention belongs and it is where the Dayton Hamvention will stayh states Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, Dayton Hamvention General Chairman. 

Created in 1952 by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, Hamvention has become the largest amateur radio and electronics gathering of its type in the world. 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. 

Dayton Hosts Nation's Third Largest Youth Soccer Tournament--adidas Warrior CLassic, May 28-30, 2005

The Greater Dayton area will play host to the nationfs third largest youth soccer tournament---the 19th annual adidas Warrior Soccer Classic Memorial Day Tournament May 27-30, 2005.  Over 400 teams representing more than 6,000 youth soccer players from across the Midwest will compete on fields at Tom Cloud Park, Englewood Soccer complex, Ankeney Soccer Complex, and NCR/Old River Park.  According to Carol Maas Tournament Co-Director over 20,000 players, coaches and spectators attend this third largest youth soccer competition.  The Tournament has gained outstanding recognition for its quality teams, referees, sites of play, and organization.

gThe annual adidas Warrior Soccer Classic Tournament generates an estimated economic impact of over $2 million for Dayton/Montgomery County and provides top-notch youth competition and family entertainment for our community over the Memorial Day weekend,h states Jacquelyn Y. Powell, President/CEO of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For more information on the tournament log onto www.warriorclassic.com

President's Corner

In recognition of travel and tourismfs tremendous economic, social and cultural impact in Dayton/Montgomery County, the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau plans to observe National Tourism/See America Week May 7-15, 2005.  This annual celebration is sponsored nationally by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA.)  The Washington DC based, non-profit association represents and speaks for the common interests and concerns of all components of the US travel industry. 

National Tourism Week was first established in 1983, when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984.  The CVB has planned a number of activities to celebrate the 2005 National Tourism/See America Week.  Monday May 9---Friday May 13, 2005, the eight area Clear Channel radio stationsf DJs will ask listeners gDayton, Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyardh trivia questions.  Callers with the correct answers will win prizes to area hospitality venues ranging from complimentary hotel stays to free attraction admission tickets and restaurant dining coupons.  Tuesday, May 10, the CVB will sponsor a gDayton/Montgomery County Backyard Bus Tourh for local media and local hospitality front desk personnel.  The bus tour will include highlights of a few of Daytonfs primary tourist attractions.  Thursday, May 12, the CVB will co-sponsor with the Ohio Department of Travel & Tourism a free www.discoverohio.com training session at Sinclair Center.  Hospitality entities will learn how to place information and special promotional packages relating to their business on the state of Ohiofs website which receives over 150,000 unique visitors each month. Friday, May 13, the CVB will deliver two CVB created gfront desk resource booksh---gAsk Me About Dayton\A Concierge Guideh and gKnow Your CVBh to nearly 100 area hotels/motels, attractions and meeting venues.

Tourism is big business!  The economic impact of travel and tourism contributes positively to our local quality of life and to our business climate.  During National Tourism/See America Week we step back to thank our visitors for their patronage, honor the employees who serve them and show our pride for our industry.  The CVB encourages you to gSee Dayton/ Mont-gomery Countyh and to gSee America!h

 Jacquelyn Y. Powell

Fast Facts/News

• Stated in the March TravelMole Newswire--the US tourism industry continued nine straight quarters of growth with a 6.7% increase in tourism in 2004 according to the US Commerce Department
• CVB staff attended and exhibited at the 18th annual Destinations Showcase Washington DC in March. This one-day conference and expo is the Mid-Atlanticfs largest forum exclusive to corporate, government, association and independent meeting planners.  This year, more than 1,050 meeting professionals attended.
• Several upcoming baseball tournaments will utilize Fifth-Third Field.  May 28, 29, and 30 will be the A-10 (UD and their conference colleges) playoffs. The Ohio High School state championship baseball playoffs will utilize the stadium June 2 and 3.
• This year Dayton celebrates itfs 200th anniversary of incorporation.  The town of Dayton was incorporated by the Ohio state legislature on February 12, 1805.
• You can still see the outstanding Rau exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute.  The exhibition dates have been extended through May 30, 2005.
• Irma Baileyfs Reservation Indian Arts and Crafts Sale featuring rare museum quality products of Native American artisans will take place April 15, 16, and 17 at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. Admission is free.  Hours:  Fri. 11am-5pm; Sat & Sun 12noon-5pm.
• The 26th U.S. Senior Open Championship will take place July 25-31, 2005 at NCR Country Clubfs South Course.  Order your tickets now---www.2005usso.com or 937-228-3630 or 888-228-3630.
• Saturday, May 21st you can enjoy the Glenn Miller Festival at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  The free day-long outdoor event pays tribute to this famous band and includes a concert by the Air Force Band of Flight.  937-255-3286 for more information.
• Celebrate Armed Forces Day by enjoying a free concert by the Air Force Band of Flight at 7:30pm Saturday, May 7th at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
• Donft forget to thank your mother, May 8, Motherfs Day.  Celebrate by visiting a Dayton/Montgomery County attraction, by exploring a MetroPark or by dining out.  The Dayton Art Institute will once again offer Motherfs Day Brunch.
• Do an RFP in 2005 with the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau for an event in Dayton and be entered into a drawing to win two free airline tickets for travel in the continental U.S. (*some restrictions may apply)
• Do an RFP with the CVB and then sign a Dayton/Montgomery County hotel/motel contract in 2005 for an event in Dayton/Montgomery County in 2005 or any future year and be entered into a drawing to win a free two-year lease on a Dayton made Buick Rainier SUV (*some restrictions may apply)

On The Road

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

April
Affordable Meetings Mid-America	Chicago, IL
National Associaiton of Sports Commissions	Portland, OR
May
GWSAE "Springtime In The Park"	Washington D.C.

June
IACVB Destination Showcase Midwest	Washington D.C.

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