Sunday, January 27, 2008

Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism Adopts Lincoln Street

































(From Left to Right; Mandi Engram, Nicole Smith, Ellie France)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Nicole Smith
Director of Media Relations
(803) 545-0011



Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism Adopts-A-Street

Columbia, SC – (January 25, 2008) In an effort to give back to the community, the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism (MACST) has signed an agreement to participate in the Adopt-A-Street cleanup program through Keep the Midlands Beautiful and the City of Columbia. The MACST has adopted the portion of Lincoln Street that runs alongside the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center from Blossom Street to Elmwood Avenue. The first cleanup day is scheduled for February 8, 2008.

According to Peter Tarlow, renowned international tourism expert and author, "Beautification helps a tourism entity grow by attracting more visitors, providing positive word of mouth publicity, creating an environment that tends to lift the spirits of service personnel, and creates community pride often resulting in the lowering of crime rates."

Ric Luber, president/CEO for the MACST states, "We like to think of beautification as having an impact on the local economy. When a meeting planner visits the Riverbanks region, it's imperative that we are able to showcase a clean and healthy environment with great restaurants, attractions, and unique shopping. A clean and unpolluted region is a great selling point for our community."

Through the Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Street programs, caring citizens take part in preserving and maintaining streets throughout the Midlands. Participating community organizations (civic, school or business groups) adopt sections of road in or near their communities and clean litter from those segments at least four times a year for two years.

The benefits are numerous. First, the program serves as an educational tool against littering and establishes stewardship of public lands. Secondly, the program helps advance tourism, development and quality of life for all of our citizens by improving the appearance of our area. Finally, the program saves taxpayer dollars by performing a valuable public service on a volunteer basis.

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Columbia CVB, Convention Center & Hotel Partners Win Best Booth Award at SCSAE



Columbia, SC Wins 2008 Best Block Award at The Annual SCSAE Tradeshow

Representatives from the Columbia region to include the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (CMCC), Embassy Suites Hotel, the Clarion Downtown Hotel, the Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC, the Hilton Columbia Center, the Marriott Columbia City Center, the Hilton Garden Inn Harbison, the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, and the Hyatt Place won "2008 Best Block" at this year's South Carolina Society of Association Executives (SCSAE) Trade Show which was held Thursday, January 24, 2008 at the CMCC. The trade show featured more than 85 exhibitor booths including three blocks.

Crystal Morris, director of sales for the Columbia CVB recounted, "Working together with hospitality partners for the Columbia Metropolitan area is always enjoyable. From our first SCSAE tradeshow meeting to the conclusion of the show everyone contributed to our booth the "2008 Best Block". Upon hearing we won the award we knew our effort had paid off!"

SCSAE is an organization of chief executive officers and professional staff who manage a variety of trade, professional and nonprofit associations as well as companies that provide products and services to the association community. Organized in 1963, SCSAE now has more than 250 association executives, meeting planners, association staff members and business partners as members. The mission of SCSAE is to promote and enhance the achievement of association management professionals.


















Thursday, January 24, 2008

Link Your Site to Ours to Help Promote Columbia to Your Group



To place a graphic link like the one to the left on your website to link to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau website, please visit our website for instructions:

Get the Code:
http://www.columbiacvb.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=489&cID=4