Published: May 16, 2008 03:16 am            

May “event-full” for Palestine

To say the least, May has been “event-full”, with the Texas Music Awards bringing great entertainment to the city along with many visitors, who filled local motels.

The show was delightful, and watching the limos pull into the tent on red carpet, spilling out Texas musicians one after another, was quite an experience. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we received many compliments on our beautiful city.

The Palestine CVB is pleased to have worked on this musical extravaganza. Thank you to everyone who supported the TMA by contributing sponsorships, gifts for the entertainers' welcome bags, transportation, food, and your time, the most valuable of all commodities.

Palestine also has played host to the annual Crawfish Boil and a big PRCA Rodeo this month, with a PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Anderson County Youth Livestock Rodeo Grounds.

The Boston Porter Memorial Scholarship Bull Riding is presented by Jerry Nelson and Frontier Rodeo, and bills itself as “The Toughest Show on Dirt,” with proceeds to benefit the youth of Anderson County.

The Palestine CVB hosted a Texas Municipal League Tourism Workshop, a North East Texas Tourism Council meeting and a Texas Tourism Week Open House, and it's only mid-month.

Music and events may draw visitors to the city, but it's hospitality that will bring them back for a return trip, so smile when you see a visitor, and help make their stay enjoyable and memorable.

With the second quarter of FY 2007-2008 behind us, January-March 2008, this is a prime time to give you the following summary of the quarter:

Palestine CVB activity summary:

• Assisted 922 visitors at the Visitor Center, 779 out-of-town

• Tracked 159,838 requests at www.VisitPalestine.com ; 33,797 page requests (views)

• Answered 4,376 inquiries by mail, phone, Internet, and in person

• Developed and placed ads in Texas Monthly; Meet Texas, the official State CVB Guide; Texas Travel Industry File Folder; 2008 Vacation Brochure File Folder; Antiquing Texas; Texas Forest Trails Region Rack Card; Houston Chronicle and Tyler Morning Telegraph special sections; Festivals of Texas; and Texas Events Calendar

• Promoted and assisted with Texas Dogwood Trails Festival

• Participated in Palestine Days in Austin; “Film Friendly Texas” Workshop; Fort Worth Home and Garden Show; TTIA Unity Dinner; Dallas Home & Garden Show; Tyler Travel Expo; and sent tourism brochures to Houston Show, State Travel Centers, and additional distribution points

• Assisted with District 2-X3 Lions Midwinter Conference; East Texas Transportation Committee Meeting; Various bus tours and media tours and “Embrace the Arts”

• Promoted Palestine events, attractions, accommodations, shopping and restaurants in-office and to media

• As part of promotions, the CVB is producing a local TV show in addition to local radio and newspaper promotions and regional and state promotion.

Ongoing:

Train rides from Palestine and Rusk depots: Call 888-987-2461, 903-683-2561, or go to www.TexasState RR.com for more information and tickets

As always, we invite you to stop by or call the Visitor Depot for tourism information, including attractions, events, local and state maps and events, group assistance and booking of the Civic Center. See www.visitpalestine.com for upcoming events and for additional information.

The Palestine Visitor Information Center, 825 Spring St., is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., with the exception of major holiday weekends.

Susan Cottle-Leonard is the director of the Palestine Convention & Visitors Bureau.

        

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