VisitDuluth.com :: Membership News Brief

With the Holiday Season upon us, Visit Duluth thanks all members for their continued support.

May the holiday season bring joy and happiness to you and your family.

December 18, 2008

TOURISM NEWS
Terry Mattson, President/ CEO, Visit Duluth

VISD CONTRACT EXTENDED THRU 2011
Visit Duluth’s advertising, sales and promotional contract with the City of Duluth has been extended thru 2011. This week, the Duluth City Council ratified resolutions renewing a 3-year agreement continuing a performance-based tourism tax funding mechanism along with the 2009 budget.

Special thank you to Mayor Don Ness along with City Council President, soon to be state legislator and VISD board liaison, Roger Reinert for their diligence in helping the industry inform councilors of the spirit, purpose and legislative intent of local option taxes collected and paid by the visitor trade. Also, thank you to countless board members, staff and stakeholders who eloquently articulated the high return on investment during the hard fought process affirming Visit Duluth’s recognition and success as the critical revenue generator.

This is fabulous news for our industry and all citizens of Duluth.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Gail Walkowiak, Director of Market Services, Visit Duluth

Visit Duluth welcomes the following new members:

Christine Seitz
Duluth Playhouse, The
506 West Michigan Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 733-7555
(218) 733-7554 fax
phoffice@duluthplayhouse.org
www.duluthplayhouse.org
Be Our Guest! Since 1914, the Playhouse has brought outstanding entertainment and creative opportunities to our community. Local and professional artists bring the finest in the theatrical performances to the stage for an audience stretching across the entire northeast region. Stunning sets, beautiful costumes and amazing talent abound through our main stage productions, Children's Theatre Arts program, and satellite theatre, The Play Ground. Enjoy our 95th Anniversary Season...and here's too many more years to come!

Brian Ryks
Duluth International Airport
4701 Grinden Drive
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 727-2968
(218) 727-2960 fax
bryks@duluthairport.com
www.duluthairport.com
Duluth International Airport, conveniently located just 10 minutes from downtown Duluth and 15 minutes from downtown Superior, WI – with daily flights provided by Northwest/Delta Airlines and Allegiant Air to three major hubs, Minneapolis, Detroit and Las Vegas – with connections to more than 120 domestic cities and over 20 international destinations.

Craig Samborski
Secret Service Entertainment
306 West Superior Street, Suite 900
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 336-1376
(218) 336-1378 fax
info@secretserviceconcerts.com
www.secretserviceconcerts.com
Producer of nationally recognized live entertainment events, festivals, concerts and performing arts.

Jim & Beth Sullivan
Rustic Inn Cafe & Gifts
2773 Highway 61
Two Harbors, MN 55616
(218) 834-2488
(218) 834-2639 fax
jimsullivan@lakenet.com
www.rusticinncafe.com
Distinctive dining and quality giftware on Lake Superiors North Shore. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wine and beer. Exceptional homemade pies, fresh fish, seafood, steaks and ribs. Lunch combo specials and large breakfast menu. Gourmet chocolates, Lampe burger. Icelandic sweaters, Lake Superior clothing, quality home décor. Next to Gooseberry Falls State Park in Castle Danger.

SPOTLIGHT ON A MEMBER
Lori Steinbach and Lisa Sundberg, Visit Duluth

Visit Duluth’s Spotlight on a Member for December is Hamlin Music Academy and Event Musicians. Thank you to RaeAnn Hamlin, owner, for answering our questions.

Do, Re, Me, Fa, La, La, la, la, la...the sound of music is can be heard everywhere during the holiday season. Live, elegant, and professional musicians will perform solo, duet, trio, and quartet, plus, small and large ensembles (2 to 25 + musicians) for any event or occasion. RaeAnn was nominated as one of the Duluth News Tribune’s “20 under 40.” She was also received a “Mover and Shaker” recognition in September, 2008.

RaeAnn states, “Hamlin has over 2,500 musicians, and can arrange events almost anywhere. In Duluth, we have a very busy schedule during the holiday season with festive social and banquet performances. During the summer, we have a heavy schedule of outdoor weddings. People love to get married with a view of Lake Superior and a ceremony with a vocalist and instruments. Hamlin Academy’s variety of instrument, and voice lessons are on a constant schedule. We also have clowns, and mimes, for something fun and different to add to a gathering.”

RaeAnn’s business is all about music and entertainment. In her spare time she looks for any local music events on the Visit Duluth Web site. “It is the best resource to find out where and when local performances are scheduled all year!” says RaeAnn. “Hamlin Music Academy and Event Musicians are members of Visit Duluth primarily because of their pulse on the events and happenings in the area. The Visit Duluth Web site is a great resource for my customers and the musicians,” says Hamlin.

Thank you, Hamlin Music Academy and Event Musicians for being our spotlight on a member.

Hamlin Music Academy and Event Musicians
5615 Grand Avenue
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 624-2619
(218) 624-4175 fax
HamlinMusic@aol.com
www.HamlinMusic.com

CONVENTION SALES
Anna Tanski, Director of Sales, Visit Duluth

The 2008 convention year came to a close with quite a bang. The Association of Minnesota Counties celebrated their 100th Anniversary in Duluth December 7-9 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. More than 900 people attended the convention. Visit Duluth anticipates the next open year to bid is 2012. Happy 100th AMC!

If you would like additional members of your staff to receive the Membership News Brief, please contact Gail Walkowiak at gailw@visitduluth.com or call
(218) 625-8104.

Visit Duluth, the city's convention and visitor's bureau, is Duluth’s only officially recognized destination marketing organization. Chartered in 1935, as a non-profit corporation, we represent more than 450 businesses that make up Duluth’s tourism industry. We are dedicated to promoting the area as one of America’s great vacation and meeting destinations while providing comprehensive, unbiased information to all travelers.