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Experience GR News
Grand Rapids is always a buzz with new and exciting events and happenings. Stay current with what Experience Grand Rapids is reporting. Keep checking back for the very latest happenings!
Experience GR News
| 4/18/2012 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS WANTS YOUR BEST SHOT, National Travel & Tourism Week to kick off with Instagram contest, Grand Rapids to celebrate National Rally Day with a “PhotoWalk” Experience Grand Rapids will celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week, May 5‐13, 2012, with a community‐wide Instagram photo contest that will award a grand prize package to the winner who best captures the city’s beauty, excitement and local flavor in a single image....more |
| 2/28/2012 | Experience Grand Rapids Announces Final Results for Restaurant Week Grand Rapids 2011 and Reveals Future News about a 2012 Event Today, Experience Grand Rapids announced the official results of Restaurant Week Grand Rapids 2011 that took place in November 2011. The announcement was made during Experience Grand Rapids’ Annual Celebration where four leading Grand Rapids chefs prepared a four-course lunch for guests in attendance....more |
| 2/27/2012 | MEDIA ADVISORY- EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS SERVES UP LOCAL FLAVOR WITH FARM-TO-FORK FOCUS AT ANNUAL CELEBRATION Experience Grand Rapids will host “Experience Local Flavor,” the organization’s annual celebration highlighting its banner year in 2011 - continued growth in hotel performance, occupancy, and room revenue and record attendance at area attractions....more |
| 2/23/2012 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS LAUNCHES “PAY IT FORWARD” INITIATIVE Experience Grand Rapids hopes to inspire random acts of kindness in Grand Rapids and beyond with its launch of a new initiative, “Cool City. Warm Heart. Pay it Forward.” The program was created by the Experience Grand Rapids team as a meaningful and genuine way to showcase the city’s warmth, hospitality and generosity to prospective clients and visitors....more |
| 1/25/2012 | KENT COUNTY HOTELS & BUSINESSES UNITE TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER This coming February, local hotels and businesses will be rolling out the pink carpet to educate the community on breast cancer through Susan G. Komen West Michigan...more |
| 1/24/2012 | GRAND RAPIDS EXPERIENCES BANNER YEAR IN 2011 Grand Rapids/Kent County experienced a banner year in 2011 with continued growth in hotel performance, occupancy, and room revenue and record attendance at area attractions....more |
| 1/17/2012 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS LAUNCHES NEW 2012 VISITOR’S GUIDE, THE EXPERIENCE Now available for smartphones and tablets. Experience Grand Rapids has created a high tech resource for visitors with the recent launch of its digital annual visitor’s guide, “The Experience.”...more |
| 12/20/2011 | The Economic Impact of ArtPrize 2011 ArtPrize provides economic, social, and cultural benefits to the Grand Rapids area. Experience Grand Rapids retained Anderson Economic Group (AEG) to measure the economic impacts of ArtPrize 2011....more |
| 12/20/2011 | NEW STUDY SHOWS $15.4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT DURING ARTPRIZE 2011 A new economic impact study released today by Experience Grand Rapids and conducted by East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group, LLC (AEG) reveals the 2011 ArtPrize event added $15.4 million to the local economy, attracted more than 320,000 visitors and created more than 200 new jobs during its 19 days....more |
| 11/16/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS DAVEY AWARD FOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE The International Academy of the Visual Arts recently honored Experience Grand Rapids with a Silver Davey Award for its website, www.experienceGR.com. The annual competition recognizes the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies and companies worldwide....more |
| 10/24/2011 | 2011 WAVE Awards Winners Announced Awards presentation set for November 17 during opening night of Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival...more |
| 9/23/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS SPARKLES AT MSAE DIAMOND AWARDS Experience Grand Rapids received high honors for its website at the Michigan Society of Association Executives’ (MSAE) 10th Annual Diamond Awards....more |
| 9/22/2011 | Associations Honored for Innovation and Excellence at 10th Annual Diamond Awards, Three Executives Inducted into Hall of Fame The Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) held its 10th Annual Diamond Awards Banquet on September 21, 2011, at The Baronette Renaissance Hotel in Novi. Nearly 250 members and guests attended the event, designed to recognize excellence and innovation in associations....more |
| 9/22/2011 | Grand Rapids-based organization earns statewide award The Grand Rapids-based organization Experience Grand Rapids received honors at the Michigan Society of Association Executives’ (MSAE) 10th Annual Diamond Awards Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Novi....more |
| 9/20/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS WEBSITE EARNS A TOP HONOR FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN WEB DEVELOPMENT The Web Marketing Association recently honored Experience Grand Rapids with its 2011 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development....more |
| 9/14/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS ANNOUNCES THAT SEVENTY-ONE RESTAURANTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN RESTAURANT WEEK GRAND RAPIDS 2011 Experience Grand Rapids, the organizer for Restaurant Week Grand Rapids 2011 is proud to announce that this year’s event will feature over 70 restaurants – most of them one-of-a-kind unique dining establishments that are the best in the Greater Grand Rapids area....more |
| 8/31/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS IS THE NEW HOME OF 'WHAT'S YOUR ART GR?' ARTS MARKETING CAMPAIGN ...more |
| 8/25/2011 | Appointments Made to Michigan Travel Commission ...more |
| 8/2/2011 | GRAND RAPIDS MAKES RELOCATEAMERICA'S LIST OF TOP 10 PLACE TO LIVE FOR 2011 RelocateAmerica this morning announced its ‘Top 10 Places to Live for 2011’and Grand Rapids has made the list....more |
| 7/20/2011 | GRAND RAPIDS RECOGNIZED AS A TOP 100 PLACE TO LIVE BY RELOCATEAMERICA Support from the local community needed to help city win Overall Top 10...more |
| 7/19/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS NAMES JONKMAN DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Experience Grand Rapids, the greater Grand Rapids area convention and visitors bureau, today announced the appointment of Daniel Jonkman as its director of finance and administration....more |
| 7/18/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS ACHIEVES DESTINATION MARKETING ACCREDITATION Experience Grand Rapids, the greater Grand Rapids area convention and visitors bureau, today announced it has been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP)....more |
| 7/9/2011 | Betty Ford :: 1918 - 2011 ...more |
| 7/8/2011 | Experience Grand Rapids Keeping Community in Our Thoughts ...more |
| 6/28/2011 | MOTOR MAIDS ENROUTE TO GRAND RAPIDS Grand Rapids to host 71st anniversary convention of North America's first and oldest women's motorcycle club...more |
| 6/3/2011 | WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE EXPERIENCES GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RAPIDS LIP DUB VIDEO NEARS TWO MILLION MARK ON YOUTUBE Grand Rapids has gone viral with the world record-breaking lip dub video featuring thousands of participants throughout the West Michigan city lip-synching to Don McLean’s “American Pie.”...more |
| 5/20/2011 | More than 1.1 million plan Memorial Day travel, reports AAA Michigan More than 1.1 million Michiganians will travel on vacation during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, launching the start of the 2011 summer travel season, says AAA Michigan....more |
| 5/5/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK WITH LIVE TWITTER RALLY MAY 10 Community invited to join conversation about Kent County’s annual $900+ million industry...more |
| 5/4/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS LAUNCHES SUMMER TOURISM MARKETING PROMOTION New campaign highlights Grand Rapids as a destination city for art, food and family travel...more |
| 4/29/2011 | Restaurant Week Grand Rapids Announces 2011 Event Today, an announcement event was held at Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College. At the event, Experience Grand Rapids President Doug Small announced that Restaurant Week Grand Rapids would be held again in November 2011 and released the dates, new menu changes, signed sponsors and the event included the presentation of a large check to support the schools culinary program scholarship fund....more |
| 4/1/2011 | EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS ANNUAL MEETING CELEBRATED IN UNCONVENTIONAL STYLE Experience Grand Rapids this week celebrated its previous year’s achievements and goals for 2011 in unconventional style, signifying a new direction for the city’s convention and visitors bureau. Held on Wednesday, March 30 at DeVos Performance Hall, the organization’s annual meeting, “Raise a Glass,” featured keynote speaker Doc Hendley, founder and president of Wine to Water foundation and a previous top 10 CNN Hero....more |
| 3/29/2011 | Grand Rapids Public Museum Will Welcome 100,000th Visitor to BODIES REVEALED Exhibition on March 30, 2011 The Grand Rapids Public Museum is pleased to announce it will welcome its 100,000th visitor to the BODIES REVEALED Exhibition on March 30, barely 18 weeks into the exhibit’s run....more |
| 3/21/2011 | Grand Rapids Gets its Smile ON: Thousands visit Gilda’s LaughFest The nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, Gilda’s LaughFest, came to a close Sunday after 10-days. A community gathering was held on Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. Hundreds of people gathered to form a large smiley face while holding black and yellow placards above their heads. An aerial photo was taken to capture the formation created to resemble the symbol used to promote Gilda’s Laughfest....more |
| 3/15/2011 | GRAND RAPIDS AMONG TOP 12 IN SOCIAL MEDIA TOURISM SYMPOSIUM CONTEST Experience Grand Rapids still needs your votes! Grand Rapids has ranked among the top 12 destinations in the first round of a public online voting process to select the location of the second annual Social Media Tourism Symposium. The city will advance to the second round, which will narrow the competition to the top three destinations....more |
| 3/9/2011 | VOTE GRAND RAPIDS! Social Media Tourism Symposium Launches Public Online Voting Process to Select November 2011 Conference Destination...more |
| 3/8/2011 | Experience Grand Rapids develops targeted online marketing strategy When it comes to marketing, organizations need to be engaging with their target audiences wherever that audience may be. For Experience Grand Rapids, that market is increasingly online....more |
| 3/1/2011 | Grand Rapids Public Museum Extends Weekend Hours to Meet Demand for BODIES REVEALED Due to overwhelming interest in BODIES REVEALED, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will extend its weekend hours on select Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the exhibit’s run in order to provide even more opportunities for visitors to experience this phenomenal educational exhibition. In addition, the Museum has also introduced a Tuesday Twilight Ticket....more |
| 3/1/2011 | Michigan gets ready to laugh out loud Gilda’s LaughFest brings thousands of visitors from all over the country to Grand Rapids...more |
| 2/22/2011 | GRAND RAPIDS TO HOST MAJOR MULTI-YEAR CONVENTION IN 2012 Experience Grand Rapids, the Greater Grand Rapids area convention and visitors bureau, today announced it landed one of its largest multi-year conventions to date – the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) Quilt Show & Contest. The Society’s three-year agreement will begin August 22-25, 2012, and will bring an estimated $15 million to Grand Rapids for each show. More than 10,000 quilt enthusiasts from 40 states and 10 countries are expected to attend annually, resulting in 3,439 room nights each year....more |
| 2/22/2011 | COMMUNITY PARTNERS LAUNCH FIRST SMART PHONE TOUR OF DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS GR Tag Tour uses mobile technology to education and entertain......more |
| 2/21/2011 | NEW ERNST & YOUNG REPORT SHOWS POSITIVE ROI FROM MICHIGAN’S FAST GROWING FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY A new research study conducted by respected international accounting firm Ernst & Young- commissioned by the Convention & Visitors Bureaus for metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City- already shows a positive Return on Investment (ROI) from Michigan’s film production tax credit, despite the fact that the program has been in place for less than three full years....more |
| 2/18/2011 | GRAND RAPIDS ATTRACTIONS TOP CRAIN’S LIST OF MICHIGAN’S LARGEST CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS Three of Grand Rapids’ area attractions this week topped Crain’s list of Michigan’s largest cultural institutions. With record‐breaking attendance in 2010, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the John Ball Zoological Garden ranked in the top five, at number three and four respectively. The Grand Rapids Art Museum ranked the eighth largest....more |
| 1/26/2011 | Hotel Revenue in 2010 Experience Grand Rapids today announced that Kent County achieved the highest hotel room revenue in the county’s history in 2010, breaking the 2007 record for best overall hotel performance. Hotel occupancy, revenue per available room and total room revenue for Kent County hotels were also significantly higher than the annual national growth average from 2009 to 2010....more |
| 1/10/2011 | Restaurant Week Grand Rapids, a Michigan Culinary Event, Exceeds Expectations in Its Inaugural Year with 57 Participating Restaurants and over $1 million in sales The Inaugural Restaurant Week Grand Rapids held in November 2010 exceeded expectations with double-digit percentage increases at many of the 57 participating restaurants. Over 19,000 Restaurant Week dinners were sold with an additional 10,000 people who supported the event by ordering off restaurants’ regular menus. At least $1.2 million in Restaurant Week related dinners were attributed to the event....more |
| 9/22/2010 | Experience Grand Rapids & ArtPrize Launch Treks with SCVNGR Boston, MA – September 22, 2010 – From the Meyer May House to the La Grande Vitesse, Grand Rapids has always been a forward-thinking city. Today ArtPrize, an open art competition, open to all artists in the world, and the Experience Grand Rapids Trek brought to Grand Rapids by Experience Grand Rapids, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, bring the city even further into the future by launching treks on SCVNGR....more |
| 9/20/2010 | Restaurant Week Restaurants Announced Today Experience Grand Rapids announced today that there will be over 50 Restaurants- 52 to date- participating in Restaurant Week Grand Rapids in November....more |
| 9/13/2010 | A New Way to 'Experience Grand Rapids' The 83-year-old Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau is now Experience Grand Rapids (www.experiencegr.com) --a name change that more accurately reflects the organization's mission....more |
| 9/9/2010 | Grand Rapids invites public to new ‘experience’ People around the world will have a new way to “experience” Grand Rapids with the launch of the city’s new website Tuesday night at a “GR Tweet Elite” event at the B.O.B....more |
| 9/7/2010 | Group marketing Grand Rapids gets snappier name, puts new focus on social media Experience Grand Rapids will be the new moniker of the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the 83-year-old non-profit organization announced Tuesday....more |
| 8/1/2010 | Best Towns Grand Rapids featured as Best Town for Mountain Biking in Outside Magazine!...more |
| 5/12/2010 | Grand Rapids Recognition at Pure Michigan Governor's Conference 2010 Grand Rapids was a big winner at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference held last week May 6 through 7, 2010 at the beautiful and historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, including the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) receiving the Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration 2010....more |
| 4/27/2010 | Grand Rapids, Michigan is Set to Launch "Grand Rapids Restaurant Week" on November 4, 2010 Grand Rapids / Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau announced this month that it will launch Grand Rapids Restaurant Week from November 4 - 13, 2010. The dates were chosen to create a "Month to Celebrate Dining Out”....more |
| 4/27/2010 | DeVos Place Receives Green Venue Certification DeVos Place was recently recognized with a Green Venue Certification by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG)....more |
| 2/10/2010 | Air Service Announcement Michigan’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, recently reported several new air service announcements, including the addition of two new low cost carriers and the expansion of service and operations at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA)....more |
| 1/29/2010 | ArtPrize Returns for 2010 Start planning your trip and be sure to tune in as we update you on the ArtPrize 2010 conversation. Read the article and put these important dates on your calendar!...more |
| 9/23/2009 | Will ArtPrize reinvent Grand Rapids? A city that has sparked a new conversation, with ArtPrize is in the news, people are flooding into the city to see art come alive at every turn- discover 'a world of art in Grand Rapids.' The question is...will ArtPrize reinvent Grand Rapids? or has it already......more |
| 9/22/2009 | Red Ball Project Rolls into Grand Rapids... The Red Ball Project rolls into Grand Rapids for ArtPrize. The Red Ball has been making it's way across the nation and ArtPrize is one of the stops. There will be many locations as the Red Ball rolls to many attractions. Read where you can find the Red Ball during ArtPrize....more |
| 9/21/2009 | PACHYDERMS PAINT THE RAPID RED (and blue and yellow…) In celebration of the annual arrival of The Greatest Show On Earth® as well as the official kick off of ArtPrize 2009, the painting pachyderms of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® are getting in on the artistic inspiration invading Grand Rapids! Come see the this public show on Thursday, Sept. 24 at Noon. The event will take place on Ottawa Street at the corner of Fulton next to the VanAndel Arena....more |
| 9/21/2009 | ArtPrize maps: Complete guide to contest venues A complete guide to the ArtPrize venues was re-issued in the Grand Rapids Press is is posted on-line to download....more |
| 9/17/2009 | Wristband Deals for ArtPrize with Upgrade Wristband deals for ArtPrize- when registering to vote at one of the 14 locations on September 23, upgrade for $15, and you'll receive an event guide and wristband. With this wristband you'll get preferred access to Official ArtPrize events, free ArtPrize shuttle rides, plus great deals from GrandRapids merchants....more |
| 9/17/2009 | New Grand Rapids Pure Michigan Ad Watch the New Pure Michigan Grand Rapids radio ad- come explore the arts in Grand Rapids....more |
| 9/14/2009 | First installation of art on display at DeVos Place for ArtPrize competition Brenda Clark’s painting “DH Day’s Awe” is the first installation of artwork at DeVos Place for ArtPrize. The installation was done Thursday, September 10, 2009....more |
| 9/8/2009 | Pure Grand Rapids coming to town The marketing team at the Convention & Visitors Bureau has added a new twist to ads featuring downtown Grand Rapids, in a radio buy that is part of the highly recognized Pure Michigan ad campaign....more |
| 9/8/2009 | CVB hopes ArtPrize makes 'needle move' During ArtPrize the local hospitality industry hopes to capture a few treasures of its own- the CVB extends it's Feel the Grand Rapids Beat hotel package, FREE iPod giveaway through October....more |
| 9/3/2009 | WMSC 3rd Annual Luncheon The West Michigan Sports Commission's 3rd Annual Luncheon, Wednesday September 23, to be held at the JW Marriott International Ballroom. This year’s luncheon features Ken Holland, GM of the Detroit Red Wings and one of the sharpest minds in the NHL when it comes to building a competitive sports team. Combined with our own Grand Rapids Griffins and the contributions they have made to successful Red Wings seasons, along with announcements on many projects and bids in the works by the West Michigan Sports Commission; this Annual fundraiser is sure to provide a powerful message to those attending....more |
| 8/20/2009 | Rob Bliss announces ArtPrize project: release of 100,000 paper airplanes from downtown Grand Rapids rooftops Put on a big, international art event downtown, attach a big monetary prize to it, and you're sure to attract all kids of artists, even a 20-year-old college kid know for a zombie walk, pillow fight and electronic music festival....more |
| 7/20/2009 | GRCVB Earns 'Destination Champion' Recognition The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau marketing team was awarded Destination Champion, through Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). Their story will be recognized during the DMAI’s Annual Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia July 28th-30th....more |
| 5/12/2009 | GRAND RAPIDS/KENT COUNTY CVB CELEBRATES TOURISM WEEK The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will join 29 cities on May 12 to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week by hosting its first-ever Virtual Travel Rally....more |
| 5/11/2009 | FREE iPod Shuffle with a Two Night Stay in Grand Rapids, Feel the Grand Rapids Beat! Grand Rapids CVB Rocks Regional Tourism with First-Ever iPod Giveaway and Touring Tunes podcasts...more |
| 3/19/2009 | The Meadows and Kendall Academy Team Up for Top-Notch Instruction This golf season The Meadows is teaming up with the award-winning Kendall Academy to offer expanded instruction, lessons and clinics for the novice, weekend, and competitive player alike....more |
| 9/23/2008 | Traditions and Festivities make the Holidays Grand Glittering exhibits and beloved performances make Grand Rapids a festive holiday destination....more |
| 9/9/2008 | Fall Forecast: Food, Fun and Festivals The season brings plenty of fun fall festivals....more |
| 9/8/2008 | Grand Rapids International Food & Wine Festival Grand Rapids' culinary community gathers to host the first International Food & Wine Festival this November....more |
| 7/7/2008 | Murder Mystery and Mesozoic History at the Public Museum The Public Museum announces two exciting exhibits for the fall/winter lineup: Whodunit? The Science of Solving Crime returns August 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009, and Dinosaurs: Just Imagine on display February 21 – May 25, 2009!...more |
| 4/23/2008 | Home At Last: Opera Grand Rapids announces Rehearsal Hall Building Project Opera Grand Rapids intends to build its first permanent home, the Betty Van Andel Opera Center (BVAOC), in honor of one the Company’s most avid supporters....more |
| 4/18/2008 | The First Annual WAVE Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Hospitality A new program recognizes excellence in the hospitality industry throughout Kent County....more |
| 4/17/2008 | 2008 Fireball Run Transcontinental Rally Selects Grand Rapids as Finish Line This adventure game and rally starts in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 25, 2008 and finishes on October 4th in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a mission to recover missing children....more |
| 2/14/2006 | Grand Rapids/Kent County CVB Lands Nation's Largest Conference The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) today announced it landed the most coveted convention in the religious market – the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) 2009 World Conference and Exposition....more |
