About FACVB

"Tourism has grown into one of the state’s largest industries. Annually, over 45 million people visit North Carolina and generate more than $15.6 billion. Tourism directly employs over 182,900 North Carolinians with a payroll of almost $3.98 billion." -- www.nccommerce.com

 

Get to Know the FACVB

Vision
Staff
Board of Directors
Awards
Area Stats 
Programs

Our Mission
To position Fayetteville/Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, tournaments, and individual travel. 

We are a full-service convention and visitors bureau. The Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization funded by a sales occupancy tax. We assist leisure travelers, meeting planners, group tour operators, media and military reunion planners. Our staff serves as a liaison between visitors and our local hospitality industry.

We operate three Visitor Information Centers. Our main office, at 245 Person Street is open to visitors Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Our satellite office, located a few blocks from the main office is within the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. This office is open from 10 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Our second satellite office is located in the customer service area of Cross Creek Mall. This office is open Monday and Thursday 10 am – 1 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 3 pm – 8 pm, Friday 4 pm – 8 pm, and Saturday 1 pm – 7 pm. All three centers are minutes from I-95. For more information call 888-98-HEROES (984-3763).

Main Office
245 Person Street
Fayetteville, NC  28301
1-800-255-8217
910-483-5311
910-484-6632 (Fax)
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

Fayetteville Area Transportation
and Local History Museum
325 Franklin Street
Fayetteville, NC  28301
910-323-9739
Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cross Creek Mall Satellite Office
JCPenny Wing
419 Cross Creek Mall
Fayetteville, NC  28303
Monday 9:30 a.m. -  12:30 p.m.; Tuesday 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.;
Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Each week more than 1,500 visitor guides are distributed to guests and newcomers to the Fayetteville area. The Bureau must be doing a good job: a recent visitor survey showed that 72 percent of visitors would recommend the Fayetteville area to their friends.
 

The Brand Promise: Fayetteville/Cumberland County rekindles and reawakens the American spirit in every corner of the community.
 

The Brand Personality: Patriotic.

FACVB Vision
We strive to be the leading destination authority by supporting and marketing the Fayetteville/Cumberland County branded visitor experience and advocating community tourism benefits.

FACVB Staff Vision
To be the voice for and to the visitor. We will strive to have a working environment that fosters individual and organizational growth in an open, honest, and challenging atmosphere. Lastly, we will adhere to the following values and guiding principles:

• Collaborative
• Customer-Centric
• Community Engaged
• Professional
• Ethical
• Committed to spread our All-American story

FACVB Programs

Staff

Administration
John Meroski, President & CEO

Sales The FACVB Sales Department stands ready to assist you with your needs with planning your special event. Should you have any questions or if we can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to contact us at 888-98-HEROES or at one of our emails listed below. Myron Jones FACVB Director of Sales Markets: Military & Military Reunions, State Associations, Fraternal & Minority Caroline Powers FACVB Sales Manager Markets: Religious and Sports   Shannon Deaton FACVB Sales Coordinator Markets: Social and Group Tours

Visitor Services
To service visitors on all the great American happenings in Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

Tammy Johnson, Office Administrator
Betty Davis, Visitor Services Coordinator
Anna Marr, Satellite Information Centers Supervisor 
Beulah Johnson, Visitor Services Associate
Suzie Vinson, Visitor Services Associate
Tonita Stephenson, Office Assistant
Pamilia McRae, Office Assistant
Phyllis Morrison, Office Assistant
Denise Comulada, Office Assistant
TIna Wharry, Office Assistant
Cardell Hunt, Cross Creek Mall Visitor Services
Mae McNeil, Cross Creek Mall Visitor Services
Sylvia Johnson, Cross Creek Mall Visitor Services
Patricia Jefferson, Cross Creek Mall Visitor Services 
Ray Pfaff, Transportation Museum Visitor Services 
Martha McKoy, Transportation Museum Visitor Services
Karen Ewert, Transportation Museum Visitor Services
John Jefferson, Office Assistant/Cross Creek Mall Visitor Services

Reserve Volunteer Staff
Keith Stephenson
Terry Davis


Marketing Volunteer
Morgan Miles
 

Marketing The Marketing Department manages communication and PR strategies that support group and leisure travel sales and service.
Melody Foote Director of Marketing	Ashleigh Dippolito Hospitality Communications Manager	Angie Abrams Tourism Development Manager
Lisa Ennis Information & Technology Manager	Brian Hill Marketing Coordinator

 
Programs 

Army's Army/Sanctuary - Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) positioning leading military to be assisted and welcomed.  THE ARMY’S ARMY is the world’s only volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who’ve pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. Specifically, we will do everything we can to make soldiers and their families feel welcome, appreciated and safe in Cumberland County. We don’t just give lip service to the line “Support the troops,” we live it

Cultural Connections - Implements a Cultural tourism plan leading to branded visitor experiences. 

Society of Patriots - connects and creates visual manifestations of patriotism throughout Cumberland County. 

Golf on the Ready - builds incremental golf package sales.

College of Patriotic Arts & Sciences - graduates residents to certified tourism ambassador. 

Sales & Marketing Meetings - monthly hotel meetings to further group sales. 

United League of Travel & Tourism - Hospitality owners and managers working issues that affect the industry.


Board of Directors
Subodh Thakur, Chairman
Regency Inn
521 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301

Charles R. Wellons, II, Vice Chair
Wellons Realty
PO Box 766
Spring Lake, NC 28309

James Martin, Secretary
Manager, County of Cumberland
PO Box 1829
Fayetteville, NC 28302

Henry Holt, Treasurer
Holt Oil Company
PO Box 53157
Fayetteville, NC 28305

Jimmy Keefe, County Liaison
County of Cumberland
PO Box 1829
Fayetteville, NC 28302

Dale Iman, City Manager
City of Fayetteville
433 Hay Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301

John Keefe
Keefe Properties
5833 Woodhaven Circle
Fayetteville, NC 28311

Gwen Holloman
721 Edgehill Road
Fayetteville, NC 28314

Chintan Patel
Baymont Inn & Suites
2848 Bragg Boulevard
Fayetteville, NC 28303

Karen Long, Interim CEO
Coliseum Complex
1960 Coliseum Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28306

Dan Roberts, CEO
Wingate By Wyndham
4182 Sycamore Dairy Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
 

Balbir S. (Bill), Owner
Fayetteville Doubletree Hotel
1965 Cedar Creek Road
Fayetteville, NC 28312
 

Awards

2010 MPI Names Myron Jones Supplier of the Year.

2010 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards 
Destination Marketing Association of NC 
Gold Award - Fayetteville Area Destination Guide - Best Visitor Guide
Gold Award - Cultural Heritage Trails Guide - Best Niche Marketing Piece 

2010 Awesome Innovation Award
Destination Marketing Association of NC 
Excellence in Workforce Development - College of Patriotic Arts & Sciences 

2010 STS Top 20 events
Southeast Tourism Society
2010 Dogwood Festival
2010 Operation Celebrate Freedom 

2009 Destination Champion 
Destination Marketing Association International
John Meroski recognized as Destination Champion of Branding

2009 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards 
Destination Marketing Association of NC 
Platinum Award - Business Plan 

2009 Awesome Innovation Award
Destination Marketing Association of NC 
Excellence in Workforce Development - Fayetteville Area Ambassador Program
Best Local Stakeholder Relationships - Monthly Army Community Services Presentation

2008 Destination Marketing Accreditation Program 
FACVB receives DMAP accreditation through Destination Marketing Association International. 
this means the CVB meets or exceeds the performance and reporting standards outlined by DMAI.

2008 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
Destination Marketing Association of NC (formerly NCACVB)
Platinum Award - Best Local Constituent Communications - 2007/2008 Business Plan
Platinum Award - Advertising - Group Advertising Program

2008 STS Top 20 events
Southeast Tourism Society
2008 International Folk Festival

 2008 Awesome Innovation Award
Destination Marketing Association of NC (formerly NCACVB)
Best Bureau Community Relationships - Welcome Center Marketing Committee

2007 John Meroski, CEO 
Earns Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) designation 
from Destination Marketing Association International. 


2007 Addy Awards Raleigh-Durham Chapter
Silver: Print Campaign
Silver: Military Groups Direct Mail
Silver: Direct Mail Campaign

2007 Bronze Adrian Award from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
Category: Advertising  Sub-category: Positioning
Advertising Campaign

2007 STS Top 20 events
Southeast Tourism Society
2007 Dogwood Festival
2007 Operation Celebrate Freedom
2007 International Folk Festival


2007 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of CVBs
Platinum Award - Best Destination Marketing Initiative - Brand Standards Guide
Platinum Award - Best Niche Marketing Piece

2007 Awesome Innovation Awards
North Carolina Association of CVBs
Best Stakeholder Relationships - Hospitality Training Program
Best Bureau Community Partnerships - Education Reception

2006 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus
Platinum Award ~ Best Newsletter/Constituent Communication ~ Freedom Flyer
Platinum Award ~ Best Destination Marketing Initiative ~ E-Marketing Program
Gold Award ~ Best Destination Marketing Initiative ~ I95 Billboards

2006 Preserve America Designation / Fayetteville, NC
Preserve America Communities and Neighborhoods

2006 STS Top 20 events
Southeast Tourism Society
2006 Dogwood Festival
2006 International Folk Festival

2005 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus
Gold Award - Destination Marketing Initiative ~ Golf Marketing Plan

2005 STS Top 20 events
Southeast Tourism Society
2005 International Folk Festival

2005 Awesome Innovations Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus
Local Stakeholder Relations ~ Community Branding
Community Partnerships - Tourist TV

2004 Readers Choice Award
Convention South Magazine

2004 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Platinum Award ~ Website ~ www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com
Gold Award ~ Publications~ Fayetteville Area Destination Guide

2003 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Platinum Award ~ Public Relations ~ "Festival of Flight Celebrates History & Future of Aviation"
Gold Award ~ Trade Print Advertising Campaign ~ "Something's Going on in Fayetteville..."

2002 RISING STAR AWARD
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus

2002 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
North Carolina Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Gold Award ~ Trade Print Advertising Campaign ~ "Fayetteville's Got Bragging Rights"

2001 Shining Example Award/ Bureau of the Year
Southeast Tourism Society

 

Area Stats