Greetings!
Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is pleased to send this eNewsletter to share what is going on in the CVB and what Midland has to offer. Please contact us if you have any questions or if you need help with a group of visitors coming to Midland. We are here for you and we are glad to have you as a contact. |
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Calendar of Events  What is going on in Midland, Texas? We have the answer to that. Our Calendar of Events has a variety of events and you can even sort by type to suit your taste. Do you like theatre? Sort the calendar to show you those events only. Do you prefer meetings or seminars? Then sort by that. We do our best to get info from various locations to become the most comprehensive calendar in Midland. If you think we are missing an event that the public needs to know about then please let us know. Anyone can visit our website and simply click on "Submit Event" and fill out the entry form. It's that simple!
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Photo of the Month
Summer Sunday Lawn Concerts at the Museum of the Southwest
Bring a picnic, your friends, & family and come enjoy live music every Sunday evening though August 23.
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  Featured Hotel -
Hilton Midland Plaza
In the heart of downtown Midland, the Hilton Midland Plaza is the only hotel located in the business district, close to major corporate and government offices, and just blocks from the county and federal courthouses. The hotel is just minutes off of Interstate 20 (Exit 136) and approximately 15 minutes from Midland International Airport. Each of the 255 guest rooms are tastefully appointed with comfortable beds and furnishings. They offer complimentary internet access in all rooms, and complimentary wi-fi is select sleeping rooms and all common areas. For those without a laptop, they have a 24 hour business center available in the lobby at no charge. Guests can also stay in shape by working out in our brand new Precor ® fitness center or by taking a dip in the outdoor pool. Le Bistro opens daily at 6:30 AM for breakfast, including the Hilton Breakfast ® buffet with over 60 items to please any palate. Weekday lunch buffets are served from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Feature days are Tuesday with the Make Your Own Pasta bar, Wednesdays with the Mexican buffet, and Thursday with Southern Comfort food. Join them on Thursday evenings, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM for the now famous "Bubba Q" at Ali Bubba's Rooftop Bar. Hilton fires up the grill and cooks your dinner favorites like burgers, steaks, fish and chicken. Add salad and a buffet of sides, and dinner's done! Then unwind with friends in Mahogany Lounge, open daily at 4:00 PM. The Hilton Midland Plaza has over 10,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, perfect for events from 2 to 350! The Crystal Ballroom, the largest space, can also be subdivided into five individual meeting rooms, allowing them to tailor group set ups to your specifications. They also offer two new Hilton Meetings ® rooms featuring the latest amenities and furnishings to make your meeting a true success. The Hilton is located at 117 West Wall Street, 432.683.6131, www.midland.hilton.com. |
 Featured Attraction -
George W. Bush Childhood Home
Purchased in 2001, the home has been restored to the period of 1951-1955 when George H. W. and Barbara Bush and their family lived here. The restoration process took nearly 5 years to complete. This process included document research, meeting with former owners, including the Bush family, historical research into the history of Midland, acquiring necessary approval from the National Register of Historic Places, Texas Historical Commission and other city, county and state agencies. The actual restoration process proved to be quite a challenge given the condition of the home and the modifications which had been made from 1956-2001.
Built in 1939, this home was then located in an area of wide open fields. By the time the Bush family bought the home, many of the surrounding homes had been built and it was a thriving neighborhood with many children with which George W. and Jeb could play.
This home saw lots of laughter and joy during the early 1950s. Neighborhood barbeques and parties were common and local children would visit the home to play in the spacious back yard. Jeb Bush was born while the family lived here and so was Neil Bush.
It was while living in this home that the family also lost their beloved Pauline Robinson (Robin) to leukemia.
When the family outgrew this home they purchased a larger home in Midland where they lived from late 1955 to 1959.
The George W. Bush Childhood Home was dedicated on April 11, 2006. Since then, over 25,000 visitors have toured the home. These include guests from 49 foreign countries, all 50 states and 3 US territories.
Paul St.Hilaire, Executive Director, is awed by some of the feedback given by visitors. "Many have no idea that George and Barbara had 6 children and the extent to which they dedicated themselves to the community. Some of their legacy includes volunteering at the hospital, teaching Sunday School at First Presbyterian, serving on the PTA of Sam Houston Elementary and raising funds for our first YMCA building and the first Midland Symphony Orchestra. Barbara was in the Womens League and was a den mother for George's Cub Scout pack. George H.W. established Little League baseball in Midland."
Many visitors are also amazed at the variety of items in the Gift Shop. Toys of the 50s, t-shirts, hats, polo shirts, books written by and about the Bush family, other historical books, cookbooks, candy, collectibles, posters, mugs and many other items line the shelves of the Gift Shop, located across the street from the historic home.
Visit this unique attraction and rediscover an important piece of Midland's and the nation's history.
The home is open for tours from 10 AM-5 PM Tues-Sat and 2-5PM on Sunday. A staff of dedicated volunteers provides the tours. They recommend that you arrive for tours no later than 4:30 PM to enjoy the full experience of your tour.
1412 West Ohio Avenue
Midland, TX 432-685-1112
www.bushchildhoodhome.org
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Featured Venue  There is a new cowboy in town. Buffalo Springs Ranch & Lodge is "Your Home on the Range". Located just a short 30-minute drive from Midland, Texas on 1465 CR 490 in Lomax, TX.
This location is ideal for receptions, private parties, family reunions, board meetings, holiday events, weddings, and more.
It contains a main lodge with a great room that features plush leather seating for you and all your guests to relax in front of the massive rock fireplace, or the three flat screen televisions. This room also contains regualtion pool table, poker table, custom granite-topped bar, and dining table. This main lodge wouldn't be complete without the state-of-the-art kitchen and four bedrooms with rustic decor and each has it's own bath.
If the main lodge isn't enough then don't forget about the guest house that can accomodate twelve to twenty-four additional guests and these rooms have the same rustic decor and each with a private bath. The front of the guest house also contains a small kitchenette for quick breakfast, snacks, and storage.
But most want to go to the ranch to be outdoors and that is possible with the enourmous patio and outdoor pergola that play host to a custom-built "Texas Sized" grill and fire pit. You'll really enjoy being under the stars of Texas.
Activities begin at volleyball, horseshoes, and washers but don't end there. You can "Ride the Ranch" to view West Texas sunsets and enjoy the flora and fauna at its finest all on horseback. For the hunters there are some of the best dove, quail and trophy deer hunting available in West Texas.
For availability of hunting packages and any additional information on the Ranch and booking it for your next social event contact wildlife biologist, John Cox (940) 736-4906 or gmsinc84@aol.com. You can also view the website at buffalospringslodge.com. |
Old Rankin Highway Visitor Center 
Old Rankin Highway Visitors Center volunteer for the month of August is Lyn McEwen. Lyn has been volunteering since Nov. 2008. She spends two mornings a week at the visitor's center. She really enjoys the visitors and she is such a joy to have as a volunteer. She always has a smile for everyone and so proud of Midland and what our community has to offer.
Lyn was born in McCamey, TX. She spent her childhood in Odessa and all over West Texas before making it to Rankin for High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Melvin McEwen and had 50 wonderful years with him before his death. He served in the army in Virginia and Arizona so she got to enjoy living in those states. They then moved to Hobbs, New Mexico before ending up back in McCamey. They were blessed with 3 children before moving to Midland in 1970. The children all graduated from Lee High School. Lyn worked at Midland Memorial Hospital and later at Parker & Parsley-now know as Pioneer Natural Resources.
Lyn now enjoys spending time with her adult children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren along with her two dogs.
To quote Lyn "Volunteering at the Old Rankin Highway Visitors Center is the highlight of my Mondays and Tuesdays. We never know who will come through the doors, where they are from or where they are going, but they are always welcome."
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Spotlight on the CVB
MIDLAND FINALIST IN TEXAS MEETINGS + EVENTS MAGAZINE
2009 BEST OF AWARDS - WESTERN REGION
Midland, Texas - On Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009, Texas Meetings + Events magazine will be presenting their second annual Readers' Choice Best Of Awards to celebrate the finest of the meetings and events industry, and a large number of Midland businesses received nominations (for the 2nd year in a row).
Nominees from Midland include: Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau, Carino's, Gerardo's Casita, Midland Center, Brother Z, Mex-Tex Family Fiesta, Summer Mummers, Michael's Flowers, Hogan Park Golf Course, Midland Country Club, Kessler's Reception Hall, Shack in the Back, The Willows, Marriott Residence Inn Midland, Hilton Midland Plaza, Midland County Horseshoe, Scharbauer Sports Complex, Ken's Events and Tents, Elegante Bridal Décor, Non-Profit Management Center of the Permian Basin, Maria Elena Duron Buzz2Bucks, EZ Rider, Big John's Limo Service, Angela Free Photography, LKM Photography, George H.W. and Barbara Bush Commemorative Center, and Martini Glass Grill.
The Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau encourage members of the Midland press to attend in support of the Midland nominations. The Readers' Choice Best Of Awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm and will take place at the Lakeway Resort and Spa in the Vistas Ballroom in Austin, TX (101 Lakeway Drive, Austin, TX 78734). Attendees must RSVP by August 31 at www.txmeetingsmag.com. The Midland CVB has requested that all members of the press, who plan to attend, contact them, as well, in order for them to keep track of expected attendees. The CVB can be reached at 683-3381.
PROFESSIONAL BONDSMEN OF TEXAS
The Professional Bondsmen of Texas recently held a Bail Bond Course in Midland hosted at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center. Attendees come to listen to course instructors from across the state of Texas to receive continuing education. PBT has a goal of enhancing the betterment of the bond industry and they do this by helping bondsmen advance their businesses.
SILVER SPUR TRADESHOWS
Midland also have a retained annual event, Silver Spurs Gun & Knife Show, that will be bringing in two more expos to our annual calendar and this was in part due to the service they received from the meeting venue and the CVB. We are excited to be planning on these expos starting in 2010.
TEAMBUILDING
The Midland CVB and Odessa CVB partnered for a luncheon to go over possible projects of joint interests and discussion on how to best promote our area of the permian basin. The lunch went very well and was very productive and we send a big thanks to Odessa CVB for their time.
TOURISM
Brenda Kissko, attended a West Texas itinerary planning session in Granbury with Lubbock, San Angelo, Abilene, Odessa, Fort Worth and Granbury CVB's as well as the historical trail region representatives covered by the towns (Pecos, Mountain, Plains, Forts, and Lakes Trails). We reviewed our "Cowboys & Indians" itinerary and set goals & deadlines for other themed itineraries. The group also agreed to use www.WestTexasTrip.com as the compatible web site for the group to use and promote tours to West Texas to tour operators. This Web site was created by Midland, Fort Davis & the Mountain Trail Region, and now the three partners are working on updating the Web site up to include all partners and be appealing to the group tour market so that all partners will be able to cross-promote. Our goal is the have that completed by the fall in preparation for upcoming trade shows.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 In August team members from the CVB will attend the Texas Association of Convnetion & Visitors Bureau's Annual Conference. This gives us the opportunity to share experiences and ideas with other professionals in the industry. Continuing education classes are offered allowing us to learn new things and then bring that knowledge back to the rest of the team. |
CVB Actions
CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU REPORTING:
May's Servicing Numbers
Groups Serviced: 29
Overnight Visitors: 2,600
Day Visitors: 2,974
Inquires Answered: 402
Collateral Distributed: 3,891
Numbers are reported one month behind sales numbers due to tracking and reporting. Our servicing manager as well as staff continually strives to provide all visitors with West Texas hospitality and information to make their stay enjoyable and one worth repeating. "Visitor numbers" are estimated by event right holders and provided by tracking reports. "Inquiries Answered" are phone, mail, email, and walk-ins. These numbers are compiled with the CVB downtown office and the Visitor Center on I20. "Collateral Distributed" is the number of informative pieces of information such as Midland Visitor Guide and Locator Maps. Again, these numbers are compiled with the CVB downtown office and the Visitor Center.
June's Sales Dashboard
Requests for Proposals: 6
Bids Submitted: 2
Definite Bookings: 5
Room Nights Booked: 337
Direct Visitor Spending: $81,390.00
We report one month behind so that we can give a full months representation. "Requests for Proposals" are leads that are captured by the CVB and distributed to local hotels, meeting facilities, and sporting venues. "Bids Submitted" are proposals sent to event right holders to try to bring an event to Midland. "Definite Bookings" are leads that have turned into definite business for Midland. "Room Nights Booked" is the number of sleeping room nights that are associated with the definite business booked. "Direct Visitor Spending" is the estimated dollar amount that an event will bring in; calculating the number of dollars visitors will spend in Midland's economy. |
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Thank you for taking the time to view and read our eNewsletter. If we can assist you with any group event bringing in visitors to Midland then please let us know. Share this email with co-workers, friends, family, whomever so that everyone can know what Midland CVB has going on.
Sincerely,
The Staff
Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau
109 N. Main
Midland, TX 79701
Phone: 432-683-3381
Toll free: 800-624-6435
Fax: 432-686-3556
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| What can the Midland CVB do for you? |
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We want your event to be hosted in Midland and our sales staff is here to make that happen!
We are your liaison to everything Midland. Submit an RFP with us and we will assist with group rates at local hotel properties and any other facilities.
You can't go wrong with the West Texas hospitality provided by our staff that your event will experience.
We'll see ya'll soon!
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