Gretchen Hall
LRCVB Picks Gina Gemberling as Next CEO
She's helping lead a tourism master plan initiative that will identify competitive positioning and tourism infrastructure needs. read more >
In Praise of Flexibility (Editorial)
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the nation’s other governors delivered some words of wisdom last week to President Joe Biden: Give the states’ chief executives flexibility when spending federal infrastructure money. read more >
Gina Gemberling Named Interim CEO of LRCVB
She's an industry veteran who has led the bureau's sales and marketing efforts in recent years. read more >
Gretchen Hall Leaving LRCVB for National Role
She joined LRCVB in 2001 in its Event Operations Division and was named the president and CEO in 2011. read more >
Arkansas Tourism Tax Numbers Soar, With Caveats
In cities that collect advertising and promotion taxes for tourism on hotel and restaurant receipts, the numbers talk. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Wilmoth On Board with Cabot Economic Development (Movers & Shakers)
Alicia Wilmoth has been named director of economic development for the city of Cabot. read more >
Ottenheimer Market Hall Makes Return in River Market
At Ottenheimer Market Hall in the River Market, four vendors failed to survive the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, but perhaps more surprising — considering that the hall’s doors were closed for more than a year — is that 11 vendors have returned. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
LRCVB’s Gretchen Hall To Lead Global Advocacy Group
Gretchen Hall, president and CEO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, will serve as board chair of Destinations International, effective July 1. read more >
New Tax or Not, Mayor Set to Rebrand the Rock
Sales tax or no, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. is ready to rebrand the city with a new marketing campaign, a new city flag and a new website. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
NJCAA to Play Championship Games in Little Rock
The National Junior College Athletic Association is bringing its football championship games to Little Rock for the next three years. read more >
Arkansas Hospitality Tax Receipts Plunge in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic sent hospitality tax collections in Arkansas plummeting last year, and the blow to some tourism bureaus in the state, which rely on the taxes for revenue, was even worse than those figures show. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
Lost Forty Brewing Announces 2nd Little Rock Location
Lost Forty Brewing of Little Rock says it will open a restaurant and specialty brewing facility at the site of the recently shuttered East Sixth Brewing Co. (formerly known as Rebel Kettle Brewing) at 822 E. 6th St. in Little Rock. read more >
Convention Centers Can’t Wait for Legislative Session
Arkansas’ hospitals and other industries have urgent concerns for the Legislature to address in the regular session that will commence on Jan. 11, but a key piece of the hospitality industry has needs that are more urgent. read more >
by -
White Leaders, We Must Get Out of Our Comfort Zones (Gretchen Hall Commentary)
Gretchen Hall, the CEO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, talks about what concrete action steps her organization is implementing to address systemic racism and inequality. read more >
by -
Have Cup, Will Travel: Drinks Hit The Streets
Outdoor drinks and dining have become commonplace in American downtowns, a trend pioneered in Arkansas by Little Rock, which initiated the River Market Entertainment District last summer. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Hall Elected Board Chair at Destinations International (Movers & Shakers)
Gretchen Hall has been named the chair-elect of Destinations International’s board of directors. read more >
Little Rock Creates SoMa Entertainment District, Expands River Market District
The Little Rock Board of Directors last week approved an expansion of the existing River Market Entertainment District and the creation of a temporary district in the South Main neighborhood. read more >
A&P Trends Show Pandemic Pummelling Arkansas Visitors Bureaus
The coronavirus pandemic has battered city convention and visitors bureaus in Arkansas and sapped their sources of revenue: lodging and restaurant taxes. An industry built on bringing people together and attracting tourists is uniquely vulnerable to an infectious disease. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
In an Odd Tourism Week, LRCVB’s Gretchen Hall Looks Ahead
Gretchen Hall was finishing up an odd National Travel and Tourism Week on Friday, touring local and national sites virtually while cautiously looking forward to a revival in business for the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
LRCVB Canceled Events Total $7.4M in Economic Impact
More than 50 events at Little Rock Convention & Tourism Bureau venues have been canceled into August, and downtown hotels’ March revenue compared to last year plunged 90%. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Sign up for Daily E-news
Sign Up
THIS WEEK’S EDITION
This Week’s Stories
View Digital Edition
