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Paul Wylie Named Honorary Chair
Charlotte resident and Olympic Silver Medalist, Paul Wylie, has been named Honorary Chairman of North Carolina 2011, the Local Organizing Committee for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
"Paul is the most accomplished skater in North Carolina," said Hill Carrow, NC 2011 Chairman. "Paul was instrumental in our bid process and is held in the highest regard throughout the sport. With his participation as an athlete in 15 U.S. Championships, he is a natural to help lead our host organization."
Wylie was the Novice National Champion, the Junior National Champion, and competed at the senior level in the Championships for 11 straight years, medaling from 1989 to 1992. He captured the Silver Medal at the XVI Winter Olympics in Albertville, France in 1992, and then went on to win the U.S. Professional Championships later that year. In 1993 he won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships. He currently coaches with the Carolinas Figure Skating Club at Extreme Ice in Indian Trail, NC.
“As an ambassador, my goal is to get North Carolinians to embrace the U.S. Championships. We want big crowds there to support the athletes," said Wylie. "We also would like to grow the sport of figure skating in North Carolina, and I see my role with the U.S. Championships as a way to help accomplish that.”
Sign of the Championships
The 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships are starting to get noticed in some high profile locations about town due to some new, prominent signage.
An attractive backlit display has been installed above the box office windows at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, and a major 9.5' x 6.5' banner now graces the central downstairs area of the main terminal at Piedmont Triad International Airport.
"We are delighted to help get the word out on the U.S. Championships," said Ted Johnson, PTI Airport Authority Executive Director. "As a main entry point to Greensboro and the Triad region, we certainly want PTI Airport to be decked out for the big event."
Coming soon will be some pole banners along the roadway entry to the airport, as well as a branded information booth at the Greensboro Coliseum.
New Official Hotel Added
The latest addition to the Official Hotels lineup for the 2011 U.S .Figure Skating Championships is also the only LEED Platinum certified hotel in the entire country; the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro.
Sustainable practices, custom-designed furnishings, locally commissioned art and innovative design await guests in every corner of the 147-room luxury, AAA Four Diamond hotel and its adjacent restaurant, Print Works Bistro.
"We are very excited to become an Official Hotel of the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships," said Dennis Quaintance, CEO of Quaintance-Weaver Hotels & Restaurants, Inc., owner of the Proximity. "We plan to promote enticing packages for the event and fully intend to delight the figure skating fans with great service and hospitality, and wonderful food from the Print Works Bistro."
The Proximity is a leader in the green movement having achieved the highest level of certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. As a result, Proximity and Quaintance-Weaver executives are in demand as speakers at major industry conferences on green building and sustainable development.
U.S. Championships Marketing Retreat
North Carolina 2011 hosted a major marketing retreat on August 26 at the Greensboro-High Point Airport Marriott, an Official Hotel of the 2011 Championships. The retreat was sponsored in part by the Airport Marriott and included executives from the Local Organizing Committee marketing team.
The Greensboro Sports Commission, Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Media Fit (marketing and advertising sponsor), BEM Interactive (internet marketing sponsor), Annese PR (public relations sponsor), and Sports & Properties (management team) were all represented.
Discussions focused on marketing ideas and execution for the Championships. "It was a great session for both team building and planning," said Hill Carrow. "It also emphasized just how much we have to do to stage a successful Championships and it provided everyone with a great sense of urgency."
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