Raleigh Visitors Bureau Giving Away Trip to Paris as Part of Monet in Normandy
Exhibition brings Paris to Raleigh, Sends Lucky Winner to Paris, Giverny

RALEIGH, N.C. (September 27, 2006) – The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) announced today that it will give away a trip to Paris for two as part of the promotional effort surrounding the upcoming Monet in Normandy exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The exhibition is expected to attract nearly 150,000 attendees and generate an economic impact of $12 million.

"We've assembled a long list of French experiences so that all our visitors can experience French-themed dining, shopping, wine tastings and much more," said Martin Armes, director of communications and marketing for the GRCVB. "But for one winner and their guest, we're going to share the ultimate French experience, including a trip to Giverny, where Monet painted many of the works coming to Raleigh."

The exhibition opens on October 15, 2006, and will feature a collection of 50 of the best-known paintings by celebrated impressionist painter Claude Monet. Its three-month appearance in Raleigh will be the only showing of the exhibition on the East Coast. Many of these works are on loan from private collections from around the world and are rarely traveled.

The sweepstakes winner will receive two international tickets to Paris on Continental Airlines, four-night hotel accommodations at Les Jardins du Marais in the heart of Paris, two tour tickets including transportation to Giverny, two tickets to the Louvre and dinner for two.

Registration for the sweepstakes is part of the GRCVB's Monet tourism promotion. Those who book a Monet hotel special offer will also receive a free $10 TGIF shopping card redeemable at Cary Towne Center, Crabtree Valley Mall or Triangle Town Center. When the card is redeemed, that person can register for the sweepstakes. Entry can also be made online or via a postcard entry. Limit one entry per person. The sweepstakes is a partnership of the GRCVB, Trip Logics and the Vacation Centre, American Express Vacations and Continental Airlines.

Visitors can find more information about the Monet in Normandy exhibition and the French Getaway Experiences at www.VisitRaleigh.com/monet. The website allows visitors to purchase tickets to the exhibition, book hotel accommodations, make reservations for the French dining, wine tastings and other experiences and enter the Monet sweepstakes.

The GRCVB, as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. Through its website, VisitRaleigh.com and other tools, the GRCVB assists visitors to the Greater Raleigh area in a variety of ways.