The CincinnatiUSA CVB's Fam Tour, short for Familiarization Tour, began at the Duke Energy Center, where the guests were treated to a tour of the convention center on Segways. There was a brief Segway orientation and then every one was off.
Dan Lincoln, President and CEO of the Bureau, was seeking any takers to race him around the facility.
After the tour of the facility, the hosts and guests gathered on the second level for a reception, with the cuisine provided by Ovations and the decor by Accent on Cincinnati.
The cayenne sour cherry heart-shaped chocolate was to die for!
There was an unexpected performance by the extremely funky Exhale Dance Tribe, performing to Bootsy Collins track. Bootsy appeared with the dancers as a surprise.
After the reception, the crew walked to Fountain Square and had some drinks and hor'dourves at Via Vite.
From Via Vite, we walked to Bootsy's, where, along the way, we came upon a street performer.
Barrie Perks, Vice President, Sales and Services of CincinnatiUSA CVB, and ever the party pooper, threatened to extinguish the man's entertainment.
The guests finished the first half their Fam at Bootsy's.
On Friday morning, everyone gathered on the terrace of the Hilton’s Belvedere Room. It was a spectacular morning.
After breakfast, we hopped on a private coach and toured downtown. One of our stops, the Reds Stadium.
A visit to Cincinnati would not be complete without lunch at Skyline, where Cincinnati's vice mayor joined us.
The guests concluded their tour at Cincinnati's National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
The finale included a wonderful brief concert by Cincinnati's Super Choir. (The young boy in the white suit. He's got a killer voice!)
CincinnatiUSA CVB June Fam Tour
World Choir Games 2012 Press Conference
Cincinnati, OH will be the first American city to host the bi-annual World Choir Games in 2012. The announcement took place on Thursday on Fountain Square.
What an honor for Cincinnati!
(See all the photos here.)
Appropriately, opening the festivities was the Cincinnati Children's Choir.
President of Interkultur, Gunter Titsch, being interviewed by Cincinnati's Channel 5 news.
Cincinnati Opera represented at the press conference. What a voice!
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra represented at the presser. The violinist plays a mean banjo, which, he told me, he taught himself.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins, a resident of Cincinnati.
Bootsy signs autographs
Girls choir/ensemble from Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Dan Lincoln, President and CEO of CincinnatiUSA CVB, Gunter Titsch, President of Interkulter, and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.
Mr. and Mrs. Bootsy Collins listen to the choir.
Hamilton County Commission David Pepper
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and First Lady of Ohio Frances Strickland
Mayor Mallory presents a proclamation to Interkultur
Cincinnati's very own Kolping Sangorchor
Pops conductor extraordinaire and the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
What a great turnout!
The First Lady of Ohio and Who Dey cuttin' the rug
Venus Kent of the CincinnatiUSA CVB played an important role in securing the World Choir Games 2012 for Cincinnati. Kudos to Venus!
Gunter Titsch and Dan Lincoln
