Rale, Nekan – Rale Convention Center is the recipient of the 2025 Venue Excellence Award from International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). The award recognizes any five IAVM places within the membership that demonstrates excellence in the management and operation of public assembly places.
General Manager Mara Craft said, “We are thrilled to be recognized by our colleagues as an industry-site. “The work we have done for more than 20 years is here, which is making a place where there are excellent moments.”
The Rale Convention Center has welcomed over 6.5 million guests and produced more than $ 963 million in economic impact since opening in 2008. In the previous year, the Center hosted 163 programs in 332 events days, with 379,431 guests. In addition to providing high class hospitality to so many guests, the award winning team at the Rale Convention Center has consistently served as industry leaders in security, stability and access. Employees are trained in access to congestion safety, neurodiversity, and the facility is Leed Silver certified.
The Rale Convention Center continues to pursue excellence by adding extraordinary features. The Center’s Signature Coffee Shop was opened in 2023 and has been a hit with guests, offering themed drinks for events. This feature is currently entering a new chapter, an additional 350,000 square feet. The Rale Convention Center will provide customers and guests an enhanced event experience, allowing the site to host more and larger programs.
Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Rale Convention and Performing Arts Complex, said, “What is already such an exciting time for the Rale Convention Center, it is very special.” “We are committed to creating excellent moments here, and to recognize Rale as a top-level global destination. Getting the site Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers means that all the hard work of our great team is stopping to pay, and the industry is taking notice of rale at the international level.
The Wenue Excellence Award will be presented at the IAVM’s Venukanect event at New Orleans on 28-31 July.
The Rale Convention and Performing Arts Complex (“The Complex”) includes four city-owned and managed facilities that bring together residents, out-of-town visitors and a host of artists from the country and around the world.
Three of the four places in the center of the vibrant capital city of Northern Carolina welcome some 1 million visitors in the city of Rale every year. Award winner, the 500,000 square feet Rale Convention Center is a pioneer in innovation, stability and guest experience. The next door sits with a discussion schedule of the city’s signature open-air music venue, red hat amphitheater, 6,000 seats and music performance.
On a short walk, the Martin Marriatta Center for the Performing Arts has four unique theater, sitting from 150 to 2,369, and the resident companies have Carolina Ballet, North Carolina Simphani, North Carolina Opera and Pincon home. Beyond the downtown rale, the Costal Credit Union Music Park in Walnut Creek claims a 20,000-individual capacity amphitheater on the 77 rolling green acre and regularly packs the house with large-naming acts.
