AIRPORT TRAVELERS EXPLORE ROANOKE REGION'S OUTDOORS                            
Travelers at Roanoke Regional Airport can now plan their next adventure before even taking off thanks to the Roanoke Regional Partnership.

A new interactive, touch-screen kiosk in the gate area of the terminal features dynamic information about the region's outdoor recreation opportunities, whether on land, on water or with a guided trip.

It's part of a broader marketing campaign to remind the 600,000 annual passengers, visitors and residents alike, - some of the region's best assets are found right outside the window.

"The Roanoke Region is quickly establishing itself as one of the best places on the East Coast to enjoy the outdoors," says Pete Eshelman, director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "Now we're able to make everyone aware of our outdoor offerings in a place where they usually have to wait to board a flight."

The slim kiosk sporting the words "Now Boarding" and "Destination: Outside" provides information about getting outdoors, including ideas for hiking, camping, mountain and road biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, tours, trips and more. One of the features enables travelers to e-mail information to plan their next adventure.

The kiosk also connects to www.roanokeoutside.com, the region's leading resource for outdoor recreation.

 "The Roanoke Region balances outdoor recreation and urban amenities with low costs of living and doing business," Eshelman says. "This kiosk is just the latest way we're sharing that message - this time to an audience that has some time and doesn't expect this kind of information in the middle of the terminal." 

ROANOKE REGION STUMBLED, BUT DID NOT FALL                                      
A new report continues to show a mixed picture for the regional economy, though the Roanoke Region seems to have largely escaped the full wrath of the Great Recession.

The second annual report on Regional Economic Progress, prepared by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, shows the region's Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) declined 0.3 percent between 2008 and 2009 while the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell by 2.6 percent over the same period.

The region increased employment in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors and in medical manufacturing, research and development, higher education and healthcare. Overall, these industries added 3,338 jobs at a time when overall employment declined. Manufacturing, other than medical manufacturing, saw the greatest decline in jobs regionally.

Much of the data in the report is based on 2009 figures, the worst year of the recession.

Still, the region's population showed signs of growth. From no net positive growth earlier in the decade, the region had an annualized growth rate of 0.6 percent by 2009.

"Like other parts of the nation, we saw a decline in new automobile registrations, home sales and retail sales as the recession curtailed consumer confidence," said Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "But this report also shows recovery is starting to take root. The data also support what we've long believed in that the region is somewhat insulated from dramatic shifts in the national economy."

One economic sector that's growing is the outdoor industry. With increased local awareness and growing national recognition of the region's outdoor assets, the region's outfitters, guides, and other miscellaneous outdoor businesses increased employment by 8.3 percent between the third quarter of 2008 and third quarter of 2009. The same industry group declined 1.4 percent at the state level and 2 percent nationally.

Click Here, to view the metrics report.

BLUE RIDGE MARATHON REGISTRATIONS RUNNING AHEAD OF LAST YEAR                

With less than three weeks before the start of the National College Blue Ridge Marathon on April 16 - billed as "America's Toughest Road Marathon" - advance registrations are running nearly 20 percent ahead of last year and preparations are under way for events that are expected to draw thousands of visitors to downtown Roanoke.

"We're already approaching more than 1,000 runners for the weekend's races," says race co-director Pete Eshelman, who also serves as the director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "We expect that number to continue to rise as the event nears, including a sizeable number of walk-up registrations the day before the race."  Last year's race attracted runners from 34 states and London; so far this year, we have participants from 36 states and Germany.

To help stir up national interest in this year's marathon, race organizers issued a unique challenge.   "The Mount Lemmon Marathon in Tucson, Ariz., claims to be the 'Toughest Road Marathon in the World,'" Eshelman says. "We think ours is tougher, and in the spirit of friendly competition, we are offering free entries in the National College Blue Ridge Marathon to anyone who finished last year's Mount Lemmon Marathon.  More than 20 Mount Lemmon finishers have accepted the challenge and will soon have the chance to sample a course with 7,234 feet of elevation change.

Last year's marathon had a positive economic impact on the Roanoke Region of nearly $350,000.  Several new initiatives are aimed at increasing that amount; including discounts for marathon runners, live music, silent auction, a Kids Half Marathon, pro road cycling race, beer garden, children's activities and more.

The marathon is one of the most significant events to promote the Roanoke Region's outdoor adventures and build its outdoor brand as a place where a hike, run, bike ride or paddle is just minutes away.