Dennis Edwards Set to Retire as President and CEO of Greater Raleigh CVB

Dennis Edwards announced his retirement as president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, effective Dec. 31, 2026.

Edwards joined Visit Raleigh in April 2007 after holding leadership roles at CVBs in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Houston; Palm Springs, Calif.; Culver City, Calif.; and Sioux City, Iowa.

During his tenure, Wake County's hotel occupancy tax collections increased from $14 million to over $41 million, while prepared food and beverage tax revenues grew from $16 million to nearly $49 million. Annual visitation rose from 10.4 million in 2007 to 19.1 million in 2025, with visitor spending climbing from $1.7 billion to over $3.4 billion.

Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 19.1 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.43 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $342 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $743 in taxes annually.

"It's been an absolute privilege to work for such a dynamic destination with an incredibly talented staff at the GRCVB," Edwards said. "Wake County has experienced unprecedented growth in tourism over the past 20 years, and the future is extremely bright for our entire hospitality community."

Under Edwards' leadership, Wake County hosted major events including the NHL All-Star Game, NHL Stadium Series, NCAA Men's basketball tournaments, NCAA Men's and Women's College Cups, The Soccer Tournament, IBMA World of Bluegrass, Dreamville and GalaxyCon.

Edwards oversaw development of the 10-year Wake County Destination Strategic Plan 2028, which led to approval and development of the Red Hat Amphitheater, Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center expansion, the 600-room Omni Hotel and enhancements at the Lenovo Center. Wake County is currently undergoing over $2 billion in tourism infrastructure development.

Edwards leads a staff of 35 with a budget of $12.5 million. He chairs the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Board and serves on boards including the U.S. Travel Association, North Carolina Travel & Tourism Coalition, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Dix Park Conservancy and Wake County Economic Development.

"Denny is a true veteran and pioneer who began his journey in Raleigh nearly 20 years ago, dedicating himself to strategizing, advocating for and advancing tourism in Wake County," said Melissa Chunn, general manager at Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel and chair of the GRCVB Board of Directors.

The GRCVB Board of Directors has a succession plan and anticipates announcing Edwards' replacement soon.

Photo Credit: Visit Raleigh

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