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Dennis Edwards, who has served as president and CEO of Visit Raleigh since 2007, will retire on Dec. 31. The CVB for North Carolina's capital city said it has a succession plan in place and expects to make an announcement soon regarding its next leader.
Dennis Edwards, president and CEO, Visit Raleigh Photo Credit: Visit RaleighDuring Edwards' tenure, the county has experienced strong tourism growth. According to Visit Raleigh, visitations nearly doubled from 10.4 million in 2007 to 19.1 million in 2025. Visitor spending surged from $1.7 billion to $3.4 billion. The region also has hosted such major events as the NHL All-Star Game, NCAA Men's and Women's College Cups, IBMA World of Bluegrass and GalaxyCon.
Edwards is credited with helping to bring the Michelin Guide to town. His collaboration with Travel South USA and Visit Carolina resulted in 14 Raleigh restaurants being recognized in Michelin's first-ever American South edition, which was released in late 2025.
"It's been an absolute privilege to work for such a dynamic destination with an incredibly talented staff," said Edwards. "Wake County has experienced unprecedented growth in tourism over the past 20 years, and the future is extremely bright for our entire hospitality community."
His career in tourism spans more than four decades. Before joining Visit Raleigh, Edwards held leadership positions at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention & Visitors Bureau.
What's Ahead for Raleigh
Edwards oversaw a 10-year strategic plan, which has laid the foundation for tourism growth and investments through 2028. This includes an expansion of the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center, which is gaining 289,000 square feet. The project is expected to be completed in 2029 and will bring the venue's total event space up to 789,000 square feet.
A new headquarters hotel also is coming to town. The 600-room Omni Raleigh Hotel is being constructed next to the convention center and will offer an additional 61,000 square feet of meeting space. It is scheduled to open in late 2028.
Due to the convention center expansion, the Red Hat Amphitheater is being relocated. The new facility is being built one block south. When it opens in 2027, the venue will have seating for more than 6,000 people.