The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) will be riding into town for its 30th annual Wing Ding event in Greenville this week. The event is July 3-6, opening at the Carolina First Center, as the host facility.

Wing Ding is the world's largest convention of owners of Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles. This will be the third time that Greenville will host the convention which was previously held here in 1995 and 2001 and well received.

More than 10,000 Gold Wing motorcycle owners are expected to attend Wing Ding 30, occupying over 7,000 hotel rooms booked through the Convention & Visitors Bureau housing program for this week. The community will also benefit from additional hotel rooms booked directly with hotels, outside of the CVB's housing program. The event is anticipated to generate close to $9 million in direct economic impact to Greenville and the Upcountry.

"It gives me great pleasure to see Wing Ding returning to Greenville. Our hospitality community has put a tremendous amount of work into making this happen. I feel certain that our community will show Gold Wing what Southern hospitality is all about and I look forward to showcasing Greenville," says Ryan Herron, director of sales for Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Many exciting Wing Ding events will take place around the Upcountry over the 4th of July holiday and into the weekend including a visit to Shriners Hospital for Children, a talent show, a Welcome Party in downtown Greenville and a concert at the BI-LO Center. The Grand Parade on July 4th, however, is one of the main events during GWRRA's stay in Greenville. GWRRA invites all owners of Honda motorcycles to participate in the parade beginning at J.L. Mann High School and ending in downtown Greenville on Main Street for the Red, White and Blue Festival. GWRRA is attempting to break the world record for the most Honda motorcycles in a parade which is currently set at 884.

GWRRA, whose mottos is "Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge," is a not-for-profit organization with over 82,000 members in 50 countries, and 4,000 volunteer leaders providing rider education, social structure, organizing events, rallies, rides and meetings throughout the year. For more information on the organization, visit GWRR's websites at www.gwrra.org and www.wing-ding.org.