Author: root

VBCC hosted the Annual Tidewater Hokie Club Football Kick-off Dinner July 17, a very hot and humid day. The committee planned the evening well including a greeting by the official mascot.

As luck would have it, a front moved through late in the afternoon with high winds and heavy rain. Spectators both inside and out, saw the Hokie take flight.  They saw him head east and suspected he was headed to the beach to cool down. Once the rain ended the search began both from VBCC’s rooftop camera and on foot, but the Hokie was nowhere to be found.

Later in the evening, Justin Roberts, HVAC Tech and Bill Day, Carpenter II, on a routine check of the mechanical systems on the roof, located the deflated Hokie.

 

He was later returned to his owners.

Rumors are a similar incident happened January 15, 2019 when the Virginia Cavaliers basketball team came to Cassell Coliseum…

1. Employee Name: Brad Van Dommelen
2. Where were you born and where is your hometown?: I was born in the “mitten state” of Michigan.  Grand Rapids (a.k.a. Beer City USA) is my home town.
3. What division and position do you work for?: I have the privilege of serving as Director of the CVB
4. How many years have you worked for the CVB?: I’ve been in my position for 3 years as of this past April.
5. How many years have you worked for the City of Va. Beach?: Same as above.
6. What is the best vacation you’ve been on?: I’d say it was a 10 day Mediterranean Cruise with 5 days added on in Rome.  I didn’t want to leave Rome – all that great Italian wine and Gelato.
7. What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful City of Virginia Beach?: I like to go down to the oceanfront on my beach cruiser and enjoy watching people have fun in our destination.  I often go to the upstairs area of the Ocean House where you get a bird’s eye view of the Boardwalk and beach.
8. What is your favorite quote?: “Whatever you are, be a good one.”  Abraham Lincoln
9. Do you have an office nickname? If so what is it?:  Not that I’m aware of.
10. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?: I used to compete in barefoot water ski competitions and performed in water ski shows.
11. What do you like to do for fun?: I like outdoor activities such as riding my motorcycles, golfing, Frisbee at the beach, cycling, kayaking and discovering new restaurants.
12. What is the one thing you cannot resist?: Chocolate Chip Cookies – especially fresh out of the oven.
13. What is on your bucket list?: Riding to the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD.
14. What is your hidden talent? Don’t know – guess it’s pretty well hidden.

 

 

1. Employee name: Ron Kuhlman
2. Where were you born and where is your hometown? Born in Indianapolis, IN but Fairborn, Ohio is my home town
3. What division and position do you work for? I am V.P. of the Tourism Division which incorporates international marketing, group tour marketing and sales, international sales and travel industry marketing and sales and oversight of the Visitor Information Centers..
4. How many years have you worked for the CVB? 28 years in August.
5. How many years have you worked for the City of Va. Beach? 28 years in August. We moved here for the job and was going to stay for 3 years and move on.
6. What is the best vacation you’ve been on? Any week backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is my passion. Best vacation was a rim to rim backpacking hike in the Grand Canyon.
7. What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful City of Virginia Beach? Early morning walks on the beach to catch a sunrise and then breakfast at Mary’s.
8. What is your favorite quote? “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
9. Do you have an office nickname? If so what is it? Not that anyone has told me about.
10. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us: I was a music major in college at The Ohio State University and marched in the OSU Marching Band. I am a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College though.
11. What do you like to do for fun? I enjoy long bike rides, working out at Waring’s, hiking with my wife Madeline in False Cape State Park, hiking in the mountains.
12. What is one thing you cannot resist? Ice Cream
13. What is on your bucket list? I’ve achieved many activities on my bucket list but I still need to get to Tibet and explore that country and its culture.
14. What is your hidden talent? Singing in choirs.

Check out the new creative for our mid-summer digital campaign! This campaign was concepted and designed in-house by the MarComm team. Enjoy!

 

• :30 – https://vimeo.com/347772904/c4bd100516
• Adventure –https://vimeo.com/347768787/5aec753567
• Good Times – https://vimeo.com/347768736/5651ef69db
• Sweet Escape – https://vimeo.com/347768686/682ba4c909
• Beach Getaway – https://vimeo.com/347768844/3ec7615083
  

The VBCC had the privilege of hosting tours for 300 kids total over three days the past two weeks.  The kids were from summer camps sponsored by From One Hand To AnOTHER, a foundation founded by Pharrell Williams because he believed that every child could be a success if only they had the right tools. They provide over 1,700 children across the U.S. with summer camps focused on S.T.E.A.M.M. Serving predominantly at-risk and low-income elementary and middle school students, FOHTA’s Summer of Innovation camps integrate project-based learning and mentorship across all of their curricula – all while being 100% free of charge for the families.

Thank you to Adrielle Bazemore, Kimberlee Dobbins, Khemraj Persaud, Sherri Waghalter, Heather Vickers, James Caralivanos, Max Long, Courtney Dyer, Sam Bernheim and Claire Eder for assisting with the tours!

 

Here are a few blog posts that were published on the Visit Virginia Beach Blog recently. Please feel free to share these with your clients or on your own social media channels.

 

6 of Our Favorite Takes on Timeless Cocktails in Virginia Beach

8 Ways to Celebrate the Start of Spring in Virginia Beach

7 Beers to Toast to Spring in Virginia Beach

Discover The History of the Virginia Military Aviation Museum

 

 

 

Representatives of the Portuguese Water Dog Club (PWDC) where in town on Wednesday, March 13 for a site inspection of the Founders Inn & Spa Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The site inspection included an assessment of the Pungo Ferry Landing Boat Ramp recreation area for the water trial portion of the event. The event needs two trial areas with a 35’ wide shoreline and two separate lanes reaching out 60’ from shoreline to test specific water skills of each dog. Pictured here is Marlene, with PDWC, who is testing the waters on fairly nice day in March. If PWDC books, it is anticipated the PWDC National Specialty Show will bring 1400 room nights to Virginia Beach in August/September of 2020.

 

Also attached are a few pics of a resent site inspection of the Sheraton and Wyndham hotels with representatives from Faith Landmarks Ministries from the Richmond, Virginia area. The group is looking for a location for their 2020 Women’s Retreat in March. The retreats is expected to bring in 300 people to Virginia Beach.

This is a picture of Zayton, Dean Jones shared of his first grandson, who was born while Dean managed the CCEF conference at the VBCC in October 2018.

 

Dean Jones, CMP, is also the director of conferences and events with the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), in Indianapolis.