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Amanda Hall- Event Services Intern VBCC Experience

 

Hello! My name is Amanda Hall, and I was the Events Services Intern this summer at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. I am a rising senior at Virginia Tech studying Hospitality and Tourism Management, and I will be graduating December of 2019.

My experience with the Events Services team has been very educational! As the intern, I was given opportunities to shadow the coordinators and interact with both clients and patrons. Being able to work a variety of events, including meetings, dance competitions, and consumer shows, showed me the broad reach of this industry.

I even had the chance to be guided through coordinating an event—a Mental Health First Aid Training offered by the city. This involved working in Ungerboeck, our database system, communicating internally between our departments, and communicating externally with the client. It was a great success, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn!

I was also able to use my love for technical writing to assist in updating the building’s Emergency Action Plan and create content for the Event Coordinator Guide.

One of the most interesting parts of my summer was being able to learn more about the Convention and Visitors Bureau as a whole. Having grown up in Virginia Beach, I understand the impact tourism has on our city fiscally, environmentally, and culturally. To have had a supporting role in the well-being of my hometown this summer was an incredibly special experience!

 

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VBCC and City Earn Thousands for Energy Efficiency – CPower case study

Buildings at Virginia Beach, Virginia during a Warm Fall Night

 

Check out this case study (https://cpowerenergymanagement.com/case-study-city-virginia-beach/)  regarding the Convention Center and the City of Virginia Beach partnership with CPower Energy Management.  The case study highlights the City and VBCC’s participation in energy efficiency and demand response programs for which the City is positioned to earn over $87,000 in rebates.

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CVB French Canadian Rep Jacinthe Pare

Join me in congratulating our VBCVB French Canadian Representative Jacinthe Pare as she tied the knot last Saturday, August 2, 2018.  Jacinthe provides Public Relation services for the Quebec Market and has been a friend of ours for many years.  Best Wishes Jacinthe and Luis!

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Inaugural Connected Business Networking Event for Aug 8th Event

Jarod Forman, with Tidewater Beverage Services, hosted an Inaugural Connected Business Networking Event at Bryant & Stratton College on August 8, 2018.

 

Shout out to all our Attendees Today! Bryant & Stratton College ADP  WVEC 13 News Now Patient Advocate Foundation Office Furniture Outlet Matt Abbott State Farm Jackie Thomas Real Estate Riddle Associates Commercial Real Estate Virginia Beach Economic Development Virginia Beach City Council  Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Southern Twist Consulting LLC SMILE Kids Program Slover Library  Biz Connect  WebScape Guru Physio-Control, Inc Stryker PMI Tidewater Tom James UBS  Tidewater Mobile Medicine NeVetica Pet Products Crown Plaza Hotel  EXP Realty.

 

 

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VTC Luncheon

Tiffany Russell attended a luncheon hosted by Virginia Tourism Corporation to welcome Shannon Johnson, the new Brand Director for VTC. We are looking forward to her vision to modernize the Virginia is for Lovers brand and offer new co-op advertising opportunities for local DMO partners.

 

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Operations Appreciation Cook Out at the Convention Center

Thursday, July 26, the  Operations Department had an Employee Appreciation Cookout at the Convention Center. Keith Bernstein was graciously grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on Dock D while the staff ate and relaxed in the Hall.

Thank You Ops Team, for all that you do,  from Larry Mitchell,  Brenda Felton, Jackie Owens, Ladonya Reynolds, Chris Richmond, Bill Bradshaw and Les Tolson!

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Department Leadership Meeting (DLM) Notes from 7/25/18

Department Leadership Meeting (DLM) Notes from Wednesday,  July 25, 2018.

If you have any questions about these notes, please contact Michelle Boyette at MBoyette@visitvirginiabeach.com or (757) 385-2169

Attachments :

  1.  Agenda
  2. VAB Hotel Association PPT
  3. Entertainment District Update PPT
  4. Conflicts of Interests Act & Ethics PPT
  5. Emergency Communications & Citizens Services (ECCS) PPT 

 

 

 

Notes:

DCM Steven Cover – Flooding update

  1. Reviewed flooded areas of southern Virginia Beach via drone footage
  2. Reviewed the weather forecast over the next several days
  3. Provided an update on preparation efforts by various city departments

 

 

Dave Hansen, City Manager – Virginia Beach Hotel Association

  1. Overview of CM’s Meeting with VAB Hotel Association
    1. Grow the pie
      1. Think of the market as pie
      2. Businesses can either continue to argue over a small piece of pie or grow the pie so that each piece of the pie is larger
    2. Power of vacation memories – growing the pie
      1. City Manager, Dave Hansen, chose to move to Virginia Beach because vacation time he spent here was so positive
      2. VAB Industries include, Biomedical, High Speed Broadband and Tourism. Of the three, Tourism is the #1.
        1. Vacation memories = repeat business, positive economic impact and future investment
        2. Visitors in 2017 – 19 million
        3. Visitation up – 7.3%
        4. Overnight Visitors – 7.4 million
        5. Hotel stays – 4.7 million
        6. Lodging Sales – $370 million
        7. Hotel Tax Revenue – $32.8 million
        8. Virginia Beach – Top 25 Cities in the nation where Millennials are moving
      3. City Sustainability & Economic Growth
        1. Three ways cities maintain sustainability
          1. Grow Economy
          2. Raise Taxes
          3. Cut Services
        2. Virginia Beach grows the economy and will continue using this method. How?
          1. Tourism – leading catalyst to grow the economy
            1. Promote Year-Round Destination
              1. With projects like the Sports Center to attract sports tourism, especially events in the shoulder and off-seasons.
              2. Convention Center Headquarter Hotel
            2. Clean up Atlantic Avenue
              1. Infrastructure Improvements
              2. Update existing product
            3. Employees must be “all in” and help promote the City of Virginia Beach and support growth initiatives
  • Headquarter Hotel
    1. 2018 HVS Study Headquarter Hotel Study
    2. This is study #6 and it will likely state what the previous 5 studies concluded, that a headquarter hotel is economically beneficial to VB
    3. HQH would enable City Agencies to secure lucrative business that would not come to VB without a HQH
      1. Top tier business cannot be secured without top tier amenities, like a HQH.
        1. Look at Nashville, Richmond, West Palm Beach, etc.
      2. Convention Center Complex = Opportunity Zone
        1. Reviewed Dome site and two (2) Pier Proposals
        2. Sports Center
        3. Headquarter Hotel
        4. Center for Tourism Projects
        5. Full entertainment District Package
      3. Competition is good for the market, have to grow the pie.

 

 

DCM, Ron Williams – Entertainment District Update – the four projects listed are the top priorities from City Council

  1. Central Beach Project
    1. 19th Street Improvement Project
      1. Project started June 4, 2018
      2. Estimated Completion – June 2020
  • Construction is year round
  1. Sports Center
    1. PPEA Comprehensive Agreement for Design-Build
      1. What is a PPEA?
        1. PPEA stands for Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act
        2. A PPEA offers public bodies an alternative approach to the traditional design/bid/build process
        3. Pros of a PPEA
          1. Save time
          2. Save money
          3. Include no upfront cost
          4. Access to different designs
          5. Guarantees maximum price
          6. Provides a single point of contact
          7. Access to industry professionals
        4. Summary of Material Terms  (rounded)
          1. Sports Center Total = $58M
          2. Parking Total = $10M
          3. Total Project Cost = $68M
          4. Construction Start – August 2018
          5. Final Completion – November 2020
  • Programming
    1. Current, 17 events, generates 58,000-68,000 room nights
    2. Goal – 60 events, generate 150,000-160,000 room nights
    3. Sports Center collegiate track will be one of only three of its kind in the nation
  1. Dome Site
    1. January 2018, Public Engagement Workshop, reviewed responses
    2. Reviewed Dome Site Development
      1. Entertainment Venue
      2. Streetscapes
  • The Wave
  1. Pier Development
    1. Two proposals being reviewed
      1. 15th Street Pier Proposal
      2. 17th Street Pier Proposal
    2. CIP Project Funding
      1. Public & Private Funding
        1. Public Fund Source – TIP & General Fund
        2. More information – https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/communications-office/hot-topics/entertainment-district/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

Deputy City Attorney, Rod Ingram – Conflict of Interests Act and Ethics in Public Contracting Provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act

  1. Conflict of Interests Act – The act is complex and fact-specific.
    1. “The State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act is the primary law governing the financial interests of public officers and employees in contracts and transactions that involve their agency.”
      1. Potential Conflicts – a City employee may have a prohibited conflict arising from:
        1. A personal interest in a contract
        2. A personal interest in a transaction
        3. Business opportunities tied to official acts
        4. Misuse of confidential information
        5. Receipt or solicitation of gifts
        6. Please read through the attached PPT
      2. Ethics in Public Contracting Virginia Public Procurement Act
        1. The Ethics in Public Contracting provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act supplement the provisions of the Conflicts Act
        2. Applies to employees with intermediate or final authority to initiate, approve, disapprove, or otherwise affect a procurement transaction.
          1. “Procurement transaction” refers to obtaining goods, services or construction, and it includes description of requirements, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contracts, and all phases of contract administration.
          2. Among other things, an employee is prohibited from participating in a procurement transaction if:
            1. He or she, an immediate family member, or partner is employed by a bidder, offeror or contractor involved in the transaction,
            2. Or he or she (or a family member or partner) otherwise has a financial interest in the transaction.
  • Also prohibited are:
    1. Acceptance of anything of more than a nominal value from a bidder, offeror or contractor
    2. Employee/family member/partner negotiating prospective employment with bidder/offeror/contractor
    3. Person who prepares RFP/ITB submitting bid or proposal or disclosing to any bidder or offeror information that is not publicly available
  1. Required Disclosures
    1. Acceptance of employment with any bidder/offeror/contractor with whom the employee dealt in an official capacity concerning a procurement transaction for a period of one year—written notification
    2. Public bodies may require employees with procurement responsibilities to annually certify that they complied with the Act.
  2. Please read through the attached PPT

 

  1. The City Attorney’s Office will help with questions, clarification and opinions for both the Conflict of Interests Act and Ethics in Public Contracting Provisions.

 

Stephen Williams, Director, Emergency Communications & Citizens Services (ECCS)

  1. VAB 911 is very busy –
    1. Total calls – 719,335
      1. 911 Emergency Calls – 224,216
      2. Non-Emergency – 326,023
  • Outbound – 169,096
  1. Calls for service – 414,697
  1. VAB 311
    1. Total contacts – 116,857
      1. 311 calls – 81,980
      2. Real Estate Assessor – 9,567
  • Chat – 9,395
  1. Email – 2,938
  2. Everything else – 12,977
  1. Review the 911 call process and the importance of –
    1. Who
    2. What
    3. When
    4. Where
    5. Why
  2. Can I text 911?
    1. Yes
    2. When should I text 911?
      1. When you can’t call 911
        1. Home invasion
        2. Active Shooter
        3. Hearing Impaired
      2. Easy way to remember 911 or 311?
        1. 911 = Burning Buildings
          1. Medical emergencies
          2. Fires
  • Accidents with injuries
  1. Crimes in progress
  1. 311 = Burning Issues
    1. City information
    2. News
  • Events
  1. ECCS Education Outreach & jobs
    1. ECCS attends many public education events
    2. Invite ECCS and their mascot to visit your organization at vbgov.com/911kids
    3. ECCS is hiring 911 & 311 dispatchers!

 

Announcements

  1. Police Chief Cervera explained VBPD has four divisions, Investigative, Operations, Professional Standards and Support Division, and that the Support Division position is a civilian post. The Chief introduced Frances Emerson, the new Administrator for the Support Division. Frances Emerson is a retired Assistant Police Chief from the City of Norfolk.
  2. Various new staff and summer intern introductions
  3. Taylor Adams in Finance introduced the new Comptroller, Alice Kelly and the new Purchasing Agent, Rebecca Kees.
  4. DCM Tom Leahy introduced the new Director of Public Works, Mark Johnson