Live The Life
Had a great time this week celebrating the Virginia Beach Convention Center’s 10th anniversary. Travis, from the communications team, put together this video for the event to capture how special the VBCC is .Here it is for all of you that didn’t see it.
Please enjoy and share with whoever you like.
The Communications Unit participates in several community projects and initiatives to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders. The following is an update on community relations activities by our unit for December 2015:
LGBT: Tiffany was invited to meet with Laura Habr, Russell Lyons and Hampton Roads Pride to discuss potential programming for Virginia Beach. The CVB is a 2016 sponsor of Hampton Roads Pride.
Resort Block Conversations: Tiffany continues to attend community meetings with police and bar owners at oceanfront to discuss improvements to area. The ultimate goal of this group is to improve business practices to reduce crime in this area of the resort. The business owners are looking to model an association similar to the ViBe district to capitalize on tourism efforts.
Public Relations Society of America: The CVB is a sponsor of the PRSA Hampton Roads chapter for 2016. Tiffany chairing Pinnacle Awards committee, an awards luncheon to be held at VBCC in June. Thank you VBCC for your support!
VBHA Community Relations Committee: Teresa continues to serve on the VBHA Community Relations committee and was involved with the Hospitality for the Holidays give back program.
The CVB Communications Unit is looking forward to unveiling a new social media platform to reach our local stakeholders. This tactic aligns with our strategic plan initiative ADVOCACY 1.1.
Corporate social media platforms developed for 2016 launch are as follows:
Facebook.com/vabeachCVB
Twitter.com/ CVBvabeach
If you are active on LinkedIn, please connect with our company page as well. Questions? See Tiffany.
The following out-of-market media coverage was secured in December. Enjoy and feel free to share!
The Huffington Post, “11 Fun Atlantic Coastal Escapes for Winter” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-morrow/11-fun-atlantic-coastal-e_b_8854710.html
U.S. News & World Report, “10 Top Places to See Holiday Lights Across America” http://travel.usnews.com/features/10-top-places-to-see-holiday-lights-across-america/
Family Travel Forum, “Top Holiday Lights Celebrations Across America” http://myfamilytravels.com/node/54708
Group Tour Magazine, “Rockafeller’s serves the freshest catches from Rudee Inlet” http://www.grouptour.com/rockafellers-serves-the-freshest-catches-from-rudee-inlet/
Leisure Group Travel “ABA Recognizes Virginia Beach Events for 2016” http://leisuregrouptravel.com/aba-recognizes-virginia-beach-events-for-2016/
The Communications Unit is pleased to share our efforts to secure local media coverage for the CVB (both what we pitched to media on your behalf and what actually received coverage) in December 2015. Teresa pitched Hospitality for the Holidays to the Beacon & City Manager’s Update (appeared in 12/11 edition of CMU; Beacon replied it may run post-holidays). Teresa pitched Sock Drive story to Beacon/CMU (which appeared in 12/20 Beacon). Tiffany pitched CTA program to Inside Business. Jim Retirement announcement appeared in Inside Business 12/28:
http://insidebiz.com/news/top-15-stories-2015-no-2-departures-changes-leadership-landscape
Share your news with us stories@visitvirginiabeach.com and we will follow up with more information as needed from you.
DOS luncheons are now evolving into the 2016 Tourism Excellence in Business & Leadership Series. Hot topic table discussions will be included to meet specific interests: social media, customer service, sales, digital marketing, etc.
Please save the dates for the following events:
February 18 – Breakfast Event
“Meetings, Conventions and Expos: Best Practices for an Emerging Destination”
Where: Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Panel Speakers:
David DuBoise, President and CEO of International Association of Exhibits and Events
Michael Tarr, CMP and BIO of Helms Briscoe
Bob Hope, VP Meetings for American College of Surgeons
Bill Martin, VP of Strategic Development, Experient, Inc.
June 2 – Afternoon Event (3:00 pm)
“Scoring Big with the Sports Market”
Where: Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club (VBTCC)
Keynote Speaker: Jon Schmieder, Founder + CEO of Huddle Up Group, LLC
Happy Hour Sponsored by VBTCC
September 29- Breakfast Event
State of the Virginia Beach Tourism Industry
Where: Virginia Beach Convention Center Ballroom
November 3-Breakfast Event
“Making Big Bucks from Group Tour and International Visitors”
Virginia Beach Convention Center Suite 5
For more information, contact Ron or Tiffany.
Here is this year’s CVB Holiday Card – Feel free to share. May you all have a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year.
Thanks to Bryan and Rubylee for assisting with bringing an in-house video production unit together. The following projects were completed by Travis in December 2015:
Videos:
Holiday Video Card
Staff Holiday Door Contest
Filmed the Rockfish Tournament
Photo Shoots:
CVB Give Back Sock Drive
Hospitality Party
Jim Magazine Shoot
Chuck Magazine Shoot
The Virginia Beach Hotel Association is excited to announce its first ever Virginia Beach Hotel Week! Virginia Beach hoteliers are offering special discounted rates for guests the week of February 19-28, 2016 and August 21-September 1, 2016.
Each hotel has a different offer and only offered for arrival & departure on the dates mentioned. They will also feature special offers from their attraction members by offering special discounts during VB Hotel Week. Details are coming soon in the website for the attraction rates. Virginia Beach Restaurant Week will also be Feb. 22 to 28 – so lots of great specials/discounts to be offered to visitors and residents.
Please take a moment to go to the website to familiarize yourself on this new promo in case you get an inquiry. The website is www.virginiabeachhotelweek.com. On the main page, you’ll see the box for restaurant week and special attraction rates – just click and will take you the page.
Thanks to the 62 employees that participated in the November 2015 internal communications survey. Based on your feedback, a 2016 internal communications plan has been presented to leadership team. We look forward to unveiling the plan February 18 at the Supervisor/Manager training, and then to the entire CVB team. Stay tuned!