March at the VBCC

In case you missed the action, the VBCC had a busy March.

VBCC has set up and taken down lots of chairs (DECCA)
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Our event managers have been working every weekend

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We made some improvements out back

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We took delivery of a new LED Marquee

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Overhauled one of our chillers, and made a $20,000 change order to replace this impeller (it’s a highly engineered impeller that spins at 36,000 RPMs)

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Discovered Councilwoman Shannon Kane having fun (along with several of her peers)

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Saw 3,800 wrestlers from all over the country come and go (and you think your high school gym smelled funky)

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Saw a political hopeful come and go

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Welcomed new life

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And said farewell to another

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As we look back on March with a mix of pride, excitement and sorrow, we set our sites on April. Happy Spring, everyone!

VBCC Hosts Human Rights Commission Award Ceremony

Amidst a sea of wrestlers in the Exhibit Halls, it was business as usual in Suite 1 for the VBCC and Distinctive Gourmet teams as they hosted the city’s 22nd annual Human Rights Award Ceremony last night. Deputy City Manager Cindy Curtis received a standing ovation following her keynote address, which was her final official act as a city staffer. Cindy’s retirement is effective today, April 1. Mayor Will Sessoms honored seven award recipients including ComIT staff member Emily Reaves, chairwoman of the Hampton Roads Inclusion & Diversity Consortium. Fellow board member and CVB member Teresa Diaz and several members of the HRIDC board were on hand to support Emily. Congratulations to all the honorees!

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Not pictured: Honorees Jerry & Amy Frostick

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Busy Weekend for the Sports Team

This past weekend was a busy one for our sports marketing friends, with three big events in town. The JSA Central East Coast Showdown basketball tournament was held at the Field House, the Wyndham played host to the Virginia Beach Dart Classic, and the National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Tournament hit the mats at the Convention Center.

Check out the action below!

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New Hire Q&A: Samantha Bernheim

Please welcome Samantha Bernheim, who joined our team this week as a full-time Event Coordinator! Samantha has been with us part-time since December 2015 and brings a wealth of enthusiasm, creativity, and service experience to the VBCC.

Let’s get to know her a little better:

Do you have any children, a significant other, siblings, or pets?
I have an older sister and a younger brother, which makes me the middle child. I learned a lot of the do’s and don’ts having a sister so close in age. Also, I have the absolute cutest, sweetest and funniest dog named Fungo. I could talk about him for hours.

What is your all-time best Halloween costume?
I wouldn’t say it was my favorite, but probably my best costume was the one my Mother made for my sister and I when I was three. She handmade pumpkin outfits and painted our faces. I’ll definitely be keeping with that tradition if I have children one day…or learn to make clothing for dogs.

How do you recharge?
I love taking my dog on a run down to the ocean early in the morning when there’s no one there. I find it so peaceful to listen to the waves and taking the time to sit and appreciate all that I have.

Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Well if it’s a movie about me, I would want to definitely make it an action comedy. I think Sandra Bullock would be the perfect actress for the job with her confidence and wittiness.

Have you ever played any musical instruments?
I tried the viola once in elementary school, but soon found that it just wasn’t for me. I’ve accepted not being musically inclined aside from my mother, who played the piano, clarinet, flute and also sang for a travelling choir. I’ve tried my hand at a few other instruments, but I’ll just stick to sports.

What is your favorite food or drink to make?
Simple shish kabobs with steak, chicken, shrimp and veggies are my favorite. They’re easy to make, smell and taste delicious and I also like to brag about how well I can start a grill.

What is the first live concert you can remember seeing?
On a smaller scale, my family and I frequently went to concerts in Ocean View at the small pavilion next to the water. There were always Beach Boy type cover bands with food trucks, snow cones, glow sticks and lots of dancing. There’s just something about dancing barefoot in the grass that makes my heart happy.

Who is your favorite sports figure ever?
I’m not one for having an individual sports role model like a lot of kids did growing up. Honestly my very first softball coaches were the biggest influences because they spent so much extra time out of their day making me a great ball player. There’s a lot of life lessons to learn in the game of baseball, or softball in my case.

What is your favorite place that you have vacationed?
I love going off the road map and exploring the great outdoors. I have this secret camping spot my family goes to every now and then with hiking trails, a creek and waterfalls. I’d take climbing rocks and cold creek water over a 5 star hotel any day.

What is one piece of advice you would give others about life?
Take advantage of opportunities because every experience is a learning one. Whether it’s jobs, relationships, new locations, there’s always something you can take away from it to make you a better you.

 

Welcome aboard, Samantha!

A Surprise Visitor on the Bay

While conducting a site visit early last week at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Convention Sales Manager, Jamie Mitchell, and her clients noticed something coming out of the water while touring one of the sleeping rooms – a happy and healthy seal swimming in the water and skipping up onto the beach! Thanks for sharing, Jamie!

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Despite Short Notice, Convention Center Team Pulls Together for Rubio Rally

When Florida Senator and presidential candidate Marco Rubio’s team booked on Thursday for Sunday evening’s rally, the Convention Center team had their work cut out for them. On top of the short notice, they were in the midst of the 2016 Virginia Fire and Rescue Conference and making final preparations for the 16th Annual VOW Bridal Show, both of which were being held on the same day as the rally. With an estimated 2500 attendees, hundreds of whom showed up early to wait in line, it is no small feat that the event was pulled off without a hitch. Senator Rubio’s team was very pleased with the efforts of the VBCC team, with lead advance member Joey Smith saying: “Thanks to your entire team. I know a campaign’s traveling show brings with it a few challenges and, at times, annoying requests. However, your entire team was incredible to work with and the team was very happy with the event. Thanks again and I look forward to doing another event with you all, hopefully sooner than later!”

Next up: The building is currently being flipped from the Fire and Rescue Conference to accommodate the DECA Conference and 3200 incoming kids!

Way to go VBCC team!!

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Virginia Green Announces 2015 Green Travel Star and Green Travel Leader Award Winners!

Congratulations to Laura Wood Habr and Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, Dennis & Katherine Stebbins & Kelly Manchester Green Leaf and Pebble Tea Spa, Leslie Clements Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center & Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau – including Kimberlee Dobbins and Scott Warren on their awards for the Virginia Beach Convention Center and Virginia Beach Visitors Center!

The Virginia Green program presented the Virginia Green Travel Star Award today to 21 Virginia tourism businesses for their commitments to green tourism practices at the third annual Virginia Green Travel Conference and Travel Star Awards Celebration. In addition, 21 tourism businesses were recognized and received the Virginia Green Travel Leader Award for their efforts to protect the environment and promote green tourism in Virginia.

The conference was held at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel and Conference Center and featured more than 35 presentations on green tourism efforts in Virginia. The awards were presented by Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, with assistance from Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The Virginia Green program is run through a partnership of the Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association (formerly the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association), and the Virginia Green Travel Alliance. The program encourages green practices in Virginia’s tourism industry, and nearly 1,700 tourism businesses and other organizations have self-certified their green commitments through the Virginia Green program.

Thank you to First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe, Virginia Green, Executive Director, Tom Griffin and Virginia Tourism Corporation President Rita McClenny for the Recognition for our Virginia Green Travel awards.

For more information: Visit www.deq.virginia.gov.

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VBCC 10th Anniversary Video

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.