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 The Virginia Beach CVB is gearing up for the launch of its warm weather leisure tourism advertising campaign and “Canada Weeks” for international travelers, scheduled to start early February. Leisure media placements include broadcast/cable/digital TV, social media and brand partnerships with USA Today, Thrillist, iExplore, Blue Ridge Outdoors, NBC Sports World of Fishing and Buzzfeed.  Seventeen markets are targeted for messaging including major cities such as New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH, and Quebec.

 

While scores of city staff from across the organization were readying for Winter Storm Grayson, a team from the CVB were in the final stages of preparing for the Convention Center’s first major public event of the new year. Following successful events in 2012 and 2014, the organizers of USA Fencing’s North American Cup (NAC) chose to return to our coastal city for their 2018 event. The NAC is a competition during which athletes have the opportunity to advance and compete in world championships and vie for Olympic team placement in the sport of fencing. More than 1,800 athletes from across the country and around the world registered to compete in Virginia Beach in a number of divisions and levels of play.

As winter storm warnings began to circulate on Tuesday, Jan. 3, CVB staff schedules and roles were adjusted to ensure plans were in place to cover equipment load-in and set up on Wednesday and Thursday, and adequate customer service support was available from Friday to Monday.

From sheltering in place at the Center and nearby locations, to pitching in with walkway clearing and answering questions at help desks, the team pulled together and despite an adjustment to the event start time to allow for flight delays, the tournament was in full swing by Friday afternoon. Motor coach shuttles, provided by the CVB, transported athletes between the Convention Center and the 13 hotels providing accommodations. Between the athletes, coaching staff and other participants approximately 2,700 room nights were blocked for the four-day tournament.

The spirit of was determination was alive and well within the fencing community also. Two examples standout: one athlete from Vancouver who was diverted to Richmond hired an Uber driver to bring him to Virginia Beach on Thursday morning and a group of judges diverted and stuck in the DC area called each other, arranged for a rental vehicle to accommodate them and made the rounds between BWI, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan airports to get themselves to Virginia Beach in time to judge this important event.

Despite the snow, delayed flights and persistent frigid temperatures, the tournament was lively, action-packed and well-attended. The CVB looks forward to hosting USA Fencing again.

Kudos to all involved for your dedication and hard work and congratulations on another successful event.

 

Following successful experiences in 2012 and 2014, the USA Fencing North American Cup Tournament returns to the Convention Center this week for four days of action-packed swordplay. More than 1800 athletes will face off in a variety of competition levels and styles including Division I Epee, Division I Foil & Saber, Junior, Wheelchair and Senior.

Beginning Friday afternoon, Jan. 5 and continuing through Monday, Jan. 8 the action will take over the Center’s entire 150,000 square foot expo hall and an additional 31,000 square feet of ballroom space as bouts in more than 60 fencing strips (areas of play) are held simultaneously. Fourteen local hotels are participating to provide the more than 2,700 room nights needed to house the athletes and spectators. Shuttle service will be provided for to and from participating properties and the competition venue. The public is invited to attend this event which is free for spectators. More information may be found on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.

Jim Coggin partnering with The Virginia Arts Festival. Exhibiting at Mid West Band, the largest Band & Orchestra Conference in the world!

These are from the NAS Oceana Tour Linda Eisan and I took with the Hotel Association and a few folks from various Attractions on Dec 11. It was very cool to get the birds eye view and watch the Blackhawks getting ready to take off.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce held their 2017 annual membership meeting at the Convention Center this past Wednesday. More than 600 guests were in attendance to hear from Virginia’s governor-elect Ralph Northam.  The incoming Northam, who will serve as the Commonwealth’s 73rd governor, spoke about several goals he plans to achieve during his four-year term. One of his primary focuses will be to help Virginia regain its standing as the number one place in the U.S. to do business. He spoke of the need for a “dynamic transportation system,” stating it was the “lynchpin to building the New Virginia Economy.” He then introduced his new transportation team. Northam’s swearing will take place on January 13, 2018, in Richmond.

For the 2017 fiscal year, the Convention Center hosted 325 events and welcomed more than 622,000 guests who spent more than $52 million while in Virginia Beach.

 

More than 20 Virginia Beach hotels have joined forces to show their appreciation to the military community by launching the 2017 “Book a Night, Get a Night Free” promotion. Through January, active and retired service members can take advantage of this special offer at select properties across the city.

Full details of the promotion, a list of participating properties and attractions and an inspiring video may be found at http://virginiabeachhotelassociation.com/.