Earlier this year I had announced a major multicultural booking. I’m proud to say that Virginia Beach has done it again. The city has recently booked the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) 2012 national convention.

The multicultural conventions sector is a growth area for the city, which provides $13 million in future business for Virginia Beach. NFBPA will bring an estimated 1,500 delegates and 3,100 hotel room nights to Virginia Beach in April 2012, a non-peak month, helping Virginia Beach become more of a year-round destination. NFBPA will result in an estimated $1.2 million dollars in direct spending to the community.

We’re very excited as this is a big victory for the city. After pursuing an unsuccessful bid for NFBPA several years ago, we were determined to bid again and compete for this important piece of business.

PICTURED: (from left to right) Jim Ricketts and Reggie Stevenson, Virginia Beach CVB; John E. Saunders, III, CAE, NFBPA; Al Hutchinson, Virginia Beach CVB; Deborah Morton, NFBPA Hampton Roads.

Recently I sat down with a local radio personality to discuss the affects of the green movement on the meetings industry as well as what Virginia Beach is doing to support this great cause. A brief excerpt of the interview can be heard here:

In addition to the city’s ongoing initiatives, Virginia Beach is proud to have reached a new milestone with green and sustainability practices. The city is the Commonwealth’s first Virginia Green destination with 100 green hospitality businesses including the Virginia Beach Convention Center, which is currently in pursuit of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. This designation should be obtained next spring.

Virginia Green is the Commonwealth’s new campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of the Virginia tourism and hospitality industry. Other Virginia Green certified businesses include hotels, restaurants, events and unique meeting venues like the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. To further the city’s resources in the green industry, the CVB entered into partnerships with Convene Green Alliance and the Green Meeting Industry Council – (GMIC), which include hundreds of other organizations committed to being environmentally friendly.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to Rock! For the past nine years, Virginia Beach has been the host of the Rock ‘n Roll ½ Marathon over Labor Day Weekend and yes, I have run the race each year that I have been with the Virginia Beach CVB.  As an experienced meeting planner, I am sure you know what it is like to walk the convention floors for the 13 miles during your meetings and conventions, so I don’t need to tell you what it feels like to cross the finish line at the race or at the end of your convention. Both situations offer a major sense of accomplishment to say the least (and the need for a cold drink).

What makes the Rock ‘n Roll ½ Marathon in Virginia Beach so unique is the live bands on each mile of the course, a finish line on the beautiful oceanfront boardwalk, cheerleaders on the course and running-party atmosphere. After the race is over, we host a headliner concert right on the beach. The people and the destination make this race a huge success every year. If you don’t believe me, ask one of the 20,000 runners that participate every year!

I am confident that the same two ingredients listed above; the people and the destination, will make your next meeting in Virginia Beach a winner.

The attached picture is of my staff and I on race morning. I am the happy guy in the blue shirt who looks ready to run.

See you at the Finish Line – Bring it to the Beach!
Al

It’s been a busy summer for the Virginia Beach Convention Center!  Last month, we hosted nationally ranked high school wrestlers for the National Wrestling Open Championships, talented young dancers for the Starquest International Dance Competition, the Gem & Jewelry Show and a reception for 1,000 executives of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) Conference . 

Not only are events keeping us busy, but our green efforts are moving right along as well.  Just recently, we ordered parking signs designated for drivers of hybrid vehicles and for those vehicles that are carpooling.  We are also working on signs to post around the building with little tidbits regarding eco-friendly functions related to that area. For instance, signs posted outside of our meeting suites would convey their use of energy efficient LED lighting and/or compact fluorescents in addition to other green info.

This month, we are happy to welcome nearly 4,000 attendees for the Black Expo, about 5,000 for the Antique Show and over 1,000 for the International Youth Event.  Recently, we re-booked the Mary Kay convention for 2011 and 2012 as well as the 2nd Annual Get Green Already conference that was held here in June. Never a dull moment at the VBCC!  Be sure to follow us for more detailed updates on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/VBCC and become of our Facebook page @ http://bit.ly/wLK7F

To meeting and event planners, continuing education is key. That’s how the City of Virginia Beach attracted more than 70 meeting planners, industry publications, restaurateurs, and hoteliers from throughout region to its Convention Center for the Get Green Already Conference. Featuring executives from the US Green Building Council, National Restaurant Association, Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels (Proximity Hotel) and TFC Recycling, the expert panel educated the audience about the advantages of going green, how to budget for it, and how to measure its success. A photo slide show of the conference can be found here, courtesy of Organization Management Group, Inc.

During the conference, the City of Virginia Beach proudly announced a partnership with Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) and The Convene Green Alliance. Teaming up with these types of organizations will enhance Virginia Beach’s position to market the destination to the rapidly growing segment of meeting planners who want and need a green/eco-friendly destination for their clients.
 
As the first green destination in the Commonwealth with more than 90 Virginia Green certified restaurants, hotels, attractions and events, Virginia Beach is paving the way for a greener tomorrow.

Photo: Lynne Forsman, Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) (left.) Al Hutchinson, (center) and Tracey Messina, Executive Director, The Convene Green Alliance (right).

Just a few weeks ago, I received some exciting news at the Hampton Roads Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ (COMTO) press conference. Julie Cunningham, the president of the national minority advocacy group, announced that COMTO would be coming to Virginia Beach in 2010 and 2013. In addition, this was the first time in the history of COMTO that a local chapter was chosen to host the organization’s national conference for 2 subsequent years.

I had a moment to reflect on how proud I was of the Hampton Roads COMTO Chapter and the Virginia Beach CVB’s sales team for working together to make this happen. Having the support and leadership of the local chapter was a significant factor in Virginia Beach winning the host city bid. This type of partnership is the prototype for successfully closing national accounts for Tier 2 meeting destinations such as Virginia Beach and it further demonstrates how significant local partnerships are to our success.

The multicultural conventions sector is a growth area for the city, which provides $13 million in future business for Virginia Beach and COMTO is just the beginning. In 2010 and 2013, we’re also looking forward to showcasing the city’s true downtown area, Town Center, offering upscale dining, entertainment and 4-star hotels like the Westin. Here’s a recent Inside Business article on the news announcement. http://tinyurl.com/cxr65v.

Hi, sports fans. The Virginia Beach Sports Marketing Team is hard at work this week as the host of the largest youth wrestling championship in the U.S. What do you get when you mix the 150,000 sq. ft. column-free Virginia Beach Convention Center X-Hall, 28 wrestling mats, 3,800 wrestlers, 250 college coaches, 400 high school coaches and more than 6,000 fans? The answer to that question is easy...one action-packed week at the National High School Coaches Association's 20th Annual Wrestling Championship, March 31-April 5.

Whether you have 25,000 runners, 250 surfers, 1,800 field hockey players, 600 judo athletes, 1,200 gymnasts, 8,000 soccer players, 2,500 cheerleaders or anything in between, Virginia Beach can host your event. Our first-class sports venues, quality hotel rooms, sports-friendly hospitality community and professional CVB Sports Marketing staff will ensure that your event is a success. Check out our venues, event calendar and meet some of our partners at www.vbsports.com.

Give us a shout if we can help you plan, promote and host your next championship event or sports-related meeting/convention. Buddy Wheeler, bwheeler@vbgov.com, Nancy Helman, nhelman@vbgov.com, Matt Robinette, mrobinet@vbgov.com.

If you're in the area, stop in and see us this week at the Convention Center if you want to catch any of the wrestling action. See you there.

Thanks for stopping by. Our convention sales team is on a roll with new groups booking future events like the U.S. Field Hockey National Indoor Tournament, a 2-year contract; USA Track & Field (USATF) Annual Convention in December 2010; the National Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) in 2010 and 2013; the International Reading Association in 2011; and the Rejuvenate Marketplace in 2013. And there’s more to come on that.

We’re also very excited to announce that the search for a headquarters hotel adjacent to the Virginia Beach Convention Center is moving forward and proposals have been narrowed down to two major contenders. Plans are also underway for a new entertainment center on 19th Street where visitors can enjoy dining, retail, and theater establishments with attractions for all age groups.

On behalf of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, I want to welcome you to the Bring It to the Beach blog. This is our chance to give you breaking news when you want it –NOW!  Did you know that the Virginia Beach Convention Center was the first green convention center in the commonwealth? Did you know that plans are in motion to secure a headquarters hotel and a new entertainment center at the Oceanfront? Did you know that Virginia Beach produced its first-ever sports event, the Cyclo Cross Winter Endurance, in January? This is the type of information my staff and I will post here as news develops, as well as interesting industry articles that I have found to help meeting planners in this ever-changing economy.