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

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.