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FOR MORE INFORMATION: (Virginia Beach, Va., October 21, 2009) – The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced today that the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) selected Virginia Beach for its 2012 national convention. Virginia Beach won the NFBPA bid over Atlanta, Ga. and San Antonio, Texas.

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. Currently 61 percent of Virginia Beach visitors come between September and May. NFBPA will result in an estimated $1.2 million dollars in direct spending to the community.

“Big changes in Virginia Beach’s product development throughout the city caught the attention of the site selection committee,” said John Saunders, Executive Director of NFBPA. “The new Convention Center and the services provided by the CVB team sealed the deal.”

The National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) is the principal and most progressive organization dedicated to the advancement of black public leadership in local and state governments. Its over 2,600 members can be found managing public programs and agencies in more than 350 jurisdictions nationwide. Forty chapters support the growth of the organization at the local level.

“This is a big victory for the Virginia Beach CVB,” said Al Hutchinson, Vice President of Convention Sales and Marketing for the Virginia Beach CVB. “After pursuing an unsuccessful bid for NFBPA several years ago, our success for 2012 recognizes the importance in refreshing and improving the Virginia Beach hospitality product to compete nationally for conventions like NFBPA. We also thank the Hampton Roads Chapter of NFBPA under President Deborah Morton’s leadership for their support in this endeavor,” Hutchinson added.

The Virginia Beach CVB invites meeting planners to “Bring it to the Beach!” Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For the latest information and project updates on the new Virginia Beach Convention Center, visit www.vbmeetings.com and the new Bring It to the Beach blog at http://blog.vbmeetings.com. Media information and digital images are available at www.vbpressroom.com.

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