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The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau recently released its Annual Report for FY 07/08. The report quantifies Bureau programs as generating nearly $76 million in spending by visitors to the Valley - a 13.5% increase over the previous year. When this spending is compared to the Bureau budget, a $56 to $1 return on investment is demonstrated. A conservative estimate of the tax revenues generated by these Bureau programs resulted in a $3 to $1 return for our government partners - tax dollars our citizens do not have to pay.

These increases are a direct result of increased funding from our stakeholders and matching grants from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Additionally, as a result of the "new dollars," the Bureau was able to focus increased emphasis on the Carolina markets, without diminishing marketing efforts in other markets which have proven valuable for our area.

We are fortunate that our local government stakeholders and members strongly support the Bureau's efforts. Parks & Recreation Departments and Civic Centers provide facilities and expertise for sporting events and meetings. Our hotels, meeting venues, attractions, festivals and events, and restaurants also play key roles in our ability to "host" tourism business. Last, but not least, the Valley's residents are as hospitable and welcoming as any in the country, providing a warm, secure feeling for the millions of visitors who come to the Valley each year.

• Awful Arthur's Seafood Company - Blacksburg
• Black Lantern Inn
• Blue 5
• Brugh's Inn of Salem
• chocolatepaper
• Comfort Suites West Salem
• Design Team Sign Company
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Salem
• HomeTown Bank
• Macados - Lexington
  
• Panera Bread
  
  Blacksburg
  Christiansburg
  Lynchburg
  Tanglewood Mall
  Valley View Mall
• Roanoke Valley Masonic Bodies

Welcome to 2009 - the start of a historic new year! This is the time of year when many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future.  I want to thank Dave and his staff for a very successful 2008 and what promises to be a memorable 2009. 

We made significant progress with our objectives and goals over the past year.  This year we'll face more, and potentially different, challenges as the economy remains unpredictable and a change in leadership occurs at the national level. It will be a group endeavor and we will need your support to overcome these challenges.  I'm encouraging all of you to identify ways you can continue to support the following objectives:

• Keep the Roanoke Valley marketable. The federal government has confirmed that we are in a recession. As businesses in all industries face large budget cuts to sustain operations, we have and will continue to experience the impact in our operations and budgets. People will still travel although not in great numbers and a decrease in travel is expected. We need to make sure we obtain our share of these numbers by continuing to aggressively market our tourism product.
  
  
•  Work collaboratively to retain and increase new business. The Bureau staff members do what they can to bring us business and marketing leads. We need to embrace these efforts and work together creating the synergy needed to fill our beds, maximize our profits, and increase tax dollars sensibly. As you know, the supply of hotels has increased and many hotels are finishing renovations to stay competitive with the newer buildings. These new and renovated housing options, when coupled with new and renovated attractions, expanded restaurants and backed by Bureau marketing efforts, have the potential to continue tourism growth in the Valley.

The hotel industry forecasts state that 2009 will be a struggle which is expected to last through the 3rd quarter.  Hotels are urged not to drop rates during this time as we are expected to have an overall increase in ADR of 1%. We will see a decrease of 3.5% in occupancy. We will also see a decrease in REVPAR at 2.5%. There is good news on the horizon...2010 projections do show increases in all three areas.

The Roanoke Valley ended 2008 with an increase in average daily rate over of 5.0%, decrease in occupancy of slightly over 2% and overall increase in REVPAR of 3% and an increase in average daily rate of 5.0%.The state ended 2008 with a significant drop in occupancy of nearly 6%, increase in ADR of 3% and a drop in REVPAR of 3.0%.  

After an unpredictable turbulent 1st quarter, the summer of 2009 looks productive. Our mountains will be thundering when the Harley Owners Group State Convention arrives June 17th, the weeks following include the return of the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention over the July 4th weekend, then NSA, Commonwealth Games and the AAU Girls Basketball 14U Division I National Championship wrap up a busy July. Labor Day weekend brings the ASA Softball tournament. We are all very excited about the new venture with the Roanoke Civic Center and I would also like to welcome Chris Connolly as the new General Manager with Global Spectrum.

Let's welcome this year with resilience and promise for our great Roanoke Valley.  I hope each of you makes a resolution and it comes true in the New Year.  Best wishes for a productive and happy 2009!

Vickie Meeks Miller will be attending the Religious Conference Management Association's 36th Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan January 26 - 29, 2009.

Carey Harveycutter, John Shaner and Kelly Burd-Adams attended the TEAMS Conference (Sports). The RVCVB's Sports Marketing Committee has reviewed the prospects obtained from the conference and several localities are following up on several sporting events.

Catherine Fox, Tourism Director, will also be attending the American Bus Association in Charlotte in early January.  These efforts allow the Valley to grow our group tour market share.

Click Here for a registration form

Visitor Information Center Volunteer Appreciation Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held in early December at 419 West. The volunteers were recognized for the incredible number of hours they contributed greeting visitors at the information desk. We thank them all for the nearly 1,810 hours they provided our Center this year!

Left to right, front row - Ann Andrews, Arleen Goble, Jane Cunningham, Manette Newcomb, Molly Putnam. Back row - Hugh Brown, Martha Worrell, Dot Piedmont, Jack Newcomb, Pat Heaton, Carlton Saul, Marion Rodgers.

RCC: Roanoke Civic Center
SCC: Salem Civic Center
THR&CC: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
SEC: Special Events Center at the Roanoke Civic Center

Click here for a complete list of events.

January 21 - February 8, 2009

Driving Miss Daisy BY Alfred Uhry

Mill Mountain Theatre - Waldron Stage
You've never met a backseat driver quite like Miss Daisy. Later adapted into the Oscar's Best Picture in 1990, the play is a 25 year long ride with Miss Daisy, a Southern Jewish woman, and her chauffeur, Hoke. As social history changes in their hometown of Atlanta, the two, despite their differences, grow closer and more dependent on each other. It comes to a poignant conclusion as Daisy admits to Hoke, that he is, in fact, her best friend. The intimate atmosphere of the Waldron Stage puts you in the passenger seat for a journey you won't want to miss. "Driving Miss Daisy"' is small and pure and healthily skeptical as it chronicles, from a privileged position, the social changes taking place in the South between 1948 and 1973, and the remarkable 25-year friendship that embraces those changes. Contact the Mill Mountain Theatre box office for information and tickets.  www.millmountain.org or (540) 342-5740.

January 30, 2009 

Winter Fest Beach Bash

Salem Civic Center 6PM - 10PM

Featuring "Domino" and "Coastline." 

Come and enjoy summertime fun on a cold winter night!!  Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door.  The tickets will be on sale starting December 15^th at Salem Parks and Recreation (620 Florida Street).  Food included.  Sponsored by Q-99FM.  All proceeds will benefit the Penguin Club for their community service project throughout the year and a donation will be made to a local charity. Call (540) 375-3057 for more information. For more information Click Here.

10th Annual Tons of Fun  

Tanglewood Mall 10 AM- 3 PM
"Children having tons of fun for 10 years straight!"  Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, along with support from a wide variety of Roanoke Valley organizations, presents "Tons of Fun" at Tanglewood Mall.  This FREE family fun day of activities include clowns, puppet shows, music, magicians, games, caricatures, carnival rides, exhibits, entertainment and much more spread throughout the Mall.  Tons of Fun is designed for children 12 years old and younger, with a family atmosphere.  For more information visit www.RoanokeCountyParks.com or call (540) 387-6078

March 14, 2009

McDonald's St. Patrick's Day Parade and HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival
Downtown Roanoke - 11AM

This outdoor event is one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it grows larger every year!  The award-winning McDonald's St. Patrick's Day Parade will feature over 100 entries that range from Kazim clowns to greyhound dogs to Harleys to Red Hat Society ladies.  After the parade, come enjoy the fun-filled HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival featuring entertainment that will make you want to sport a kilt and do the Irish jig.  Grab a corned beef sandwich with a cold (green) beer or a hot Irish coffee and enjoy traditional Irish pipe and drum bands and dancers that will perform until 5pm. New for 2009, the Bonniest Knees Contest, Strongman Demonstration and performances by Celtic Rock bands Finn's Fury and Second Wynde. Call (540) 342-2640 or visit the website at www.eventzone.org.

Click here for a complete list of events.