To provide comments or feedback to this newsletter please email us at Newsletter@VisitRoanokeVa.com.

Summertime greetings to all.  I look forward to serving as the President of the RVCVB for the upcoming year.  Please join me in thanking Neil Ordway for outstanding leadership of the CVB Board.  He has skillfully guided us through numerous challenges and has created dynamic opportunities for the future.  He has led with a gentle, warm spirit and terrific humor.  I look forward to working with him in his "past president" capacity.  The Board will continue to draw on his many areas of expertise including his work representing the hoteliers in the region.  We welcome new Board member, Dave Andersen, and thank Gary Walton for his willingness to serve on the Executive Committee for the upcoming year.

By now, most of you are aware that our RVCVB Executive Director, Dave Kjolhede, has announced his intent to retire on December 31, 2009.  Dave has effectively led the RVCVB for the past twelve and a half years.  His contributions to the RVCVB, Executive Board, and community are endless.  We will miss his scholarship, thoughtful recommendations, collaborative problem solving, and farm humor!  The Executive Committee will serve as the Selection Committee for the Executive Director position and will work with key stakeholders to clearly understand needs and the set of skills sought after as we identify a successful candidate. 

These are certainly challenging times for all of us.  The ever changing economy is affecting every aspect of life - less disposable income, employment uncertainty, and declining business revenues.   During times of economic difficulty, it is critical to demonstrate to members, jurisdictional leaders, and citizens the value added to the region by financial commitments and investments to the RVCVB. 

How people, places, and partners collaborate, interact, and respond during difficult times and difficult challenges will define the future success of the region.  In the year to come, the RVCVB Board and staff will certainly be called upon to lead in very different capacities, creatively meeting challenges of doing more with fewer resources, designing and delivering marketing and promotional efforts that are responsive and transparent to regional contributors, embracing the use of technology including an expanded presence within social networking sites, and strengthening regional collaborative relationships.  We have much to leverage in this region (our landscape, our personalities, engaged leadership) and the opportunity to significantly grow, in an intentional manner, tourism dollars in the Valley.

During the next several months, the Valley will host a number of National and American Softball Association events, the AAU Girls' 14U National Basketball Championship, and the Coventry Commonwealth Games.

The Bureau's investments over the past three years on markets in North Carolina and Northern Virginia provide us with a competitive advantage for individuals and families seeking a regional two to three day vacation destination.  With gas prices remaining relatively low and stable, much of our tourism business in the Valley will continue to travel by auto.

The Bureau's ongoing work with motorcoach companies continues to pay dividends as these organizations "shorten trips" to reduce costs and remain competitive.  Hosting organizations like the North Carolina Motorcoach Association will remain instrumental in marketing and promoting the opportunities in the Valley.

The opening of the Taubman Museum of Art, recently announced expansion of the Greenways, continued development of additional outdoor opportunities including a regional fishing trail, and ongoing construction at the Roanoke County multi-generational center continue to diversify our portfolio of experiences, opportunities, and potential and provide a sound, expanded infrastructure to attract and host numerous tourism events in the Valley.

The tourism industry in the Valley continues to clearly demonstrate a "can-do attitude" during a time filled with difficult financial challenges and obstacles.  Our future calls us to assess and transform "business as usual" into a creative, dynamic approach to marketing and promoting the Valley through collaborative partnerships and relationships.  I am confident with the leadership provided by the RVCVB Board of Directors, the contributions by the committed, outstanding staff of the RVCVB, and expertise provided by our industry partners and stakeholders, tourism dollars will continue to grow in the Valley.  The future is bright in the Roanoke Valley and I look forward to the year ahead.

The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes our newest members:

• Craig County Tourism Commission
• Days Inn Airport
• Entre Computer Center
• Holiday Inn Express - Troutville
• McAlister's Deli
• Quality Inn - Troutville
• Super 8 - Daleville
• Twist & Turns, Inc

For information or questions regarding membership with the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau,
please contact Heidi Mowry at (540) 342-6025, ext. 116. Click here to learn more about our membership benefits.

Save the Date and Upcoming Deadlines for the Virginia Tourism Corporation 

September 22 - Hospitality Training Workshops
Hosted by the Roanoke Civic Center.
Two workshops will be offered from 9:00am - Noon and 1:00pm - 4:30pm.
The cost to participate is $15.00 for CVB members and $20.00 for non-members.
Click here for a registration form.

Events Deadline for the 2010 Virginia Travel Guide
Make sure your 2010 events and festivals are posted on www.Virginia.org by July 31, 2009 for possible inclusion in the 2010 travel guide. All events that are listed in the guide are selected from the website. Not all events can be included, however, due to space considerations. To learn how to post your events and festivals, go to www.vatc.org. Log into the Administration Tool to get started.

VA-1!
Save the date for the 2009 VA-1 Travel and Tourism Conference. The conference, The Power of Travel, will be held September 28 - 29 at the Alexandria Hilton Old Town in Alexandria. Room rate is $130. Registration is now open!

What's New for 2010

A compilation of new, renovated or expanded attractions, accommodations, meetings spaces, sports venues and travel services opening in Virginia. This is a FREE opportunity for exposure with the media. Respond by July 17, 2009. Click on the link below for the form.

http://www.vatc.org/pr/whatsnew/whatsnew2010form.asp

Annual Meeting

The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau held its Annual Meeting & Luncheon May 6 at the Roanoke Civic Center.  We welcomed our newest Board member, Dave Andersen with Dominion Lodging, and thanked our

2 years.

During our Annual Meeting, the following people and organizations were recognized for their contributions to the Valley's growing tourism industry: Tourism Ambassador Award - Mark Woods Golden Star Award - Taubman Museum of Art Presidents' Tourism Excellence Award - Gary Walton, General Manager, the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

Dave Kjolhede, Dr. Susan Short and Neil Ordway

Conventions

Vickie Meeks Miller successfully completed Leadership Roanoke Valley, which is a 10 month interactive program established by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce to encourage community leadership in the region. 

Vickie Meeks Miller will be attending the Fraternity Executives Association Annual Conference and Trade Show in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 9-12, 2009.

Sports Update

Spring kicked off various sporting events in the Roanoke Valley and July is sports month.  The Chance Crawford Softball/Baseball Benefit Tournament attracted 135 teams, an increase from 2008, and the NCAA returned to Salem, the Championship City, with three National Championships including DII Women's Softball and DII and DIII Women's Lacrosse Championships. We welcomed 60 teams, including a team from Colombia, South America, playing in the ISF Senior Slow-Pitch Softball World Cup. The ISF also experienced an increase in teams from last year.

Tourism

Catherine attended the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) Marketplace in Maryland to meet with nearly 50 journalists from across the Mid-Atlantic.  She pitched regional story ideas and "What's New" to the journalists.  She also planned and facilitated a press trip with the Virginia Tourism Corporation last month. (pictured left)

Motorcoach update - we have been greeting groups at the Visitor Center and orienting them to the area.   Help us encourage motorcoach tours to use this free service!  Contact Catherine Fox for more details.  (540) 342-6025, ext. 114

Salem Civic Center
July 2 - 12, 2009
Click Here for more information
(540) 375-3004

Open from 4:00pm - 11:00pm Weekdays and Open from 12noon - 11:00pm on Weekends

The 22nd Annual Salem Fair is the largest fair and event of its kind in western Virginia. Eleven days of family fun including carnival rides, food, games, commercial exhibits and free musical and entertainment acts. (Free admission and free parking)

4^th Annual Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival

Elmwood Park

July 18, 2009

Click Here for more information

(540) 529-8502

11:30am - gates open

Blues contest begins at noon with 10 different bands participating.  There will be great food from bar-b-q to shrimp and grits.  Advance tickets can be purchased at Blue 5 Restaurant, Jefferson Center and more or online.  After 5:00pm the Fat Daddy Band will perform followed by Damon Fowler group.  Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King will finish the evening that blues fans will not soon forget.  After the festival jam at Blue 5 Restaurant.

Touch a Truck -Wings, Wheels, & Water!

Elmwood Park, Downtown Roanoke

September 26, 2009

(540) 345-4818

Click here for more information