The Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center, operated by the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, will celebrate 20 years of service to the traveling public on October 15, 2007.  During that time, the center has been visited by well over 600,000 people from all 50 states and over 40 foreign countries. Center in the Square was the first home to the Visitor Information Center (VIC).  Following a 5 year stay in that location, the VIC moved to Marketplace Center at 114 Market Street in 1992 where it operated until November of 2003.  At that time, the VIC moved to its current location in the lobby of the renovated Norfolk & Western Railway Passenger Station, where it shares space with the O. Winston Link Museum. Home to hundreds of different travel-related brochures, touch-screen information kiosks and other high-tech audio/video equipment, the VIC is a "destination" site for first time visitors to the area.  Open 8 hours per day, seven days a week (except New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day), the VIC provides information on area attractions, shopping, festivals, lodging and restaurant options, as well as maps, camping, hiking and biking info. Jane Cunningham, the center's manager, oversees an enthusiastic, energetic and hospitable group of volunteer and part-time travel counselors who are the "backbone" of the center.  In addition to being very well-informed about travel options for the area, they also serve as unofficial ambassadors for the Valley's entire travel industry. While the VIC's main function is supplying information to visitors to our area, the VIC also provides a number of other important functions.  Bulk shipments of CVB brochures are packaged and shipped to travel agents, AAA offices and other visitor centers in the Commonwealth.  The staff of the VIC also collects demographic information on our guests through the use of surveys and registrations.  This information is invaluable in terms of determining future markets, spending patterns, length of stay and areas of interest.  Specifically, because of these surveys, we know the average party size of visitors to the Valley is 2.92 people and they stay 2.19 days.  We also know our top 10 visitor states are Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. All in all, the Visitor Information Center plays an important role in the tourism marketing efforts of the CVB.  Please stop in during the month of October and help us celebrate 20 years of service. We'll look forward to seeing you!

Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center located at the corner of Williamson Road and Shenandoah Avenue. Jane Cunningham, Visitor Information Center Manager, along with our volunteer and part-time weekend staff greet visitors 7 days a week 9am - 5pm.

Autumn in the Roanoke Valley is, perhaps, the most vibrant time of the year as the mountains are ablaze with vivid colors.  It is a spectacular backdrop to numerous community events this season that will draw countless visitors to our area.  I'd like to recognize the Visitor Information Center and volunteers who greet these countless visitors.

This Fall, the Visitor Information Center, located in the newly renovated passenger station downtown, will be celebrating its 20^th anniversary. To mark this special event the RVCVB Public Relations Committee is planning a celebration on Monday, October 15^th.   I look forward to seeing our members at this event.  Mark your calendars now and don't miss out on the fun!

Over the course of 20 years there has been a myriad of visitors who've walked through the doors of our Visitor Information Center.  Last fiscal year it saw 25,163 visitors and of those,15,350 planned to stay overnight in our Valley.  A reported 6,753 stayed in one of our member's hotels and the average stay was 2.19 days.  While this is a slight decline from the previous fiscal year and we attribute it to fluctuating gas prices and a decrease in traffic on the Blue Ridge Parkway; overall, the trend in numbers dating back 20 years demonstrates a huge success for the center.

I'd like to extend a special thank you and appreciation to the center's volunteers who do an outstanding job welcoming and greeting our visitors.  Your genuine love of the Roanoke Valley and extensive knowledge of the area is invaluable.  We are fortunate to have you as members of the Bureau and the community. 

I'd like to also announce that the CVB website, www.visitroanokeva.com, has been updated for the Fall.  Please take a few moments to browse the website and encourage your employees to do the same.  Thank you all for doing your part to improve and attract visitors to our community.  Enjoy Fall in the Valley.

Applebees's Neighborhood Grill & Bar - Tanglewood Mall Art on a Mission Carilion Clinic Cox Communications J.M. Turner & Company, Inc. National D-Day Memorial Residence Inn by Marriott, Roanoke Airport Rose Hill Inn Bed and Breakfast Schaal's Catering & Events Sinkland Farms Southwest Virginia Ballet Star City Playhouse Twin River Outfitters Valley Forward 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. Convention Marketing Kelly Burd-Adams attended Meeting Planners International (MPI) and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).  Both conventions provided numerous opportunities to meet with corporations and organizations. Vickie Meeks Miller attended the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association's Affordable Meetings National Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C.  This conference afforded the opportunity to meet with many government, corporate and private sector meeting planners.

Sports Marketing The Roanoke Valley hosted several state and national sporting championships in July and August. The Coventry Commonwealth Games, 50th Anniversary Virginia Dixie Youth State Baseball Tournament, AAU Girls' (14U) National Basketball Championship, ASA Men's East Class "D" National Championship, Odyssey Adventure Race and National Inline Speed Skating Championship attracted over 12,000 athletes and family members and utilized 6,000 total room nights.  We estimate these events generated direct spending of $8 million into the Roanoke Valley.  Thank you to the tournaments' directors, Pete Lampman, Ben Metheney, John Shaner, Brad Epperley, Carey Harveycutter, Ronny Angell and Mark Setchel.

Sports Committee Chair and Contest Judge Susan Short views the Grand Prize Winner of the Car Decorating Contest for the AAU Girls' National Basketball Championship - the Fairfax Stars from Fairfax, VA

Congratulations to the City of Roanoke, City of Salem, County of Roanoke, County of Botetourt and County of Franklin for being recognized by the Virginia Recreation and Parks society for Best New Special Event - The BG US Challenge. Tourism Marketing The Roanoke Valley CVB will be represented at the Virginia Motorcoach Association and the National Tour Association this Fall.  Our 2008 Roanoke Valley Group Tour Manual will be ready for follow-up by November. We recently hosted a Tourism Technology Workshop in partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) and the expertise of both Will Simmons, Director of Research and Wirt Confroy, Director of Electronic Marketing. Additionally, we hosted two Hospitality Training Workshops this Fall in partnership with VTC and Bobbie Walker, Director of Customer Service and Industry Relations.  This program is offered twice a year and remains successful for our region.  Look for the next Hospitality Training Workshops to be held in April 2008. Workshop participants engaged in interactive training. Many thanks to the Holiday Inn Roanoke - Valley View for hosting our fall workshops.

FREE Membership Opportunity... Don't miss out! Join over 50 CVB members by being a participant in the RED (Regional Entertainment Discount) Card marketing program. As a member of the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, this is a FREE opportunity! Simply supply a discount for your business. The RED Card will be attached to a brochure listing your discount as well as be listed on the Roanoke Valley CVB web site. If you are currently participating, we still need to sign you up again for this timeframe. Keep the same discount or feel free to change it seasonally. We ask that you honor this discount through March 2008. You will have the opportunity to change your discount for the April 2008-September 2008 timeframe. Please note visitors can not use the Roanoke Valley RED Card in conjunction with other discounts or offers. Discounts are subject to availability and blackout dates. The deadline to be included is October 10, 2007. Please contact Debora Wright for more information on this exciting program.

2008 Roanoke Valley Visitor's Guide Don't miss your opportunity to advertise in the 2008 Roanoke Valley Visitor's Guide. With a circulation of nearly 200,000, the 2008 edition will provide superlative levels of exposure for the Valley, its attractions and its hospitality industry. The Visitor's Guide will be distributed as the main response piece to all leisure inquiries (100,000 inquiries) as well as distributed through State Welcome and Visitor Centers, brochure distribution services, consumer shows, and at registration tables for key conventions and sporting events. The tourism industry now generates nearly $1.7 million per day in spending in the Roanoke Valley.  The Visitor's Guide is a crucial component in increasing the economic growth of the region and obtaining your share of the tourism dollars.  Ultimately, this Guide is the tool to drive traffic to our area and your business! Deadline for sales is October 31, 2007.   Contact Jim Stallard at Stallard Studios for rates and to reserve your space today!  276.228.7092   jim@stallardstudios.com Meeting Planner's Guide & Web Site Virtual Tours The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau is in the process of producing a NEW Roanoke Valley Meeting Planner's Guide.  This four-color guide focuses on meeting facilities, unique meeting facilities, accommodations and points of interest, providing a concise sales tool to promote the Valley as an exciting convention destination.  In addition, the web site will include all the information from the Meeting Planner's Guide plus video and/or virtual reality with 360 degree views.  The Meeting Planner will be able to interact with this information allowing them to gain a better overview of the Roanoke Valley.  The Roanoke Valley Meeting Planner's Guide is the main fulfillment for all convention inquiries.  Space is now available for advertisers.  Deadline is October 26, 2007 for space and November 2, 2007 for materials.  Billing can be arranged for FY2007 or FY2008.  For additional information and rates contact Debora Wright at 540-342-6025. Don't miss this opportunity to reach the meetings and convention market!