Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau

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The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) was established in 1979 to promote tourism in the community. Its operations are funded through a percentage of local lodging taxes. The bureau operates out of offices in the Downtown Transit Center.

The group's board of directors was realigned in 2018 to provide direct representation by elected officials in Albemarle and Charlottesvile. [1]



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Governance and mission

The bureau was formerly governed by a Management Committee. The operating agreement that established the bureau requires a visitor's center to be operated in both the city and the county. The county now serves as the bureau's fiscal agent, meaning that the bureau must operate under the county's procurement rules. From 2004 until 2018, the city served as the fiscal agent [2].

Kurt Burkhart was the executive director until May, 2018. [3]

The mission of the CACVB is "to enhance the economic prosperity of City and County by promoting, selling and marketing the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle as a destination, in pursuit of the meetings and tourism markets[4]."

History

In 2004, a new operating agreement was approved by the Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle Board of Supervisors. A regional tourism council was eliminated, and the funding formula was changed to reflect that the CACVB would be funded from 30% of Charlottesville and Albemarle County's annual transient occupancy taxes.[5] In 2010, they have begun a campaign called Stay Local, Play Local to encourage area residents to spend recreation time within the community[6].

In 2017, the city council and board of supervisors sent a letter stating the bodies wanted seats on the board and a new executive committee. [7]

The new board met for the first time in September 2018. Adam Healey is the interim CEO. [8]


Locations

The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau rents space in the center for a visitors kiosk and administrative space. They pay Charlottesville Area Transit an annual lease of $4,872 for the kiosk and $31,896 for office space[9].

The bureau also operates a kiosk in the Albemarle County Office Building.

Fund balance controversy

In the fall of 2011, it came to the attention of city and county officials that the bureau had accrued a fund balance in excess of $750,000. They argued that the agency should not have a balance higher than 15% to 20% of its annual budget and asked for a portion of it back. Bureau staff, backed by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, pleaded at the December 7, 2011 meeting of the Board of Supervisors to be allowed to develop a plan to spend down the balance. [10][11]

The board of supervisors approved a plan for the fund balance to be used to pay for a new marketing plan put together by Payne, Ross and Associates. [12]

In 2013, the new branding was presented to the public. [13]


References

  1. ↑ Web. Interim CACVB chief suggests big spending increase to combat disappointing tourism figures, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, September 22, 2018, retrieved October 4, 2018.
  2. ↑ Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes 5 May 2004. County of Albemarle, Virginia. 4 Jan 2010
  3. ↑ Web. Regional Tourism Director Announces Retirement, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, March 28, 2018, retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2010release
  5. ↑ Web. [http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Board_of_Supervisors/Forms/Agenda/2014Files/0806/19.a_CACVBAttachA.pdf CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE AGREEMENT FOR OPERATION OF A JOINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS' BUREAU]
  6. ↑ Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.mybackyardvacation.org/>.
  7. ↑ Web. In letter, supervisors, council seek to control over CACVB, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 11/22/2017, retrieved 1/7/2019.
  8. ↑ Web. Amid changes, local tourism board names interim executive director, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 7/21/2018, retrieved 1/7/2019.
  9. ↑ City of Charlottesville. Office of the Attorney. Lease Agreements with CACVB - Transit Center. By Richard M. Harris. Vol. City Council. June 21, 2010 Consent Agenda. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100621-CACVB-Transit-Lease.pdf>.
  10. ↑ Web. County votes to issue request for proposals on Crozet Library, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 7, 2011, retrieved December 8, 2011.
  11. ↑ Web. Visitors Bureau presents spending plan to Albemarle, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 1/4/2012, retrieved 1/8/2019.
  12. ↑ Web. Albemarle board approves new tourism plan, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 7/11/2012, retrieved 1/8/2019.
  13. ↑ Web. Visitors bureau launches new tourism brand, Nate Delesline III, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 2/27/2013, retrieved 1/8/2019.

External links

Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau website

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