What makes your city a top meeting/convention destination?
The Hampton Roads Convention Center is the star of the Hampton meeting experience. With 344,000 square feet of space and 2,700 sleeping rooms adjacent to the convention center, it has the eyes of many meeting planners who had not considered Hampton previously. The availability of a temperate climate, combined with more than 100 attractions within 30 miles of Hampton, also makes for a well-rounded meeting.
What is your perspective on destination leadership? The destination management organization (DMO), which in many cases is the CVB, should be the leader of the tourism experience in its city. As the travel and hospitality industry is not something people can reach out and touch, it's important that the DMO keep the long-term vision of tourism for its area and continue to educate local residents, politicians, and other influential leaders about the value of tourism and what it can do for a city.
How have destination marketing organizations (DMOs) evolved over the past 10 years, and how do you see the role of the bureau changing in the future? DMOs and/or CVBs have become much more proactive partners with the hotel and attraction communities. Previously, to at least some extent, they promoted their hotels and attractions in more of a public relations role. They're still in the PR business, but are much more accountable for sales and admissions.

With technology and the Internet virtually putting a large amount of information at buyers' fingertips, it is important for DMOs and CVBs to continue to be knowledgeable about their products, but they also must work to distinguish their value to the client beyond just raw information on a screen. DMOs and CVBs know their communities. It's up to them to ensure that the client has the best, most relevant information as well as the assistance provided by the DMO and CVB staffs. With everyone's budget seemingly shrinking each year, DMO and CVB staffs can and should be extensions of clients' working staff to put together the best meeting or event possible in their city.
What is your biggest challenge as a DMO?
Continuing to get the Hampton message out to meeting planners is our greatest industry challenge. Hampton for many years was a bedroom community for the region, and now with the Hampton Roads Convention Center, our position in the market has been greatly enhanced. We continue to look for opportunities to spread the word that Hampton is a wonderful, affordable location for a meeting or convention. Our greatest local challenge is educating our residents and local political leaders on the value of tourism and how it benefits the community.
How did you get into this career? How long have you been there, and where have you been in the past? I began working in hotels while going to college. I've been at the Hampton CVB for 13 years and in the industry for 30 years.
What is it about working in this industry that grabs you?
This industry is constantly changing - each day brings a new brand offering or upgrade, new product in other cities, etc. I enjoy looking at the puzzle and seeing not the individual pieces, but the entire puzzle as it moves and changes shape each year. As a former hotelier, I enjoy the challenge of filling our "3,000-room hotel" each night.