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NORFOLK CVB UNVEILS ITS NEW NAME Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau changes name to VisitNorfolk The Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau (NCVB), the official destination marketing organization for the City of Norfolk, recently unveil its new name, VisitNorfolk. The name change is the result of feedback obtained from several recent focus groups and studies contracted by the organization’s management and board of directors in an attempt to identify consumer awareness and expectations of Norfolk as a destination. The studies ulti- mately revealed the need formore updated and user-friendly branding, as well as identification of just what role a convention and visitors’ bureau plays. “Tourism is vitally important to Norfolk,” points out Anthony DiFilippo, president and CEO, VisitNorfolk. “It is our job to successfully market Norfolk as a competitive destination to the potential consumer – the meeting planner, the business traveler and those looking for a vaca- tion get-away. To be successful, we not only need to keep our brand fresh and recognizable, but our marketing efforts need to utilize all of the tools and technology at our disposal.” In late March of this year, VisitNorfolk announced the relaunch of its Web site, www.visit- norfolktoday.com, a one-stop destination shopping tool designed to seamlessly fulfill every aspect of a visitors needs. For more information, go theVisitNorfolk’sWeb site at www.visitnorfolktoday.com WHAT’S NEW IN NEW ORLEANS’ HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Located adjacent to the Louisiana Superdome, the 60,000-sq. ft.Champions Square opened to the public onAugust 21, 2010,and is amajor addition to downtownNewOrleans.The special events site and fan entertainment area operates before and after Saints games, features a large music stage,multiple food vendors and can accommodate more than 8,000 fans. Presentingmore than 50 artists in venues throughout the city,Prospect.1.5NewOrleans, an Inter-Biennial Programthat will highlight the contemporary arts scene in the city,will take placeNovember 6, 2010-February 19, 2011.Prospect.1.5 will also serve as a preview to Prospect.2 New Orleans, the next edition of the international biennial, which will take place October 22, 2011-January 29, 2012.Approximately one-third of this year’s participants are native New Orleanians. The New Orleans Seafood Festival, September 10-12, celebrates cuisine from classic New Orleans seafood restaurants such as ACME Oyster House,Arnaud’s Restaurant,Drago’s Seafood Restaurant,Galatoire’s and many more.This year’s festival is held in Lafayette Square, across fromhistoricGallierHall on St.CharlesAvenue, and all proceeds benefited the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. The NationalWorldWar II Museum, home to the new Solomon Victory Theater, Stage Door Canteen and American Sector Restaurant, continued its $300 million expansion by breaking ground on the U.S. Freedom Pavilion:Land, Sea and Air on August 27, 2010. The new Pavilion will display large artifacts, including a B-17, and will honor all of the service branches that served inWorldWar II.This new addition is scheduled to be open by Spring of 2012. Also, theWorldWar II Museum posted a historic month when 43,301 people visited the museum in March 2010. As the museum celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is quickly approaching the 2.4 million-visitation number. Carnival Cruise Lines has committed an additional ship to NewOrleans.The Carnival Ecstasy, a 2,052 passenger ship, will begin sailing four and five night cruises year-round fromNewOrleans on September 22, 2010.NewOrleans is also the home port of the Carnival Triumph, which will be replaced by the Carnival Conquest, in November 2010. Also, the Norwegian Spirit, from Norwegian Cruise Lines, and soon the Voyager of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International will call New Orleans its homeport.The Voyager of the Seas will offer seven-night cruises to theWestern Caribbean and can accommodate 3,114 guests. Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11