Virginia Gift Show to Host Annual Virginia State Parks Convention
Atlanta – In an effort to expand the product and service offerings of its annual training and trade show, Virginia State Parks will co-locate its event with the March 1-3, 2009 Virginia Gift Show at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The joint effort will give Virginia State Park gift shop managers, concessionaires and other sales associates the time and money-saving benefits of attending custom-tailored educational programs, reviewing the latest introductions from approved vendors, and exploring new merchandise showcased in the Virginia Gift Show’s 400-plus booths — all under one roof.
“To be able to hold our annual training and trade show in conjunction with the Virginia Gift Show will be a great opportunity for the parks,” says Ann Henderson, Enterprise Section Business Manager, Virginia State Parks. “Our in-house trade show is limited to 35 vendors, but combining these offerings with those of the Virginia Gift Show gives Virginia State Parks access to many more vendors. “
“We felt that the Virginia Gift Show’s easily accessible location, state-of-the-art convention facility and product mix offered many mutually beneficial opportunities for our exhibitors and Virginia State Park convention attendees,” explains Tim von Gal, executive vice president, Urban Expositions, owners and producers of the Virginia Gift Show. “The show’s strong souvenir and gift mix, including state and regional products, private label and custom-design providers, offers countless new resources for Park buyers to explore. We hope this combined event will launch many new business relationships between our exhibitors and Virginia State Park buyers for 2009.”
Among the attendees will be representatives from its online store and many sales areas within 30-plus parks comprising the Virginia State Park system. During the Virginia State Parks convention, these attendees will participate in a number of sales training, business-building programs, meals, meetings, other networking events and have the chance to review the newest introductions from the Virginia State Park’s participating vendors.
In addition, the Virginia State Park attendees will have plenty of time to shop the Virginia Gift Show’s comprehensive product mix from the industry’s leading manufacturers and sales representatives in every product category, including general giftware, tourist merchandise, beach apparel ,resort wear, home accents, tabletop, garden gifts and much more. Park participants will also be invited to participate in all other Virginia Gift Show events and promotions, including Goody Bag giveaways, free seminars, the popular Sunday night show party and more.
ABOUT VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
The Virginia State Parks system includes 36 parks, 33 natural areas and a number of historic sites. Each has unique natural and/or historical resources that are carefully managed and preserved while providing a wide variety of recreational opportunities for Virginia’s residents and visitors alike. A visit to today’s state park reveals a myriad of outdoor experiences. Featured are some of the commonwealth’s most spectacular scenery and outstanding natural resources, including Natural Tunnel in southwest Virginia and the fragile coastal environment at False Cape in Virginia Beach. The parks offer boat access to most of the major bodies of water in Virginia, including the commonwealth’s four largest lakes, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Camping, offered in 18 parks, and cabins, offered in nine parks, have long been favorites of Virginia State Parks visitors. In addition, Virginia State Parks have offered the best in nature and history programming for more than 30 years, increasing the public’s knowledge and understanding of their environment. For more information, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov
ABOUT URBAN EXPOSITIONS
Urban Expositions is a leading producer of trade events for the gift, souvenir, resort merchandise, fabric, sourcing, textiles, and sewn products technology industries. Urban Expositions owns and manages gift shows in Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Las Vegas, NV, Myrtle Beach, SC, Ocean City, MD and Galveston, TX. Urban also produces Material World, the premier global sourcing, fabric, trim and technology event for the sewn products industry. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com
