Business View Magazine | August 2019

193 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 regional associations, government, and defense. We have about 60 full- and part-time employees in operations, housekeeping, maintenance, sales, event staffing, and then we subcontract some additional labor.” According to Nealy, the Center’s main competitors for business are the Virginia Beach Convention Center, which is only 30 miles away, and the Richmond Convention Center, which is 60 miles away. “Virginia Beach has the oceanfront and Richmond has a central location. Still, the Hampton Roads Convention Center presents a location right at the geographic center of the Coastal Virginia region, near the Chesapeake Bay at the crossroads of I-64 and I-664. With service from two airports and Amtrak, there’s absolutely no need for convention delegates to fight traffic to go any further. Hampton is competitive and we specialize in exceeding our customers’ expectations. We strive to meet customers’ needs in every way possible,” Nealy asserts. Samantha Snead, Director of Sales and Events Services agrees. “The service that we provide here is unparalleled,” she states. “Performance evaluations received from clients are overwhelmingly positive. They’re telling us how wonderful it was to work with our staff. Also, we look for inventive ways to keep the facility current with the latest innovations and decorative appointments that keep this setting beautiful for our customers.” Some upcoming changes to the Center include converting an underused business center into a coffee shop and upgrading the ballroom. “It’s time,” says Nealy. “It generates over $3 million in revenue, but we want every client to have the sense that they are convening in a fresh space. We’re looking to make some big changes to give it THE HAMPTON ROADS CONVENT ION CENTER