RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – A new study conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University showed sporting events helped to fill hotels in Central Virginia in 2011.
The study, commissioned by the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (RMCVB), found the weekend of the Richmond Strikers Jefferson Cup Soccer tournament had the highest hotel occupancy last year.
During that same weekend, March 18 – 19, 2011, two conferences were held in town which helped fill even more hotel rooms [Click here to read the 2011 Hotel Occupancy Report.]
“We were thrilled to hear that the Jefferson Cup Boys and Girls Soccer Tournaments contributed so significantly to area hotel occupancy last year,” said Scott Turner, Executive Director, Richmond Strikers Soccer Club, in a press release. “Visiting coaches, teams and players constantly tell us what a great experience they have while they’re in the Richmond Region – both on and off the fields.”
According to the study, the dates with the largest hotel occupancies were:
01. March 18 – 19
- Jefferson Cup Tournament
- Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Va. Annual Conference
- Va. Association for Early Childhood Education Annual Convention
02. April 29 – 30
- NASCAR Races – Richmond International Raceway
03. May 27 – 28
- Big Shots Basketball
- Richmond Volleyball Club Boys’ East Coast Championship
- Randolph-Macon College Commencement
- Central Va. Amateur Softball Association Richmond Round Robin Softball Tournament
04. July 14 – 16
- IWLCA Capital Cup
- Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Va. State Board of Elections Conference (minor event)
- Democratic Party of Virginia Summit (minor event)
05. Aug. 26 – Sept. 3
- Hurricane Irene
06. Sept. 8 – 10
- NASCAR Races – Richmond International Raceway
07. Nov. 11 – 12
- Richmond Marathon
- Eastern Cheer and Dance Va. State Championships
- U.S. Marine Corps Ball
“This hotel occupancy analysis confirms that sports and conventions help bolster transient corporate and leisure hotel stays to maintain healthy occupancy levels throughout the year, even in a down economy,” said RMCVB President and CEO Jack Berry in a press release. “The Richmond Region’s wealth of world-class sports facilities and state-of-the-art convention center give RMCVB’s sales and sports development team members a competitive advantage in attracting national meetings, conventions and sports events.
