Champlain Valley Exposition to Host January Business After Hours
ESSEX JUNCTION -- If you are looking for a fun evening and some great silent auction bargains from local businesses and merchants, plan on attending the Ambassadors Silent Auction and Taste of the Chamber on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE).
Champlain Valley Exposition, a non-profit organization, is home to many of Vermonts biggest events, including the annual Champlain Valley Fair, Rock Maple Snocross Racing, Vermont Flower Show, Everything Equine (named a Top Ten 2007 Vermont Chamber event), the Vermont Balloon and Music Festival, Spring and Fall Essex Crafts, Vermont Quilt Festival, NSRA Street Rods and the Champlain Valley Antiques Festival to name just a few of more than 100 special events.
All these events help us fulfill our mission as a non-profit organization to encourage and support education, agriculture, commerce and entertainment, said CVE General Manager David F. Grimm, CFE.
The Robert E. Miller Expo Centre, located on the 130-acre site, is the largest events complex in northern New England. The Expo Centre offers 81,000 sq. ft of clear-span exhibit space designed for maximum flexibility and is completely air-conditioned for year-round use.
The professional staff and event management team at the Exposition provide turn-key services for consumer and trade shows, banquets, conventions, meetings, weddings, concerts and conferences. A 14,000 sq. ft connector building between Expo South and North has offices, conference rooms, concession space, a prep kitchen and additional dressing and rest rooms. Wireless internet service is also available at the Expo Centre and on the grounds of the Exposition during special events.
The Expo Centre project was completed in January 2006 by REM Development Company, Williston, Robert E. Miller president.
The 2007 Champlain Valley Fair, held at the Exposition Aug. 25- Sept. 3, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association (ABA) list. Inclusion in the Top 100 list indicates that Vermonts largest annual event offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA.
The Fair also received the 2006 John Deere Agricultural Awards of Excellence Sweepstakes Award from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions for best overall exhibits and agricultural events in the nation.
The attractiveness of the Champlain Valley Fair as a dont-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction, said Peter J. Pantuso, ABAs president and CEO. The honor gives Vermont, the Lake Champlain region and the Champlain Valley Fair an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners and travel professionals.
According to studies recently completed by researchers at The George Washington University and Dunham and Associates, one overnight visit by a motor coach group can leave from $5,000 to more than $13,000 in a local destinations economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.
With the addition of new electrical and water service throughout the Exposition grounds, the ability to host large recreational vehicle and motor home rallies grew dramatically in 2006.
CVE was the site of the Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally in Fall 2006 with more than 900 RVs on site. It was also the host of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America International Rally in July 2006 which brought more than 9,000 visitors to the Champlain Valley region and Vermont for nearly a week.
The resulting regional economic activity CVE events encourages is substantial approximately $80 million per year, Expo officials say.
The combination of modern facilities, convenient location near Burlington International Airport and access to major state and interstate highways makes CVE an attractive destination for regional and national organizations like the N.E. Forest Products Expo, Vermont Grocers Association, Green Mountain Alpacas and Green Mountain Dog Show.
Champlain Valley Expositions experienced sales and marketing team are ready to help you grow your events in 2007 and beyond.
· For information on holding your special events or meeting at the Exposition, contact Tom Oddy, director of special events at (802) 878-5545 [email protected].
· To learn how your business can benefit as a sponsor of an event, contact Chris Ashby, director of sales and marketing at (802) 8787-5545 or [email protected].
· A complete calendar of events is available at www.cvfair.com