The WACVB Education & Research Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the future effectiveness of destination marketing professionals through research projects and learning opportunities focused on successful bureau management and marketing strategies.
CVB industry leaders created the foundation to conduct educational programs, provide scholarship grants, and sponsor DMO awareness and research projects associated with the visitor and convention industry.
WACVB Education & Research Foundation Fundraiser
Go North to Alaska for a Spring or Summer Getaway
The WACVB Education & Research Foundation will conduct a raffle for an Alaska trip at the 2008 WACVB Annual Meeting & Vendor Showcase in Tucson, Arizona. The raffle ticket drawing will take place on Friday, October 10, 2008. You need not be present to win. Proceeds benefit the WACVB Education & Research Foundation. Donations are tax deductible.
More information...[pdf]
Scholarships Available
The WACVB Education and Research Foundation administers three scholarship programs to fund educational opportunities for CVB CEOs and staff.
WACVB Tourism Tech Summit Scholarship Program
Click here to download (word doc)
The Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (WACVB) Education & Research Foundation is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for CVB (destination marketing organization) staff to earn scholarships for attendance to WACVB’s Tourism Tech Summit & Vendor Showcase. The two-day educational conference brings together the West’s top destination marketing executives and staff. The Summit includes sessions on technology perspectives and strategies as they relate to distribution, marketing and member/customer/client service and lots of one-on-one networking. Each scholarship includes WACVB Tourism Tech Summit registration fees, scheduled conference meals, travel, and lodging (room and tax only) expenses. Meals, activities, or incidentals not part of the Summit program will be the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
The WACVB Education & Research Foundation Scholarship Committee will select up to four applicants as scholarship recipients who meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and for at least one year, at a convention and visitors bureau (association, council, chamber) responsible for destination marketing.
- Applicant may not have received a previous scholarship to attend the WACVB Tourism Tech Summit during the previous two years.
- Bureau/organization must be financially unable to pay the registration fee and associated travel and lodging costs for the scholarship applicant. (No financial documentation required.)
Scholarship recipients must attend the entire Tourism Tech Summit—barring any unforeseen emergencies. Scholarships are nontransferable. Recipient must complete the evaluation form provided by WACVB after the Summit.
The next scholarship application deadline is February 15, 2008. Recipients will be notified of their selection no later than 30 days prior to date of the WACVB Tourism Tech Summit.
Rosalind Williams Memorial Scholarship
For CEOs and Senior Staff Executives
Click here to download (word doc)
The WACVB Education and Research Foundation offers an exciting opportunity for convention and visitor bureau CEOs and senior staff executives to earn scholarships to attend executive training programs (e.g., human resources seminar on employee law, university classes, conferences, etc.). The executive training programs must be presented by professional organizations or accredited institutions.
The foundation established this memorial scholarship in honor of Rosalind Williams, former President & CEO of the Newport Beach (CA) Conference & Visitors Bureau.
The WACVB Foundation Scholarship Committee will evaluate and select or decline scholarship applications based on the following criteria:
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and have been so for at least one year with his/her current employer (e.g., a convention and visitors bureau/destination marketing organization located in the western United States or western Canada).
- Applicant must complete the scholarship application and provide program information for designated training programs (for programs other than those presented by the Western Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus). The executive training programs must be presented by recognized professional organizations or accredited institutions.
- Applicant may not have received a WACVB Foundation scholarship within the past three years.
The scholarship committee will determine the number of scholarships to be awarded and the amount of each scholarship. No scholarship grant will exceed $1,000. Scholarships are nontransferable. Scholarship recipients must attend the full program of the designated educational event—barring any unforeseen emergencies. A scholarship grant must be used within 24 months from date of recipient notification. Grants may be paid to the organization or institution sponsoring selected programs or as a reimbursement to the scholarship recipient.
The next scholarship application deadline is April 30, 2008. Each applicant will be notified of the Committee’s decision no later than 30 days after the application deadline.
WACVB Annual Meeting Scholarship Program
Click here to download (word doc)
This scholarship program offers a terrific opportunity for destination marketing organization CEOs and staff members to attend the WACVB Annual Meeting. The conference brings together the West’s top destination marketing executives and staff for seminars on tourism, sales and marketing strategies, management issues, and abundant opportunities for networking. Each scholarship includes WACVB Annual Meeting registration fees, scheduled conference meals, travel, and lodging (room and tax only) expenses. Meals, activities, or incidentals not part of the annual meeting will be the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
The WACVB Education & Research Foundation Scholarship Committee will select up to four applicants as scholarship recipients who meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be employed on a full-time basis, and for at least one year, at a convention and visitors bureau (association, council, chamber) responsible for destination marketing.
- Applicant may not have received a scholarship to attend the WACVB Annual Meeting during the previous three years.
- Bureau/organization must be financially unable to pay the registration fee and associated travel and lodging costs for the scholarship applicant. (No financial documentation required.)
Scholarship recipients must attend the full annual meeting program—barring any unforeseen emergencies. Scholarships are nontransferable. Recipient must complete the evaluation form provided by WACVB after the annual meeting.
The next scholarship application deadline is July 21, 2008. Recipients will be notified of their selection no later than 30 days prior to date of the WACVB Annual Meeting.
