2024 MATPRA Media Marketplace - Virginia's Blue Ridge

August 27-29, 2024

Host Hotel: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

• Hotel Address: 110 Shenandoah Avenue NE, Roanoke, VA 24016
• Room block closes July 27
• DMO room block: https://book.passkey.com/e/50766855
• Journalists: MATPRA will handle your room reservations
• If you are bringing a second representative from your DMO to Roanoke, please book that person in the overflow hotel. Email midatlantictourism@gmail.com for the link. 
• Hotel parking: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center offers both valet and self-parking. If you are self-parking, you may still come to the front of the hotel to drop off your luggage at the bell stand. Self-parking is $18 overnight or $12/daily. Valet is $28 overnight or $15/daily. A shuttle runs continuously between the self-parking lot and main hotel entrance from 8AM – 11:30 AM and 3PM – 7:30 PM. Directions here.

Agenda

Tuesday, August 27

10AM – 5 PM: DMO/media registration at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. *Registration table will be set up outside the Shenandoah Room. Signage will direct attendees from the lobby to registration table.

11AM – 12PM: DMO Mix & Mingle (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)

12 – 4PM: MATPRA Annual Meeting & Professional Development (DMOs only) (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)
    • 12 – 3PM: MATPRA Annual Meeting
    • 3 – 4:15 PM: Professional development session

3PM: Hotel check-in available

5 – 8 PM: Cocktail hour (5 – 6 PM) and Welcome dinner (6 – 8 PM) (Six and Sky Grille atop Center in the Square – 1 Market Square SE Roanoke, VA 24011)

*Walkable from hotel via covered bridge (Market Street Walkway) It is an easy, flat walk of approx. 0.25 miles or less. A shuttle will be available for those who are not able to make the walk. Exit The Hotel Roanoke’s lobby and enter the skybridge. After exiting the skybridge, continue onto Market Street. Cross Salem Ave and bear right onto Wall St SE. Cross Campbell Ave and enter the building marked “Center in the Square.” Take the elevator to the 6th floor. 

Wednesday, August 28

6 – 8:30 AM: Marketplace room available for DMO setup (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Crystal Ballroom)

7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)

8:30 – 11:30 AM: MATPRA Media Marketplace (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Crystal Ballroom)

11:30 AM – 12 PM: DMO Marketplace teardown / media prepare for FAMs

12 – 1:30 PM: Lunch and professional development (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)

1:45 PM: Begin boarding buses for FAMs

2 – 5:15 PM: Themed afternoon FAM tours

6:15 PM: Meet in lobby for group picture / find your dine around group

6:30 – 8:30 PM: Dine arounds 

Thursday, August 29

***Hotel checkout at 11AM. Attendees may store their luggage in the Alleghany Room after checking out in the morning. The Alleghany Room is next to the Shenandoah Room (our breakfast location).

7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)

8:30 AM: Begin boarding buses for FAMs *Check out before boarding for FAMs

8:45 – 11:45 AM: Themed morning FAM tours

12 – 2:30 PM: Marketplace conclusion lunch / 2025 Marketplace host reveal / Made in VBR Maker’s Market (The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Shenandoah Room)

FAQ

What to Bring

Like much of the United States, Virginia’s Blue Ridge is currently experiencing a hotter-than-average summer. While we won’t be doing any extreme adventure during this conference, you’ll still want to come prepared for heat and sun. We’ll distribute fans courtesy of Richmond Region Tourism at the welcome reception, but be sure to also bring sunscreen and a water bottle. The opening reception will be on a rooftop so we also recommend bringing sunglasses or a hat. 

Speaking of Water Bottles…

Virginia’s Blue Ridge is asking attendees to bring a reusable water bottle and their own lanyard to this conference. As a certified Leave No Trace Partner, we want to avoid single-use plastics and unnecessary waste. The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center will have multiple refilling stations for water bottles. Visit VBR & MATPRA will supply name badges and badge holders. 

Clothing

The dress code for the majority of MATPRA Marketplace programming is business casual with the exception of afternoon and morning FAM tours. The average high temperature in Roanoke in late August is in the mid-80s. Even though some FAM tours will be inside, we recommend wearing comfortable, cool clothing and shoes.

Media Marketplace

Each DMO will have a short cocktail round table (30” diameter; 3’ height) with 2 chairs (3 chairs if the DMO is bringing 2 representatives). We recommend keeping items on your table to a minimum. Floor banners are not permitted, but small tabletop popups 12” or under are allowed. DMOs may distribute a swag item worth $5 or less.  

Getting Here

Driving

Virginia’s Blue Ridge is easily accessible by several major highways and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more details about driving to Virginia’s Blue Ridge, head to our driving directions page. 

Amtrak

The Roanoke stop in Virginia’s Blue Ridge is part of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Route, making the region easily accessible from destinations like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. It takes approximately five hours to make the trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge from Union Station in the nation’s capital!

Virginia residents in NOVA and the Washington, D.C., area can take advantage of the Virginia Anytime Fare and get 15% off their next trip to Virginia's Blue Ridge! Book now >

The following is a schedule* for daily departures and arrivals of the train in Downtown Roanoke:

Departures:
Monday-Friday: 6:32 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.

Arrivals:
Monday-Friday: 1:00 p.m. & 10:06 p.m.

Boarding for the train is 30 minutes prior to departure.

*Schedules are subject to change. Always remember to check Amtrak.com for the most up-to-date information.

Flying

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is less than 5 miles from The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Downtown Roanoke. The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, though availability is not always guaranteed. Contact The Hotel Roanoke directly (540-985-5900) to inquire about availability. Ubers/Lyfts are also easy to reserve to/from the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.

FAM Tour Descriptions

Afternoon FAM Tours - August 28 | 2-5 PM

Afternoon FAM #1: Explore Park
Soar through the air at Treetop Quest, grab a beer and some snacks at Twin Creeks Brewpub, explore hiking trails and easy river access all at Roanoke County’s Explore Park, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Afternoon FAM #2: Brady’s Distillery & chocolatepaper 
Tour Roanoke’s first distillery since Prohibition. Brady’s Distillery is a veteran-owned business shared by three brothers. They produce gin, rum, vodka and bourbon right outside Downtown Roanoke. Enjoy tastings expertly paired by Melissa Mays of chocolatepaper. 

Afternoon FAM #3: Virginia Museum of Transportation & Taubman Museum of Art
The Taubman Museum of Art features 10 galleries drawn from collections around the world, regional artists, and the museum's permanent collection of American art from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is a work of art itself, designed by world-renowned architect Randall Stout, a student of Frank Gehry. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is located in Roanoke’s century-old freight station. See classic cars, aviation exhibits and a Jupiter Rocket, then climb aboard decades-old steam locomotives while watching modern trains zoom by on active mainline tracks.

Morning FAM Tours – August 29 | 8:30-11:30 AM

Morning FAM #1: Roaring Run
Head to Botetourt County for an easy 1.5-mile out and back hike. Roaring Run boasts water features, shade, and minimal elevation change, making it a great summer and family-friendly hike. 

Morning FAM #2: Sip & Savor in Grandin & Wasena
Enjoy a variety of local coffees, refreshing juices, savory biscuits, fresh-baked treats and more from popular and under-the-radar coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants in Roanoke’s trendy Grandin and Wasena neighborhoods. 

Morning FAM #3: Black Dog Salvage and Grandin Theatre
Start your morning at Black Dog Salvage and learn from third and fourth generation distillers about why Franklin County is the Moonshine Capital of the World. Then head to Roanoke’s oldest movie theater, The Grandin Theatre (est. 1932) to learn about and experience Roanoke’s rich multicultural community.