Convention and Visitor Bureau

A Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is an institution created to represent and increase visibility of a specific place or territory to potential travellers and generate economic benefit through visitor expenditures. CVBs contribute to a core segment of the tourism industry, called the Meeting, Incentives, Conferences & Events industry. Their main and traditional activity is to promote a place as tourism destination by supporting meeting and event planners. CVBs play a role of public relevance because their services and activities are finalized to guide the development processes of the territories where they are located. Recently their traditional business model has been put into question. When public sector support is withdrawn and other private organisations start offering similar services to event planners, uncertainty on the role and function of this institution arises. In such a context, some CVBs have changed into a new form of tourism service provider with a different portfolio of activities.