What is the Catch A Wave Regional Cooperative Program?

The Catch A Wave committee is a regional partnership consisting of professionals from the hospitality industry in Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The committee's main function is to promote this region as a select tour destination for the Group Tour Market. ( view larger map )

2011 marks the 20th year that the Catch A Wave program has been in existence as a means of attracting qualified group tour business to Coastal Virginia. The program was founded in 1992 to highlight the outstanding attractions in the region, while demonstrating that the "Virginia Waterfront" can provide an unbeatable, extremely accessible, multi-day tour product for a wide variety of group markets.

Through the support of hotels, restaurants, attractions and a wide array of industry partners, the first tour operator "Familiarization Tour" (FAM) was held in May 1993. Each year, as regional attractions and tour experiences for groups have increased, the program has expanded. The partnership's marketing initiatives also include sales blitzes, where tourism representatives take the "Catch A Wave" message on the road, direct mail and advertising, not to mention outstanding group tour packages serviced by All-In-One Tours and Cruises.