Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge names sales, marketing VP

Debora Wright promoted at organization

Published November 17, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge (Visit VBR) announced Monday it has promoted Debora Wright as vice president of sales and marketing.

With more than 25 years of experience in destination marketing, Wright will lead external outreach and brand-building for the organization. She has been with the organization since 1993, when it was formerly known as Roanoke Valley CVB. During her time with Visit VBR, she has generated more than $2 million in grant funding.

“As an integral part of the Visit VBR team and longtime leader of marketing and communications, Debora’s combined experience and understanding in the travel and tourism industry makes her a natural fit for adding external sales and sports to this new role,” Visit VBR President Landon Howard said in a statement. “Debora is a respected professional who is dedicated to growing Virginia’s Blue Ridge as a destination as we move beyond 2020.”

The goal of Visit VBR is to grow visitation and generate revenues in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. Before the pandemic, the organization had generated a record $920 million in direct travel expenditures during 2019, a 3% increase when compared to 2018.