CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Starting July 15, the International Pageants will be bringing women from all over the globe to Charleston and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau will need volunteers.
“This is one of the biggest events for Charleston. It lasts for two weeks,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the CVB. “There are Miss, Mrs., Miss Junior, Miss Teen. They’re all here with their families. They’re spending money in our city, but we need help to have people greet them and tell them about Charleston.”
Volunteers will work at Yeager Airport and the Charleston Marriott to greet and welcome the women and their families to Charleston and help with any questions they may have about the city. Bailey said that it’s really neat to see the women in the city with their sashes and crowns.
“These beautiful, poised women are here. They’re with their sashes. They’re completely wonderful, polite and happy, love Charleston, and I’m telling you at the mall, Ivors, all of these places, they are spending money,” Bailey said.
Local businesses can really benefit from this influx of visitors, and volunteers can help guide them to the right places to go.
Those who volunteer will receive orientation training and will get information about Charleston to give out.
“They will tell the families particularly, because the girls have a pretty strict schedule,” Bailey said. “But, the families that come with them they want to eat, dine, recre
ate, all those things that we sell, but they just need to know more about it.”
Charleston has hosted the pageants for the past few years, and volunteers help make the event successful. For those interested in volunteering, reach out to the CVB.
“You call the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 304-344-5075, or you can get on our website at charlestonwv.com, and there’s a place to send us a message,” Bailey said.
Story by Jordyn Johnson