Domestic Sales and Marketing
This division is responsible for planning, implementing and measuring the effectiveness of direct sales and marketing initiatives that target third-party sellers including tour operators, AAA/CAA counselors, receptive tour operators, and meeting and convention planners.
These buyer segments are reached through trade and consumer shows, sales calls, telemarketing, direct mail, sales missions and site inspection tours.
Group Tours
VTC markets the state of Virginia as a premiere destination to the group tour and travel industry through national, regional and professional tour and travel membership organizations, as posted on our Marketing Calendar. Attendance at these conventions offers the opportunity to meet one on one through prescheduled appointments with tour operators. Lead Reports are prepared following each marketplace and are made available to the Virginia travel industry to further develop group business. Notice of available Lead Reports are posted on our website and ongoing throughout the year.
VTC has memberships in the following Travel Trade Associations:
- American Bus Association
- American Society of Travel Agents
- BankTravel
- Bus Association of New York
- International Motorcoach Group
- National Motorcoach Network
- National Tour Association
- North Carolina Motorcoach Association
- Ontario Motor Coach Association
- Pennsylvania Bus Association
- South Carolina Motorcoach Association
- Southeast Tourism Society
- Student Youth Travel Association
- Tennessee Motorcoach Association
- Travel Industry Association of America
- Travel South USA
- United States Tour Operator Association
- Virginia Motorcoach Association
Sponsorships- Trade Association Special Events
To showcase our Virginia travel products to the trade industry, VTC solicits partnerships with Virginia members of the group tour trade associations and plans sponsorship functions at national and regional conventions.
2008-09 Virginia Group Tour Planner
Virginia Group Tour Planner is produced to provide tour operators with the latest information on Virginia attractions, accommodations, tour guide services, motorcoach service locations, group tour and niche market features and suggested itineraries. This represents the VTC fulfillment for all group tour marketing.
AAA and Consumer Marketing
VTC works closely with the Shenandoah Valley Travel Association (SVTA) to represent Virginia by exhibiting at (20) targeted consumer, AAA and outdoor travel shows in the eastern US. This provides the travel industry with opportunities to showcase their travel product/destination and work trade shows with Virginia partners at these consumer shows, noted on our marketing calendar. For more information, visit www.visitshenandoah.org.
Sales Missions
VTC partners with the Virginia travel industry to organize and participate in annual sales missions to promote Virginia as a premiere destination to our domestic target markets, focusing on group tour and consumer travel industry.
Virginia.org Group Tour Website
VTc works with Virginia travel partners to update the online Group Tour website for travel product including suggested day tours and multi-day tours, receptive operators, guide services companies and motorcoach charter companies.