VTC Tourism Dashboard Newsletter

Jamestown Buzz
With New Line Cinema’s millions of advertising dollars behind “The New World” movie and deeply discounted Fall co-op rates for the industry, there is no better time to partner with VTC on a Virginia co-op. Stretch your advertising dollars in such high-profile magazines such as Smithsonian, National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler, visit www.vatc.org to get in on these great opportunities.

Fall Advertising in Virginia
Partner with VTC this Fall with a co-op ad in one of the following publications: AAA Car & Travel (October), AAA Going Places (September/October), AAA World (September/October), Better Homes and Gardens (September), Blue Ridge Outdoors (September), Country Living (September), Endless Vacation (September/October), Good Housekeeping (October), Southern Living (December), Virginia Living (September/October), Washington Post Magazine (September 18). There is still time to get involved, visit www.vatc.org for details.

New Fall Advertising Opportunity
VTC will have an exclusive newspaper insert in the Fall, running in major papers such as The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun and Long Island Newsday. Find out how you can reach 1.5 million households with this opportunity, visit www.vatc.org.

Canadian Sales Mission
Travel South invites you to consider participating in the Canadian Sales Mission September 26-30, 2005. Space on the sales mission is limited to three destination or attraction partners per Travel South state. Participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Get more details at www.vatc.org.

Media Tours for Travel Writers
Catherine George, retired associate travel editor for the Toronto Star, stressed during her panel presentation at the Virginia Governor's Conference on Tourism that research trips for journalists should not be called fams. Media see their research trips as very different from trips made by tour operators and travel agents, she said, and prefer that these be called media tours or research trips.

Welcome Centers Summer Schedule
The Welcome Centers are now open Memorial Day May 30 thru Labor Day Sept. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Demonstration calendars are filling up, so call your desired center and schedule a demonstration of your product. No fee is involved, but a representative must be present for a few hours or for the day. Call Sandra Hicks 804-371-8141 or e-mail shicks@virginia.org.

“Tell America’s Story” Preservation Award Contest
Is there a place in your community that deserves to be recognized for its significance to our nation’s history? If so, please enter it in Parade magazine’s contest! The winners will be selected based on the site’s importance and the true story behind it. Go to www.parade.com for entry forms and contest rules.

PR recommends Blogs!
Travel editors are increasingly monitoring blogs (e.g., Web logs) for story ideas. To learn more about blogs as public relations tools, go to www.globalprblogweek.com, www.newcommblogzine.com, www.iaocblog.com and www.mediainsider.com.

URGENT — Vacationers Want Discounts & Specials!
VTC has received more than 28,000 emails from people requesting Discounts and Specials, and we only have a few listed on Virginia.org. If you want more customers, give your destination the edge tourists want — HOT Deals! — and let them know how much you value their business. Hot Deals also will be featured in VTC's Consumer E-Newsletter, which is sent to about 50,000 people. For more information on how to upload your information, contact Angela Wiggins, awiggins@virginia.org or 804-786-3526.

monkey plush toy Everyone deserves a hug from this 26" plush monkey. His hands and feet include Velcro tabs which allow him to be hung anywhere. Includes a red t-shirt printed with "Virginia is for Lovers" logo in white.
Go to the Virginia is for Lovers Shop to order.

Admin Tool Tip

Package Locations

When entering package address information, make sure to enter the name of the accommodation in the "Location Name" field so that visitors will know where the package offer is located. The Address, City, State and Zip Code fields must be completed so that our MapQuest mapping feature can find your location.
For questions contact Angela Wiggins at 804-786-3526 or awiggins@virginia.org.