Attention: Virginia Film Locations
The Virginia Film Office is compiling information for its year-end report of filming in Virginia. If you had filming of any kind — including movies, TV shows, commercials or documentaries — in your area this year, please contact Becky Beckstoffer in the Film Office:
bbeckstoffer@virginia.org and 804-545-5533.

Co-op Requirements Update
Effective immediately, VTC has charged our agency of record, White and Partners, to design co-op advertising layouts that are an extension of the MEET VIRGINIA campaign, reflecting a more uniform appeal. With the cooperation of participating partners, the agency will deliver co-op ads that are cohesive and effective for everyone. Going forward, please submit ad elements — photo, logo, text — in lieu of camera-ready art. For more information, please go to:
/advertising/coopadprog/partneradvertising.htm

Springtime Packages Needed
Be sure to upload your springtime packages to Virginia.org by March 1. VTC will highlight springtime packages in the March consumer eNewsletter and in a special "Springtime in Virginia" feature. For help with your listings, please contact Angela Wiggins at 804-545-5553 or
awiggins@virginia.org.

Spring Vacation Planner
Put your destination in the Virginia Spring Vacation Planner, which is inserted in newspapers in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, metro New York, Washington, D.C., and metro Philly, reaching 2.5 million households. Please contact Jo Diedrich at Leisure Publishing by Feb. 13 at 540-989-0052 ext. 303. For more information on the Spring Planner and other joint advertising opportunities: /advertising/coopadprog/partneradvertising.htm

Spring Newspaper Insert — Events Listings
Please upload events scheduled for late April through early July to Virginia.org for possible inclusion in a spring newspaper insert, which will reach 1 million households through major market newspapers. Deadline to be included in this promotion is Feb. 10. Please contact Angela Wiggins at 804-545-5553 or awiggins@virginia.org.

Host a SATW Chapter Meeting
Virginia destinations interested in hosting either the Central States Chapter or the Atlantic-Caribbean Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers during 2007 must submit a proposal by March 1. The goals of these meetings are to maximize publicity for destinations and help the chapters accomplish their business efficiently. You can submit your proposals to Laurie Borman with the Central States Chapter, lborman@randmcnally.com or to Jayne Scarborough with the Atlantic-Caribbean Chapter, jayne_s@InfoAve.net.

VFEA Annual Conference & Trade Show
The Virginia Festivals & Events Association's annual conference is set for March 9-10, 2006 in Hampton at the Radisson Hotel Hampton. If your organization would like to be an exhibitor or would like to sponsor some aspect of this statewide conference, please contact Linda Stevens at 757-539-6751 or Lstevens@suffolkfest.org For more information and registration, visit the VFEA Website at http://www.vfea.com

Virginia in New York
The New York Times Travel 50 States of Discovery publication will be published on May 21, 2006. There is a limit of six partners for this co-op ad by the Feb. 28 deadline. Virginia must have a minimum of five partners for this co-op to run. Also, the New York Daily News Travel Virginia Magazine and Sweepstakes insert will be published April 23, 2006. Deadline is March 10 for this co-op. See the magazine one-sheets for more details at
/advertising/coopadprog/partneradvertising.htm

Limited Space in Selected Co-op Ads
Space is available in co-ops on a first-come-first-served basis until sold out. The following fall insertions have space limitations: Gourmet, Budget Travel and Smithsonian magazines.


Merchandise of the Month

Website Visitation
Through January 2006
UP 20% YTD

Virginia Welcome Center Visitation
Through December 2005
UP 2.1% YTD

Lodging Sales
Through Q2 2005
UP 1.9% over same period of 2004

Food Service
Through Q2 2005
UP 6.1% over same period of 2004

Car Rentals
Through December 2005
UP 5.0% over same period of 2004

Gas Sales
Through September 2005
DOWN 0.3% from the same period of 2004

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