Travel South Showcase in Richmond - Feb. 18-22!
VTC will host a spectacular opening-night icebreaker Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Travel South Showcase that will incorporate 400 years of History, Music and Culture: "Meet Virginia: She's Music to Your Ears." We would love to feature your travel product at this event, which will offer lots of live music and interactive activities for all our guests to enjoy. Get details on how you can be a part of this exciting night!

International Tourism Marketing Conference in
Washington, D.C. - March 1
Join us on March 1 to learn more about the inbound tourism market and how your company can benefit. More than 1.3 million overseas travelers visited the Capital Region USA — Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland — in 2004 and spent an estimated $828 million. In 2005, overseas arrivals to the region are up an estimated 11 percent. Sponsored by the Capital Region USA Inc. Contact Matt Gaffney at
mgaffney@capitalregionusa.org or 302-226-0422.

"The New World" Opens
The New World, an epic film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Colin Farrell as John Smith, opens in theatres January 13th and will be open everywhere January 20. The film is a sweeping adventure set amidst the first encounter of European and Virginia Indian cultures during the founding of Jamestown settlement in 1607. The New World leads into the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown and America that will be commemorated in 2007, statewide. Go behind the scenes of The New World and visit the sites where it was filmed in Virginia!

New Features on Virginia.org
January and February are packed with holiday activities and highlighted in the following features: January in Virginia, February in Virginia, January Wine Events, Valentines & Virginia Wines, Presidents Day Events, Black History Month Events and Black History Month Attractions. All the events and attractions highlighted in the features have been uploaded to Virginia.org by travel partners who also completed the Media Information section on the Admin Tool. If you need help listing your events and attractions, please contact Angela Wiggins at awiggins@virginia.org

VTC Promoting African-American History & Heritage
VTC is working diligently to increase the number of African-American visitors to Virginia. Please send any new African-American heritage guides/brochures to Anedra Bourne in Public Relations or email her at abourne@virginia.org. This information will serve as resource material for VTC's public relations staff and used for news releases, feature stories and advertorials. For more information, please call Anedra Bourne at 804-545-5573. Be sure to put your events and attractions on Virginia.org as well.

Save the Date - March 23-24 - Local Regional Visitors Center Seminar in Williamsburg
Please save the date for this seminar. Check www.VATC.org for more information coming soon!

2006 Virginia Travel Guides
This 224-page full-color Virginia Travel Guide features "Virginia's Favorites," a feature story on Jamestown 2007: America's 400th Anniversary and some of the hottest travel trends today. For bulk orders, please email publications@virginia.org. When placing your email order, please remember to include a physical shipping address – no post office boxes.

Lambsburg Welcome Center Relocating
While some renovations are being done inside the Lambsburg Welcome Center starting in mid-January, the Welcome Center staff will operate from Amerilink Ltd. Headquarters at 235 Farmer's Market Drive in Hillsville, just off Exit 14 on I-77. The phone is 276-755-3931.

Canadian Sales Leads
Obtain your copy of the most recent Canadian sales leads generated by VTC's Canadian representatives in Ontario and Quebec by contacting Heidi Johannesen at hjohannesen@virginia.org or 202-872-0554.

Virginia Journeys of Passion
VTC is offering a new co-op opportunity through eBrains Inc. that will target visitors interested in Epicurean & Spa, Outdoor Recreation, Sites & Attractions, and Heritage & History vacation experiences. Advertise your travel packages online as part of this year-long campaign beginning February 1, 2006. Visitors are waiting to experience all the passions your destination holds!
Contact Mary Lewis at mlewis@ebrainsinc.com or 804-231-7994.

Reminder: Co-op Advertising Space Deadlines
Spring advertising co-ops and special sections are closing soon. Be sure to take a look at The New York Times, a recently added opportunity, reaching a prime Virginia travel market. Please visit
www.VATC.org/advertising.htm for the latest updates.

Jamestown Opportunities
Do you want in on the Jamestown 2007 momentum? Opportunities highlighting and/or carrying a Jamestown 2007 message can be found at /advertising/coopadprog/partneradvertising.htm

Customized Visitor Profiles Available from VTC
The Virginia Tourism Corporation can help you better understand your target markets.  Get more than 20 pages of reader friendly research and charts comparing your segment of Virginia visitors to that of the entire state.  A nominal processing fee will be charged per profile.  For more information and a Profile Request Form please visit
www.vatc.org/research/VirginiaVisitorStudyProfileRequestForm.pdf  

Website Visitation
Through December 2005
UP 105% YTD

Virginia Welcome Center Visitation
Through November 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 November 2005
UP 4.9% over same period of 2004

Gas Sales
Through June 2005
DOWN 0.6% from the same period of 2004

Click for more...

Admin Tool Tip
Adding & Updating Listings: Before you create a new listing, first check your User Account and the Virginia.org website to see if the listing already exists to avoid duplications. If the listing is currently in your account, simply click "Make Changes" so that you may begin making any updates to the listing. For questions, please contact Angela Wiggins at 804-786-3526 or awiggins@virginia.org.