Mission Impossible III
Have you seen the movie trailer for MI3 starring Tom Cruise? If the bridge looks familiar, it's because it's the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The film also includes scenes in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom and Northern Virginia's 14th Street Bridge that connects Arlington County and Washington, D.C. Other locations in Virginia include the Hampton Roads Eastern Shore regions. The director, J.J. Abrams, has also directed television's Lost and Alias.

Governor's Screenwriting Competition
May is the month to submit original screenplays to the Virginia Film Office for the annual Governor's Screenwriting Competition. For more information, please call 800-854-6233 or visit http://www.film.virginia.org/LocalIndustryInfo/Screenwriting.htm

Getaways Promotion on Virginia.org
The getaways are really popular with visitors, and VTC will be adding new ones to Virginia.org throughout the year. We will also need getaways highlighting specific Family Travel, Pet Friendly Travel, Fall Foliage and Accessible Getaways for persons with disabilities. Go to for the getaway template. Contact Sandy Westmoreland for more information at swestmoreland@virginia.org or 804-545-5557.

Advertise in the 2007 Virginia Travel Guide
Reminder: get on board now to reserve your space in the 2007 Virginia Travel Guide. Contact Leisure Publishing —
NOVA & Richmond — Becca Mayberry, 804-269-0725 or email beccamayberry@comcast.net
Tidewater, Chesapeake & Eastern Shore — Nell Wichmann, 757-565-0288 or email wichmann@widomaker.com
Mountains & Central — Jo Diedrich, 540-989-6138 or email jdiedrich@leisurepublishing.com

Virginia on the Move Partners
For partners who want to be included in the Sale Mission notebooks for the 2006 Godspeed Sail, please provide 300 profile sheets/brochures in a three-ring binder sheet protectors by the May 12 deadline. Send your materials to VTC, 901 E. Byrd St., Richmond, VA 23219, Attention: VOM Sales Mission. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Torricelli at ctorricelli@virginia.org or 804-545-5543.

New Features on Virginia.org
Some new and updated features include May in Virginia, Summer Camps for Kids, Virginia's Waterparks, Memorial Day Commemorations, Winery Events in May, 48 Cool Places for Kids, Camping in Virginia and Weird & Wacky. For a complete current listing of features go to
http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?featureID=197

Clear Brook Welcome Center Relocates
Clear Brook Welcome center will be relocating to 16 South Loudoun Street on the Downtown Mall in Winchester effective May 11, 2006. The Virginia Welcome Center on Interstate 81 will close May 8 at 5 p.m. and will be open for business at the new location May 15, 2006, and it will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  The rest area at Clear Brook in Winchester will be closed down for the construction of the new rest area and the Virginia Welcome Center. According to VDOT, the Virginia Welcome Center at Clear Brook in Winchester is expected to reopen on or before May 2007. VDOT will provide signage to the new location. Contact Sandra Hicks at shicks@virginia.org or 804-545-5583 with any questions.

Merchandise of the Month

A fantastic new combination of poly/cotton spandex allows this great hat to expand to fit most head sizes without the use of adjustable back tabs. Embroidered with 2-color "Virginia is for Lovers" logo on front. Sizes: S/M or L/XL. Colors: Black/Red or Navy/White. $20.

Go to the Virginia is for Lovers Shop to order.

Website Visitation
Through April 2006
UP 33% YTD

Virginia Welcome Center Visitation
Through March 2006
DOWN 8.0% 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 March 2006
UP 2.3% over same period of 2005

Gas Sales
Through January 2006
DOWN 1.0% from the same period of 2005

Click to download the PDF for more...

Norfolk Named "Port of the Month"

The world's leading cruise vacation magazine — Cruise Travel — named Cruise Norfolk "Port of the Month" for its rich maritime heritage, convenient downtown cruise facility and its investment in a new $36 million terminal, which will be completed in March 2007.

Paramount's King's Dominion New Family Coaster

Paramount's King's Dominion new Italian Job Turbo Coaster opens May 27 and is the first new coaster to come to the mid-Atlantic in four years. It received high praises in the Wall Street Journal and AOL's City Guide in April.

Admin Tool Tip

Events on Virginia.org
When entering your Events on Virginia.org, don't forget to enter a description in the "Media Listing Description" field or it will not be considered for the monthly release to the media, which is used by travel writers at newspapers, television and radio, not only in Virginia but in key markets. National outlets include publications such as USA Today and Southern Living. For questions, please contact Angela Wiggins at 804-545-5553 or awiggins@virginia.org.

If you have comments or suggestions for future issues of The Dashboard please contact Sandy Westmoreland at swestmoreland@virginia.org or 804-545-5557.

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