Travie for the New World?
The prestigious travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler is sponsoring their first annual competition for the film that best evokes a place or travel experience. The magazine selected
The New World film about the founding of Jamestown in Virginia in 1607. Please take the online poll at www.concierge.com/cntraveler/movies by Sept. 25,  and you will be automatically entered to win a trip to the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa in Mexico!

New Leads Available
Leads are available from the New York City Receptive Operator Sales Mission of July 25-27, 2006. Please contact Kimberly Petersen at kpetersen@virginia.org. 

Advertising Co-op Media Advisory
Effective Immediately: Industry partners participating in VTC-sanctioned co-ops should submit camera-ready artwork and artwork components to each respective magazine. The magazine will lay out the co-op section with final approval from VTC. The ad agency will no longer receive and format industry partner ads. For production-related questions, please contact the magazine sales reps.

VFEA Seeking Members
The Virginia Festivals and Events Association is the only statewide organization serving individuals, organizations and businesses involved in the special event and festival industry.  You should join the association if you are a festival, Chamber of Commerce, vendor supplying goods and services to the industry, downtown association, parks and recreation department, hotel, arts organization, or fair. Join us by going to VFEA website at www.vfea.com and get the application.  
For questions, contact our Membership Chair, Laurie McElveen, laurie@chesapeakejubiliee.org, or call her at 757-482-4848. 

Pet Friendly Getaways Wanted
VTC’s marketing of Pet-Friendly lodging, events, attractions and restaurants is in high gear. Make sure you have entered your listings for pet-friendly traveler opportunities. In addition, VTC’s ‘Great Virginia Getaways’ are HOT for fall, and we would love to market your communities ‘Pet-Friendly themed Getaways’ as well.
Contact Sandy Westmoreland (swestmoreland@virginia.org - 804-545-5557) for information, or to click here to download the Getaway template. You can then eMail your Pet-Friendly Getaways to Sandy.

New Features on Virginia.org
New and Updated Features on Virginia.org include: Fall in Virginia; Fall Festivals 2006; September in Virginia; September Winery Events; October is Virginia Wine Month; Tank-o-Gas Fall Getaways; Ghostly Haunts; Halloween 2006; and Romance in Virginia.

Merchandise of the Month

This sturdy canvas boat bag with zippered interior pocket is printed with 2-color "Virginia is for Lovers" logo on front pocket. Size: 21"W x 16"H x 6"D. Color: Natural with Navy Trim. $17.50

Go to the Virginia is for Lovers Shop to order.

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

Not on the email list?
Sign up for the Dashboard

Website Visitation
Through August 2006
UP 46% YTD

Virginia Welcome Center Visitation
Through July 2006
DOWN 12.9% YTD

Lodging Occupancy Rates
Through July 2006
DOWN 0.3% over same period of 2005

Car Rentals
Through July 2006
UP 2.7% over same period of 2005

Gas Sales
Through May 2006
UP 0.04% from the same period of 2005

Click to download the PDF for more...

Best of the Best Virginia Destinations

Wintergreen Resort Receives Top Ratings
Wintergreen Resort was listed in the June 2006 Parents magazine's "Summer on the Slopes" as one of the top 10 U.S. ski resorts to visit during the summertime for family friendly activities. The resort also was named #7 in the list of the world's top tennis resorts and #3 in the list of the world's best tennis camps by Tennis Resorts Online. Congratulations!

VTC is looking for other mentions in the media for the Best of the Best in Virginia. If your destination has received a distinction from the media, please contact Sandy Westmoreland at swestmoreland@virginia.org for an ongoing feature article on Virginia.org.

Admin Tool Tip

Admin Tool Tip:  Mapping 
Be sure to click the “Map It” icon button
on the Preview Listing screen to check
that the MapQuest feature is mapping
your location correctly.  If the address
is incorrect and being plotted wrong, please contact MapQuest at:  http://help.mapquest.com/jive/
mqdataerror.jspa. For questions, please contact Angela Wiggins at 804-545-5553 or awiggins@virginia.org.