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 VTC Marketing Leverage Program Spring 2008 Applications open on January 21, 2008
The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program is designed to stimulate new tourism marketing programs through the creation of local, area, and regional tourism partnerships. The objective of this program is to leverage limited marketing dollars, resulting in increased visitor spending. A minimum of three partners must partner in the application. Applications are reviewed based upon the determination of the audience (market research), the program (what is the message and how will that message be delivered), and the effectiveness of the program (performance measures on how well the message was delivered). Additional requirements contained in the VTC Marketing Leverage Program Application and Guidelines must also be met. The next round of applications will open on January 21, 2008 with a deadline for applications of April 1, 2008. Awards will be announced in late April 2008.
Applications can be downloaded beginning January 21 from http://www.vatc.org/development/funding.asp. Budget Travel Magazine Wants Garden Week Packages
Editors of Budget Travel’s Web site have requested information about packages and specials for Historic Garden Week, April 19 - 27, 2008. Please work with your local lodging, restaurants, wineries and attractions to develop special packages in April that we can send along to this and other national media outlets. This opportunity is open to all localities and tourism partners, regardless if there is an active garden club in your area. Please post your Garden Week package on Virginia.org by February 1.
Virginia Paints DC Passionately!
Beginning March 1, VTC will launch the Live Passionately Virginia is for Lovers campaign in the Washington DC market, with an advertising media blitz that will include a 3 month, heavy broadcast TV schedule (spot and cable), station domination in the largest subway station in DC, Virginia exclusive eblasts, geo-targeted internet ads, bus advertising and more! Visit www.vatc.org to see media flowchart details and reserve now for any last minute opportunities in this critical market!
Another Outlet for your Events
VTC advertorial content is generally provided as added value from media partners and is often unscheduled. To ensure that your destination or attraction is eligible for consideration for these types of opportunities, please be sure to update your event listings on Virginia.org so your events are presented accurately. All advertorial content is generated from Virginia.org!
Log in to the Administration Tool. Recruit at ABA
The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, VTC and their Virginia hospitality partners are hosts to the 2008 American Bus Association’s (ABA) Marketplace at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
During the marketplace, the ABA’s Diversity Committee hosts an Educational Outreach Program for college students. College students are invited to participate in the education outreach program by attending the marketplace Wednesday, February 6, 2008. ABA would like to offer to destinations, attractions, and businesses involved in the hospitality industry throughout the state, an opportunity to give the participants information about employment with their organization. If you are interested in getting information about your company and employment opportunities to the participants, please limit the information to one page, and send 50 copies to: Pamela M. Lingle, Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2101 Parks Avenue, Suite 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, phone: (757) 385-6628.
Join CRUSA in Overseas Promotions
ITB Berlin – March 5-9, 2008 in Berlin, Germany
ITB is the largest travel trade show in the world, attracting more than 75,000 trade buyers, including tour operators, travel agents, meeting/incentive planners and travel press from Germany and worldwide. Pre-scheduled client appointments will be arranged for all participants in the CRUSA booth. Cost: $1500 + travel expenses Sales Mission to England & Ireland – March 9-14, 2008 This mission to CRUSA’s largest overseas market will focus on London and Dublin, both served by nonstop air service to Washington Dulles International Airport. Mission participants will make sales calls on major tour operators in both markets and will conduct training sessions for the reservations and product staffs at selected tour operators. An evening event for key tour operators and trade media will be organized in London. Participation is limited. Cost: $1200 + travel expenses Registration deadline for both events: January 11. For more information: contact Matt Gaffney at tel 302-226-0422 or mgaffney@capitalregionusa.org Virginia on the Big Screen
National Treasure: Book of Secrets, the sequel to the successful action-adventure film National Treasure again uses history as the centerpiece of an action-filled quest to unlock the secrets hidden in iconic historic places. Virginia’s Mount Vernon, and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, both located in Alexandria, Virginia, are two locations featured in the film. Mount Vernon was particularly well represented, as it is identified as Mount Vernon on the screen. There are several beautiful shots of the house and grounds at night, during the party scene staged there. Both locations are Virginia historic sites, and should see tourism benefits from their appearance in the film.
If you would like more information on how to get your location used in a film, click here to go to the Virginia Film Office website. Upcoming Conference and Workshops
The 2008 Virginia Grown Conference will feature two tracks including an Agritourism Track with a Farm Tour, and a Horticultural Production Track, all with great networking opportunities. For more information click here http://www.vfdma.org/vagrown.html
The Entrepreneur Express Workshops are designed to provide information on available business resources and deliver practical, hands-on training covering key elements of business practice. Workshop segments include information on how to start and operate a business, grow an existing business, marketing strategies, financing and locating available resources. Several Entrepreneur Express events are scheduled around the state in the coming weeks in Henry County and Martinsville; Fluvanna, Louisa, and the Orange County area; and Russell County. For a complete schedule of dates and locations, click here: http://www.vastartup.org/dates.html Save the Date for the Local/Regional Visitor Centers Seminar!
Join us in historic Fredericksburg on March 26th and 27th for the 2008 Local/Regional Visitor Centers Seminar. This year’s event promises to present your hot topics – topics pertinent to visitor centers’ unique challenges. You won’t want to miss this year’s seminar! Look for details and registration starting later this month on www.vatc.org.
New 2008 Virginia Travel Guide
Live Passionately! is the theme of the 2008 Virginia Travel Guide. This new, 226 page guide is dedicated to passionate travelers. Within the guidebook our visitors and travelers will be introduced to more than 30 Virginians who are passionate about what they do and are excited to share it. From Innkeepers and winemakers, to outdoor guides and artisans, these and many others are featured in regional and topical articles. Award-winning photographer Cameron Davidson captures their passions in doing what they love. Guides are now available at all Virginia Welcome Centers and bulk requests are currently being accepted so order now! Email publications@virginia.org to submit your request.
Virginia Welcome Center Demonstrations & Events
Don’t forget to include a Virginia Welcome Center in your marketing plans for 2008. A demo day at a welcome center is an ideal opportunity to showcase your destination or organization. You can increase awareness and gain valuable hands-on exposure with Virginia visitors with no participation fees or monetary investment. With the addition of two new centers and the re-opening of Fredericksburg, we anticipate a substantial increase this spring both in visitor traffic and demo requests. So, schedule your demo day soon, as calendars are filling up!
For more information on the Virginia Welcome Center Demonstration Program, contact shicks@virginia.org or visit http://www.vatc.org/csir/Demonstrations.asp New State-Certified Visitor Centers
VTC is pleased to announce the newest State-Certified Local/Regional Visitor Centers: Virginia’s Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Museum located in Prince Edward county, and The Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center located in Martinsville. Congratulations to everyone involved in helping the centers meet all of the requirements and earn certification. For more information about state-certification for local and regional visitor centers, please visit
http://www.vatc.org/csir/certification.asp |
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Website Visitation Through December 2007  UP 28% YTDLodging Occupancy Rates Through November 2007 UP 0.4% over
same period of 2006Car Rentals Through October 2007 UP 5.4% over
same period of 2006Gas Sales Through July 2007 UP 3% from
the same period of 2006Click here to download the pdf for more information ... Virginia in the NewsImpressive Museums Not Limited to Big Cities MSNBC.com Art Museum of Western Virginia, designed by "green" architect Randall Stout of Los Angeles, should be finished next summer. 75th Anniversary of Garden Week WashingtonPost.com Flowers now are dormant in the gardens across Virginia. But in spring they'll be wide awake, ready to be primped and trimmed like show dogs. On A Loop Through Va Wine Country WashingtonPost.com Here we come A-Wassailing on the eastern leg of the Monticello Wine Trail. Big Welcome at Monticello Richmond Times Dispatch Jefferson landmark plans to build $55 million center to lend context to visitors' experience
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email list?Sign up for the Dashboard. If you have comments or suggestions for future issues of The Dashboard please contact Mary Bishop at mbishop@virginia.org or 804-545-5556. Merchandise
of the Month
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Virginia is for Lovers Knit Ski Cap
 Go to the Virginia is for Lovers Shop to Order. |
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