Love is at the Heart of every Virginia Vacation
 eNewsletter for the Virginia Tourism Industry
March 2010 
In this issue  

President's Notes

Alisa Bailey We Want to Hear from You.

VTC will soon be surveying a random sample of our industry partners to gain valuable insight on the tourism industry's needs and how the VTC meets those needs. We are excited about this study and are counting on your input.

Early next week, you may receive an email from the Southeastern Institute of Research, Inc. (SIR), a professional marketing research firm, inviting you to participate in the online survey. Your feedback is confidential and the survey should only take 10-15 minutes to complete. In recognition of your time, all participants completing the survey will have the option of being entered into a drawing to win a free, half-page ad in the 2011 Virginia Travel Guide.

Please be on the lookout for the email and thank you, in advance, for your participation and partnership. Whether or not you are a participant in this project, be assured that my door, phone and email are always open and that we at the VTC are always striving to be your partner in making the tourism industry in Virginia stronger.

Alisa Bailey
Virginia Tourism Update   Tourism Dashboard
Dave NeudeckNew Look for Virginia.org
Virginia.org recently received a facelift! As of March 1, the site has a new look. Keep your eyes peeled for more fun things happening with Virginia.org.
 

Jovondra CoxAdvertising Announces New Media Plan
Check out the NEW 18-month co-op advertising media plan, now on vatc.org/advertising.
 

Jovondra CoxDC Blitz 2010
If you are in D.C. during the month of April, check out Metro Station and Gallery Place Stations for Virginia tourism advertising domination of the METRO subway system.
 

Jovondra CoxLast Call
Final NY Daily News Virginia insert closing now, contact rep Clara Doyle: cdoyle@nydailynews.com

Judy WatkinsOrder the 2010 Travel Guide in Bulk
Encourage your visitors to stay longer by giving them a 2010 Virginia Travel Guide. Order bulk quantities on-line at www.vatc.org/admin/mailform/mailformPublications.htm. Guides are boxed 36/box and will be shipped free to your establishment.
 

Judy WatkinsOrder the New 2010 Virginia Golf Guide
Stock the new 2010 Virginia Golf Guide in your visitor center, hotel, golf shop or restaurant. The free 2010 Virginia Golf Guide highlights the state's top resort and public courses and includes feature articles, course overviews, listings and beautiful color photography. Golf guides are packed 66 to a box and VTC will ship them to your destination at no charge. Please click here for bulk requests.

 

Judy WatkinsAnnouncing the 2010 Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia
Sign up to become a sponsor of the 2010 Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia and receive instant traffic to your destination! Hundreds of motorcyclists will stop at your attraction, restaurant, hotel, visitor center, motorcycle shop or other establishment to get their official ride passport stamped. Get more information.
 

Heidi JohannesenInternational Marketing Opportunity
Reach overseas travelers by posting your travel deal and/or package on the capitalregionusa.org website. For $250 your deal/package will be posted through December 31, 2010 – that’s 10 months exposure in our top international markets. Interest or questions, contact Kimberly Petersen, CRUSA Marketing Coordinator kpetersen@capitalregionusa.org or 804-562-0168.
 

Casey HigginsHot Virginia.org Needs
Submit your events, packages and discounts to the Virginia.org listing submission system. Current needs are summer specials, camps for kids, festivals, and July 4th. Questions? Contact Casey Higgins.

Sandra HicksVisitor Centers Seminar - Registration Open!
We’ll be in Hampton for the 2010 Local Regional Visitor Centers Seminar April 13th and 14th.  Register now and save 20%! Details and online registration at http://www.vatc.org/csir/vcseminar.asp.
 

Sandra HicksGrand Re-Opening of the Virginia Welcome Center – Manassas
VTC in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation, is pleased to announce the re-opening of the VWC-Manassas. The official date for re-opening is March 17, 2010. Read more here www.vatc.org/WelcomeCenters/VWC_Manassas.asp
 

Jane GovoruhkWelcome Center Advertising Product of the Month! 
Support Virginia’s first-ever wine week and save $! If you are a winery, vineyard, or restaurant promoting Virginia wines you may sponsor a Tourism Blitz at one of our welcome centers during the month of March for only $300! Customize your blitz options when you take advantage of custom displays, banners, event days, and even logo-wear advertising. For more details contact Jane Govoruhk at 804-545-5520 or jgovoruhk@virginia.org.

Carol TorricelliGroup Tour Itinerary Planner
DMOs, we need your help! We are working on the 2011 Virginia Group Tour Itinerary Planner which will provide suggested themed itineraries throughout the state.  Here’s your chance to be visible and showcase your destination for new and repeat business! Get more information on how you can submit your itineraries here.
 

Robin MamunesGroup Lead Reports Available
Leads are available that were generated from the American Bus Association 2010 Marketplace, January 15-19, 2010, in National Harbor, MD . Please contact Robin Mamunes at rmamunes@virginia.org
 

Joni JohnsonTradeshow Partnerships
Space is limited! Partner with Virginia Tourism at ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting held August 21-24, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA and/or HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National held September 8-9, 2010 in Washington, DC.    Contact Joni Johnson for more information.
 

Joni JohnsonMeeting Planner Client Event Partnerships
Plans are under way for the 2nd annual Virginia Gives Back Meeting Planner Client Event on May 13, 2010 in Old Town Alexandria, VA. Don’t miss out on this interactive networking event opportunity. Contact Joni Johnson for more information.


Chesapeake Bay Gateways NetworkAgritourism: It’s More Than a Farm Tour
Northern Neck Agritourism Workshop, Friday, March 5 – Belmont Vineyards, Warsaw, VA. Considering adding excitement to your farm, tourists to your fields and hopefully more money to your bottom line by incorporating agritourism into your farming operation? If so, Agritourism: It’s More Than a Farm Tour is the right program for you to discover new ideas to enhance your facility! To register contact Lisa Hull at 804-333-1919.
 

Kitty BarkerCustomer Service Comes from the Heart
VTC will offer a Customer Service Comes from the Heart workshop in Norton on March 25 at the Holiday Inn at 9:30 am. Register with Kitty Barker at kbarker@virginia.org or call 276-730-4652.
 

VA StartupAdventure Tourism Entrepreneur Workshop
Save the Date! April 9, 2010, Norton, VA. Are you interested in launching an adventure tourism business in Southwest Virginia? This workshop is for you! For more details and to register, click here http://www.vastartup.org/register/events/70
 

VA StartupEntrepreneur Express Workshops
Entrepreneur Express events are scheduled around the state in the coming weeks.
For a complete schedule of dates and locations, click here: http://www.vastartup.org/
 

Business One StopVirginia's Business One Stop system
The Business One Stop system will help you determine business formation requirements based on your specific type of business and business activities. Visit http://www.virginia.gov/bos/index.html

Blue Ridge Parkway License PlateBlue Ridge Parkway License Plate
The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway organization is partnering with the Blue Ridge Parkway Association to sponsor a Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate in Virginia. The specialty plate features a photo of Mabry Mill.
Learn more about Blue Ridge Parkway license plate program.
 
Shenandoah National Park License PlateShenandoah National Park License Plate
The Shenandoah National Park Trust has met the DMV requirements for the Virginia Specialized License Plate program. More information on the plate can be found here http://www.snptrust.org/licenseplate.php.
 

Casey HigginsVirginia.org Admin Tool Tip
When entering an art or gallery exhibit, please choose “Exhibit” as your category and include “exhibit” as a sub-category, too. A date range for the exhibit is required for these listings. Questions? Email chiggins@virginia.org.
 

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