Virginia Tourism Prepares for Royal Enthusiasts
NEWS
Media Only
Tamra Talmadge-Anderson
Director of National Media
TEL (804) 225-4947
EML tamra.talmadge-anderson@governor.virginia.gov
April 26, 2007
Virginia Tourism Prepares for Royal Enthusiasts
RICHMOND, Va. - As Virginia prepares to welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Virginia Tourism Corporation also readies itself to extend its best welcome to travelers coming for The Queen's visit to the Commonwealth, May 3rd and 4th.
Employees at Virginia's ten Welcome Centers, often the first point of contact for visitors to Virginia, are continually studying all the public details of The Queen's visit as they are made available in order to provide interested visitors with accurate information. The Welcome Centers are notified immediately when new information about The Queen's visit is released. Informational posters have also been placed in each Welcome Center.
Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, said that The Queen's visit provides a special opportunity to serve visitors. "It is always so important that we give our visitors everything they need to make sound travel decisions, especially so for a visit from The Queen," she said. "For an extraordinary event like this, when so much is apart from the norm, our Welcome Center counselors are doing an outstanding job in preparing themselves to serve those who are coming for this occasion."
A visit from Britain's reigning monarch is certain to bring very large crowds to the places where she is scheduled to appear, particularly Virginia's Capitol Square in Richmond, where The Queen and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will visit on May 3rd. Virginia's Royal Welcome, a free, afternoon-long day of music at Capitol Square is planned as a part of the festivities that day. Virginia's Royal Welcome is free and open to the public. Tickets are not needed for the event. Capitol grounds will open at 11:00 a.m. with musical performances from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The public entrance and security screening point will be on Ninth Street. It is recommended that anyone hoping to see The Queen's walkabout should arrive by 2:00 p.m. People may bring blankets, picnic lunches, cameras and binoculars to the event. Lawn chairs, alcoholic beverages, umbrellas and pets are prohibited.
The Queen will also visit Williamsburg and Jamestown on May 4th for a tour of the historic sites there in honor of America's 400th Anniversary: Jamestown 2007. Prince Philip will visit Norfolk on May 4th.
"The value in promoting the Commonwealth as a great place to visit to a worldwide audience, on live television, is almost immeasurable," said Bailey. "Through this incredible opportunity we benefit by being able to highlight some of what's best about Virginia to the world."
For up-to-date information on the visit of The Queen to Virginia, call toll-free 1-877-433-4362 or visit www.governor.virginia.gov/Queen.
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