Virginia Travel Post for February 2017 - Virginia Tourism Corporation

Information for Virginia Tourism Industry Partners.

Virginia Travel Post for February

couple in front of a fire at Occoneechee State Park

News and Opportunities for the Virginia Travel Industry

February 2017

New Air India Nonstop Service to Dulles

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Air India will launch nonstop service between Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The newly announced air route, which will offer three nonstop, roundtrip flights per week, is estimated to bring in an additional 30,000 tourist and business travelers and $30 million in total economic impact annually to the National Capital Region (Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland).

Read the press release →

Digital Marketing

Spring Content Needed

Add your spring events, festivals, packages and deals to Virginia.org to be featured in the numerous blogs and articles we will be highlighting. Don’t forget about St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break, outdoor activities etc. See our content calendar for 2017. Log into the Admin Tool to get started. Email Robin Mamunes at [email protected] for assistance.

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Advertise in the Virginia Tourism eNewsletters and on Virginia.org

Advertising is available for Spring and Summer placements on Virginia.org and in the monthly enewsletters. Get information on pricing and the availablity. For website advertising contact LeisureMedia360.

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Grants and Funding

Virginia World War I and World War II Tourism Marketing Program Applications are now open

Deadline is February 15, 2017 by 5:00 PM
The Virginia World War I and World War II Commemoration Commission (the Commission) was created by the General Assembly to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 75th anniversary of World War II. The purpose of the Virginia World War I and World War II Tourism Marketing Program – administered by VTC – is to assist Virginia communities and related World War I and World War II sites to market commemorative events, locations, and destinations.

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Consumer Services

2017 Visitor Centers Seminar

You’re invited to attend the 2017 Visitor Centers Seminar in Fredericksburg, March 23-24 at the Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District. Registration is now open! Register before February 18 in order to receive the early bird rate of $60.00. After February 17 the rate is $75.00. Also, our exclusive Hotel room rate is now available and reservations can be made here.

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Virginia Welcome Center at Fredericksburg

2017 Welcome Center/Safety Rest Area Marketing Program

Enrollment for 2017 Welcome Center and Rest Area marketing programs is now open! If you’d like to reach 33-Million travelers, enroll today! Click below for more information and online enrollment forms.

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Bring LOVE to your Destination

The LOVE has been traveling around the state creating excitement wherever it goes! Get your requests in now for 2017 to have the LOVE artwork come to your locality or tourism destination. Just submit our LOVEwork application. It’s that easy. For questions, contact Marie Henderson – (804) 545-5520.

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Groups, Sports and Meetings

Lead Reports Available from Domestic Sales and Marketing

It’s never too late to create or enhance your domestic sales database and potential business by requesting sales leads generated from desk side buyer appointments and trade shows.

American Bus Association, Jan. 14-17, 2017, Cleveland, OH

Contact Stephanie Kenney these e-reports. For a complete listing of tour & travel and meetings & conventions business development e-reports, visit Vatc.org.

More Information →

Domestic Sales Blog

Please send your recommendations for the following to Stephanie Kenney by Wednesday, February 15..

Meetings & Conventions: Resorts with Team Building
Tour & Travel: Spring Itineraries

Read the Blog →

International Marketing

U.S. Travel Association’s IPW

Volunteers needed! Washington, DC is hosting U. S. Travel Association’s IPW. This is the industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S. Please click here for more information and to register: https://ipw2017volunteers.my-trs.com/

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Participate in Canadian Consumer Shows

Partner with VTC in the booth at either the Toronto or Montreal golf or outdoor shows in the Spring! Brochures are also needed. Please email Jane Lammay for more information.

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Virginia Film

Audience Awards Online Short Film Contest

Calling all film lovers! Virginia Tourism and the Virginia Film Office have partnered together to launch an online short film contest! The contest opens on December 3rd and will be accepting submissions until May 29th 2017. $15,000 will go to the winning shorts- so don’t miss out! The contest is managed by the Audience Awards platform; for full details go to Virginia.org/filmlovers. For more information contact: Emily Wyman.

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Virginia Green

The 4th annual conference is on February 16-17, 2017 in Charlottesville at the UVA Darden School Conference Center. If you are Virginia Green Travel certified, this is your conference and you and your staff need to be there to learn about lots of new changes and opportunities in the Virginia Green Travel program! And we’ll be recognizing 41 green tourism partners in 16 categories at the VG Travel Star Awards.

More Information →

Education and Workshops

2017 VTC Orientation Dates

Join us for a one-and-a-half-day interactive session in Richmond where you will you learn about marketing strategies and programs and how you can work with VTC. Orientation is a must for tourism marketers, DMOs, managers/owners of Virginia tourism properties and those who want to increase their visitation. 2017 Orientation Dates: Feb. 22-23; June 7-8; Sept. 27-28; Nov. 28-29.

More Information and Registration→

2017 Virginia Agritourism Conference: Agritourism in Virginia’s New Economy

Tuesday – Thursday April 18– 20, 2017
Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump, Richmond, Virginia
Three days filled with fresh ideas on a variety of hot topics!
Explore multiple agritourism tools including social media, event planning, labor regulations, legal issues, financial resources, marketing strategies, and agritourism’s best practices!
Visit three farms and personally discover agritourism successes and challenges. Spend the last day with Jon Schallert who specializes in teaching all types of businesses and communities how to turn themselves into highly desired Consumer Destinations.
More information contact Martha A. Walker, [email protected] or call 434-766-6761

More Information and Registration→

VACVB 2017 Tourism Symposium

~The Omni Homestead Resort, April 2-4, 2017~ Join the Virginia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and tourism professional from across Virginia for educational workshops and networking. The VACVB Virgo Awards will also be announced during this dynamic event.

More Information →

Virginia in the News

10 Historic Venues Any Music Lover Needs to Visit

Alternative Press

These 10 Tiny Bars Will Give you the World’s Biggest Buzzes

New York Post

Real places that inspired scenes in Oscar-nominated films

Under the Radar Southern Cities for Girlfriend Getaways

Cosmopolitan

6 Presidentially-inspired road trips to escape Inauguration insanity

DC Refined

Drunk History: Visiting the Storied Portner Brewhouse in Alexandria, Virginia

Condé Nast Traveler

28 off-the-grid destinations that will let you get away from it all

Country Living

Why Alexandria, VA, Is Way More Than Just a Suburb of DC

Vogue

Virginia is for Beach Lovers Drink Holder

Virginia is for Lovers Store

Beach-Nik® – Beach Lovers Drink Holders, Pack of 4 – Beach-Niks are the perfect beach accessory! Keeps your items out of the sand. Decorated with the Virginia is for Beach Lovers™ logo.

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