• Bill Gibson, Business Development Manager at the National Conference Center has been elected to the position of Chair of the LCVA Board as of July 1, 2007. Gibson takes over the position from Carol Welti, who has led the LCVA Board for the past 2 years. As Chair of the LCVA's Board of Directors, he will be responsible for the programmatic and fiscal integrity of the corporation, and will lead the 28-member LCVA Board in planning and guidance for the work of the organization; approve its policies; assist in securing the financial resources required to sustain and increase tourism programs; and share responsibility for effective recruiting and retention programs.
  
• The LCVA rolled out its new Cooperative Marketing and Advertising Plan at a presentation for the tourism industry on July 16, 2007 at the Holiday Inn Leesburg. If you were not able to be present but would like to participate in one of the co-ops, please click here to be taken to the Marketing Department section of our Corporate Website and scroll down to the "FY08 Cooperative Marketing and Advertising Opportunities" file under "Important Documents." Deadlines to watch for this month are as follows: Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide (August 15, 2007), Culinary Loudoun: A Guide to Loudoun's Food & Wine Experiences (August 15, 2007), Visit Loudoun Online Visitors Guide Hyperlink (August 15, 2007); trade show participation at ASAE Annual Meeting and Exhibition (ASAP) and Meetings Market Academy & Exhibition (August 31, 2007). Contact Jeremy Harvey at 703-771-2170 ext 18 for more information.
  
  
• Important Deadlines: Applications for the next round of funding for your marketing projects under the LCVA Cooperative Marketing Fund are due by Friday, August 3, 2007. Also, for businesses wishing to receive matching funds to participate in LCVA's FY08 Cooperative Marketing and Advertising Opportunities outlined above, the LCVA is pleased to extend the deadline for the submission of applications for those opportunities to Friday, August 10, 2007. As you'll recall, this is a matching funds program with maximum payout up to a $1 for $1 match. Non-profit organizations may include professional in-kind services as part of the match and must provide proposals detailing the in-kind value to verify the match. For eligibility, criteria, process, and an application, please click here to be taken to the Marketing Department section of our Corporate Website and scroll down to the "Tourism Cooperative Marketing Fund Program" file under "Important Documents." Contact Jeremy Harvey at 703-771-2170 ext 18 for more information.
  
  
• The LCVA is currently forming committees to work on various projects. We are particularly looking for individuals to serve on the Sales & Marketing Advisory Committee; the Annual Meeting, Auction, and Awards Committee; and the Cooperative Marketing Fund Review Committee. Individuals interested in serving on one of these committees should contact Greg Harp or Cheryl Kilday at the LCVA for more information.
  
  
• The LCVA will host a program entitled "Maximize Your LCVA Membership" on September 19th from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM at The National Conference Center. See next month's Compass for more information.
  
  
• HOLD THE DATE: The LCVA will hold its second annual benefit auction to raise money for the LCVA Scholarship Fund on October 10, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Dulles North. Last year's auction was attended by approximately 200 people and raised $15,000 for the LCVA Scholarship Fund. The theme of this year's benefit auction will be "Cruisin' the Caribbean - Steel Drums for Scholarship Funds". Tickets to the event will be available shortly at the price of $25 per person, which will include food and drink and musical entertainment by a local steel drum band.
  
  Donations for the live and silent auctions worth $ 50 and above are currently being accepted. Auction items already received include: a 3 day/2 night getaway at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott, a week long vacation house rental in Florida, a foursome for golf at Lowes Island, gift certificates from Clydes at Willow Creek Farm, Vintage 50, GG's Cafe and Sweetwater Tavern, an overnight stay with breakfast at The Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, a milk can and barn board flag from Bob Sapp American artwork, gift baskets from Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, The Home Boutique and Bluemont Winery, a purse from Lou Lou, a hen from Crème de la Crème, a child's riding lesson at Serene Acres, a children's birthday party at Great Country Farms. Other fabulous items in the pipeline include: warm weather and ski weekend getaways, car detailing, Work Out World membership, spa and massage packages, airline tickets, sports packages, limousine wine tour, dinner-limo packages, hot air balloon rides, private dinner at Dodona Manor, cooking classes, overnight at Woodlands Resort & Inn, jewelry, golf lessons, Hershey Park weekend package, and children's parties.
  
  For further information or questions, please contact Christine Geno, Director of Industry and Media Relations, LCVA at 703-771-2170 ext. 17.

• Virginia was recently named one of the "5 Wine Regions to Visit Now" by Travel + Leisure Magazine in the June 2007 issue. Virginia was the only U.S. state to appear, along with Italy, Spain, Chile and New Zealand. Loudoun County's Breaux Vineyards was mentioned, as was Grandale Farm Restaurant.
  
  
• Nancy Aikens Craun has launched Encore Event Partners, an event management and marketing firm, filling the region's void in this market. Specializing in tradeshows, consumer shows, fundraisers, galas, street fairs, festivals, and large company events ranging from picnics to product releases, Encore Event Partners' experience is valuable to any company, non-profit, educational institution, etc, that may be looking to launch a new campaign or raise public awareness through trade and consumer shows. Encore Event Partners has been retained by the Blue Ridge Association of Realtors to produce the new "Blue Ridge Living Show" which will make its inaugural debut on October 12 and 13, 2007. For further information call 540- 667-5956 or visit EncoreEventPartners.com.
  
  
• Capstone Hotels of Herndon, VA has announced the appointment of Nancy Golladay as their Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. The Dulles area properties of Capstone's are the Quality Inn and Suites Sterling - Dulles Airport, The Holiday Inn Leesburg and The Comfort Suites Chantilly - Dulles Airport. Golladay has been with Capstone Hotels over five years and has served as Director of Sales and General Manager of the Comfort Suites Chantilly - Dulles Airport. She can be reached at NGolladay@Capstonehotels.com.
  
  
• Chrysalis Vineyards are very excited to announce that their new winemaker, Curtis Vincent will be relocating from Fresno at the beginning of August. Curtis shares the enthusiasm and commitment that both Jenni McCloud and Hump Astorga have towards keeping Chrysalis Vineyards a leader in the Virginia wine industry and restoring Norton, The Real American Grape!® to its national prominence. Chrysalis Vineyards recently received the following awards for its wines:
  April 2007 - Saveur Magazine - unsolicited rating of the 2005 Chrysalis Vineyards Viognier in the top 12 Viogniers of the world.
  May 2007 - Riverside International Wine Competition - The Chairman's Award (Unanimous Gold) 2005 Chrysalis Vineyards Norton Barrel Select
  
  
• Don't miss The Back-to-School & Fall Preview Sale at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Fri, Aug 3 - Sun, Aug 5. Enjoy extra discounts on top of everyday savings of 25%to 65%. In addition save even more on "Back-to-School" shopping during the Virginia Tax Holiday. Visit several new stores just in time for Back-to-School: Tommy Kids (opens July 30) and Polo Ralph Lauren Children (opens August 24). For a complete listing of stores and information on extended hours for the Virginia Tax Free Holiday visit PremiumOutlets.com/Leesburg.
  
  
• The inaugural Middleburg Summer Sidewalk Sale will take place throughout the town on Saturday August 4, 2007 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. In an effort to bring people into town to explore, shop and eat, the shop owners have decided to create a sort of "shopping event" with a little fun involved. Special offers include 50% off select items from Mystique Jewelers, Summer Sportswear sale from The Tack Box, 20% off all Sterling Silver fine jewelry at Felton Jewelers and 25% off luxury bath products at Carol Hartley's Esthetics. For more information, contact Jo Ann Hazard at 540-687-6082.
  
  
• An Evening of Equine Dance featuring the region's top dressage riders and horses will take place at Historic Morven Park on Saturday, August 18, 2007. The evening will begin with exhibition rides followed by the Caroline Muldoon Pas de Deux Challenge Cup. Tickets at $ 150 each including cocktails and a buffet dinner with patron seating are available for those wanting to combine support for Morven Park with gala entertainment. A live band will provide musical entertainment for dancing. General admission tickets are also available for $ 20 for adults, $ 5 for children under 12. For more information contact Charlie Muldoon at 703-777-2890.
  
  
• For the second year in a row, Forbes.com listed Virginia at the top of its "Best States for Business" list, followed by Utah, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.

If you have any news about your organization you would like to share with the tourism industry in Loudoun County, please contact Chris Geno, Geno@VisitLoudoun.org.

• The LCVA Sales Team hosted a "Must Sees" familiarization tour for Lansdowne Resort's sales and front line employees.
  
  
• The LCVA Sales Team met with new members, Trulie an Event and conducted a site visit at The Farmers Delight, a new historic event facility in Middleburg.
  
  
• The LCVA Sales Team met with new member, Meadowkirk, a retreat facility in Middleburg.
  
  
• The LCVA partnered with the administrative office of Loudoun County to host a bus for the National Association of Counties Conference held in Richmond, VA. The LCVA shared information with the attendees on the benefits of visiting or hosting events in Loudoun County, accompanied by a wine-tasting.
  
  
• The LCVA mailed out the FY 08 Membership Renewal invoices in July. So far about 70% of members have renewed as follows:
  
  Renewing members: Audobon Naturalist Society Rust Nature Sanctuary, Ayrshire Farm, Bendure Communications, Best Western Leesburg-Dulles Hotel & Conference Center, Breaux Vineyards, Briar Patch B&B, Campbell & Associates, Candlewood Suites, Clydes Willow Creek Farm, Comfort Inn & Suites, Country Inn & Suites, Doukenie Winery, Embassy Suites Hotel Dulles North, Executive Conference & Training Center, Fairfield Inn Dulles, The Finer Points, George C. Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor, George Washington University, Giovanni's New York Pizza, Goodstone Inn, Goose Creek Golf Club, Great Country Farms, Hampton Inn & Suites Leesburg, Hampton Inn Dulles Cascades, Hampton Inn Washington Dulles, Holiday InnWashington Dulles,Holiday Inn Leesburg, Holly Heider Chapple Flowers, Homewood Suites by Hilton - Dulles, Hyatt Place, Jay Landers, Johnson's Promotion & Events, June Stanich Photography, Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg Colonial Inn & Bella Luna Restaurant, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Lightfoot Restaurant, Lighthouse Concepts, Lost Creek Vineyard & Winery, Loudoun Fair & Assoc., Loudoun Youth Soccer Association, Management & Consultant Services, Meadowkirk, Michelle Lapierre, Middleburg Bank, Morven Park, Mosby Heritage Area Association, National Conference Center, National Recreation & Park Association, The Norris House Inn, Oatlands Plantation, Old Dominion University, Olivera Music Entertainment, Potomac Celtic Alliance, Town of Purcellville, Purcellville Business & Professional Association, Quality Inn & Suites Dulles, Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club, Raspberry Plain, The Red Fox Inn, Rose Hill Manor, Salamander Hospitality, Springhill Suites Dulles, Suburban Extended Stay, Tarara Vineyard & Winery, The Thomas Birkby House, TownPlace Suites by Marriott Dulles, TownPlace Suites by Marriott Sterling, Tuscarora Mill Restaurant, Virginia Coach Co., Washington Airports Task Force, Washington Dulles International Airport, Waterford Foundation, Where Magazine, Willowcroft Farm Vineyards.
  
  The LCVA would like to welcome the following new members who have joined since February 2007: Black Box Photographics, The McGee Foundation, Harmony Hall, JR's Festival Lakes, Leesburg Animal Park, Murray Hill, Sierra Suites, Trulie An Event, Virginia Wine Adventures, VirginiaWineTour.com