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| November 2006 |
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The LCVA Holiday Open House is an annual event that we look forward to hosting. We work with you on a daily basis and communicate via email, phone, and during meetings. The holidays give us another reason to get together and reaffirm partnerships and collaboration. Please come and visit with us. Let us know how things are going, what you are looking forward to in 2007, and how the LCVA can partner with you. The festivities will take place at the LCVA offices on December 7th from 10am to 4pm. Please join us for networking and holiday cheer!
As we prepare for the holidays it is also a good time to look ahead to 2007. Loudoun County and our towns will continue to see tourism industry growth through new hotels, golf courses, attractions, and tours. In addition, the 2007 Jamestown Celebration will bring the world's attention to Virginia as the founding of America's first colony is recognized internationally. Loudoun County will host a signature event in May at Morven Park - the America's Cup of Polo. This will be a great opportunity to promote the attractors for leisure visitors to Loudoun County, our horse country, wine country, and towns and villages. Loudoun County's 250th Anniversary Celebration will also take place in May, and many other events will celebrate these important historic dates. The LCVA team is looking forward to leading the industry to capitalize on these events, and hope the entire community will enjoy the opportunities for participation and celebration.
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- The annual LCVA Holiday Open House will take place on Thursday, December 7, 2006 from 10am to 4pm. As always, there will be a great selection of delicious food and beverages for you to enjoy. Please join us at the LCVA offices for a little holiday cheer and networking.
- The LCVA worked with a travel editor from New York Magazine during her visit to Loudoun County. The Loudoun Wine Trail and Lansdowne Resort were part of the familiarization tour. An article is expected on wine country related topics.
- The LCVA's redesigned website www.VisitLoudoun.org has just won two awards at the MarCom Creative Awards. The MarCom Awards is an international awards competition recognizing outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals. The website's home page won a Platinum award in the Design/Website Category, and the entire site received an Honorable Mention in the Website/Overall Site category. These entries were picked from among 5,000 entries from the US and internationally.
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| Industry News |
- Meetings & Conventions Magazine has awarded the National Conference Center at Lansdowne the Gold Key Award for 2006, which recognizes the world's finest meeting properties. The NCC received the award at a gala in NYC in November.
- Great Country Farms has won the Agricultural and Equine Business of the Year Award from the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.
- On November 20, 2006 the National Conference Center at Lansdowne broke ground for its brand new ballroom. The ballroom will feature 16,550 square feet for groups up to 1,800, plus an adjacent reception area. Three additional multi-function rooms can be used as meeting or banquet space.
- Holly Heider Chapple Flowers Holiday Open House will take place on December 2 from 9am-5pm and December 3 from 12-5pm. You are invited to visit with Holly and designer Louise Lynn from the National Cathedral. Gift baskets, holiday wreaths, centerpieces, ornaments, beeswax candles, stained glass, and many other gifts will be available for purchase. Paintings by Remington Restivo will also be featured. 41827 Stumptown Rd., Leesburg, 703-777 8227. If you are unable to attend, Holly will be happy to take orders and prepare your arrangements at your convenience.
- Sponsorship opportunities are currently available for the America's Cup of Polo event at Morven Park on May 12, 2007. Please contact Miriam Nasuti with Domenicon Marketing for further information, 703-771-8893 or Domenicon.Miriam@adelphia.net.
- The Hampton Inn & Suites Leesburg announced that Mr. Robert Crouch has joined their staff as Front Office Manager.
- Courtyard Dulles Town Center has completed their upgraded shower experience by recently installing new rainfall showerheads, bowed shower curtain rods, and upgraded bathroom amenities in all rooms!
- The general managers of Candlewood Suites - Sterling and Suburban Extended Stay - Sterling became operating partners this year. Laila Oinas is GM/Operating Partner for the Candlewood Suites and Greg Burnes is GM/Operating Partner for the Suburban Extended Stay. For further information, please visit their website.
- The Suburban Extended Stay brand of hotels was purchased by Choice Hotels in late 2005.
- Holiday Inn Leesburg is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation which includes a complete renovation of guestrooms, public space, meeting space, and the restaurant.
- Internationally distributed major trade publication Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation recently named Dulles-based Reston Limousine #29 on its Top 100 list of the nation's largest fleet operators.
- The Food Network's "Road Tasted" with hosts Jaime and Bobby Deen visited the Sterling and Leesburg areas recently with stops at Mom's Apple Pie in Leesburg and Windham Winery in Hillsboro. The episode aired on the Food Network over Thanksgiving.
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.
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| Program Updates |
- The LCVA is currently designing our next Visitors Guide. We are working to make VISIT LOUDOUN: The 2007-2008 Official Visitors Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia more informative and better than ever. To do that, we need your help. We have developed two different cover options. Please take a moment to look at them by clicking here and provide your feedback. We appreciate your opinion.
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| Sales Activity Report |
- The LCVA hosted a Meeting Planners site visit to Loudoun County. We partnered with Associated Luxury Hotels to create a list of planners looking for high end facilities. We hosted 27 planners and guests. A special thanks to Lansdowne Resort, Embassy Suites, Salamander Hospitality, Goodstone Inn, Tarara Winery, Fusions Catering and Reston Limousine for their contributions. We have already received 3 RFPs thus far from the participants.
- The LCVA exhibited at BizBash M&C Meeting and Event Style Show for the first time. BizBash consisted of more than 300 exhibitors. The LCVA came home with 47 qualified new contacts.
- The LCVA exhibited for the first time at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) 75th National Council Meeting in a coop with Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. The purpose was to showcase Loudoun County as an excellent destination for National ASA tournaments and network with those tournament decision makers. The conference was attended by over 200 delegates, and over 100 regional and state delegates visited our booth. The LCVA is currently following up on leads/bids for 2007.
- The LCVA exhibited at the United States Sports Specialty Association (USSSA) 2006 National Conference. This was a coop with Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. The conference was attended by over 400 delegates from all over the county. Over 100 delegates visited the LCVA booth, and we are currently following up on leads/bids from this conference.
- The LCVA exhibited at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show for leisure travel. LCVA staff members spoke with and distributed 323 information packets over the two-day show. In an effort to track conversions from the show, coupons were included in the packets that visitors can redeem at the LCVA Visitors Center for a free gift.
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