Photo by K Summerer for Visit Alexandria
King Street in Old Town Alexandria
Visit Alexandria has received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) “50 Years of Love” grant fund, the group announced Monday.
“50 Years of Love” is part of the state tourism corporation's efforts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the "Virginia is for Lovers" tourism slogan, which was created in 1969 by Richmond-based advertising agency Martin & Woltz.
Alexandria's grant funds will be used for Visit Alexandria’s “50 Ways to Love Your Summer in Alexandria” promotion, which will span Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The promotion includes a summer hotel package offering overnight guests staying two or more nights unlimited ride Potomac Riverboat Company water taxi passes for two, Key to the City museum passes and free overnight parking at their hotel. Visit Alexandria will also create and promote “50 Ways to Love Your Summer in Alexandria”-themed content that will be used in its advertising, public relations and social media campaigns.
“'Virginia is for Lovers' is one of the most iconic tourism slogans in the world, and we are thrilled to be celebrating ‘50 years of Love’ with partners from around the Commonwealth in 2019,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This grant program provides an engaging opportunity for destinations across the state to showcase what makes a vacation in Virginia so special, and helps to show travelers why Virginia is for Lovers still rings true 50 years later.”
“While Alexandria’s streets, shops and restaurants are buzzing during the summer, it’s also a time when Alexandria’s hotels have some of the best rates of the year,” said Patricia Washington, president and CEO of Visit Alexandria, in a news release. “This Virginia Tourism Corporation grant allows us to showcase our new waterfront experience and how the city can serve as a launchpad for exploring D.C., George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the region.” Here's more about the grant, from the release:
In total, VTC awarded $390,000 to 39 tourism marketing programs across the Commonwealth to help increase visitation and revenue. Each grant recipient received a $10,000 grant for its “50 Years of Love” project, with the requirement of engaging 10 or more tourism partners in order to receive grant funding.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors and promoting the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand, which is celebrating 50 years in 2019. Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. In 2017, visitors spent $25 billion, which supported 232,000 jobs and contributed $1.73 billion in state and local taxes.
About Virginia is for Lovers
Fifty years after its creation, Virginia is for Lovers continues to be one of the most recognizable and iconic tourism slogans of all time. Virginia is for Lovers was inducted into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame on September 21, 2009. The slogan was included in the Advertising Icon Museum alongside fellow 2009 inductees, the AOL Running Man, the Budweiser Clydesdales and State Farm’s slogan, Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There. This recognition came on the heels of Forbes.com tapping Virginia is for Lovers as one of the top 10 tourism marketing campaigns of all time. Today, a new generation is discovering love for Virginia’s mountains, beaches, history, theme parks, vibrant cities, outdoor activities, sports and hospitality.
For more information about 50 Years of Love, visit www.virginia.org/virginiaisforlovers.
