Visit Alexandria Announces Record $1 Billion in Visitor Spending

In FY2025, City of Alexandria sales, meals, lodging tax revenues reached $88 million, surpassing FY2024.

by

City and business leaders gathered Thursday night at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center to celebrate FY2025 wins and map out an even brighter future for the City and its tourism businesses.

The evening kicked off with a performance by the Fantish Dance Group, which specializes in Ethiopian dance, followed by a reception.

At Visit Alexandria’s annual meeting, the organization announced record visitor spending and unveiled its bold five-year strategic plan at the gathering of the hospitality community and city leaders with a theme of “Shaping Tomorrow: Strategy in Motion, Community Focused.”

“The continued success of Alexandria’s tourism industry, including reaching the $1 billion milestone in tourism spending, is directly attributable to the strategic and impactful work of Visit Alexandria,” said Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. “Their efforts to elevate our city’s profile have generated measurable growth in tourism, support for local businesses, and enhanced civic pride. Visit Alexandria’s initiatives have not only attracted visitors to our city but also contributed significantly to job creation and economic vitality.”

Visit Alexandria President & CEO Todd O’Leary announced that Alexandria’s tourism spending from travelers residing more than 50 miles away grew to $1 billion for the first time in history during calendar year 2024. Spending rose 8% versus the previous year, a growth rate that outpaced both the Northern Virginia region and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole.

In Fiscal Year 2025, City of Alexandria consumption tax revenues (sales, meals and lodging) reached $88 million, surpassing Fiscal Year 2024 ($86 million). Revenues generated by visitor spending support core city services, saving the average Alexandria household $832 per year and supporting over 5,700 Alexandria jobs.

Visit Alexandria also unveiled to the community its five-year strategic plan that will guide the organization’s work through 2030. The plan outlines four strategic focus areas:

•Sales & Marketing

•Destination Management

•Destination Alignment

•Organizational Sustainability

To put this plan together, Visit Alexandria solicited input from stakeholders across the community—including members, board members, city officials, customers and business leaders. In total, the process engaged well over 100 people through in-depth interviews, focus groups, surveys and more.

In addition, Visit Alexandria recapped its FY 2025 programs and accomplishments, which contributed to record-breaking growth during O’Leary’s first year with the organization. As highlighted in both the presentation and the annual report, Visit Alexandria secured top-tier media coverage and earned prestigious accolades, including Alexandria being named one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 5 U.S. Cities in 2025; a Condé Nast Traveler Best Small City in the United States for the seventh consecutive year, and a feature on the TODAY Show.

“Despite the many challenges this year — particularly in the D.C. region — tourism remains a strong sector for Alexandria, driving much-needed investment and revenue into our local economy,” said Kate Ellis, Visit Alexandria Board chair. “As we move into Fiscal Year 2026, I’m excited to build on this momentum, guided by the organization’s strategic plan, strong media presence, and bold leadership — as we work together with the community to chart Alexandria’s next great chapter.”

Visit Alexandria then highlighted several key initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026, and beyond:

  • Strengthening Alexandria’s destination promotion with a high-level, integrated strategy.
  • Deepening the organization’s data-driven approach to optimize its performance.
  • Creating a brand-new destination marketing campaign.
  • Unveiling an expanded neighborhoods initiative to spread the positive impacts of tourism across the city.
  • Expanding storytelling and content about Alexandria’s small businesses and local voices.
  • Leveraging major events to drive visitation, including America’s 250th birthday.
  • Redeploying the destination sales team to strategically focus on driving group business.
  • Strengthening member programming to better connect businesses to opportunities through tourism

“I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead for Alexandria,” said O’Leary. “The formative work completed over the last year, not the least of which was the creation of our strategic plan, is providing a solid foundation for Visit Alexandria long-term. This work, combined with the dedication of our passionate team, and the partnerships we enjoy throughout the community, will pay dividends - not only to Alexandria’s tourism industry, but indeed the entire community.”

The Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report and meeting slides are available on Visit Alexandria’s website.

ABOUT VISIT ALEXANDRIA AND ALEXANDRIA

Visit Alexandria is the not-for-profit destination marketing organization for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. Recognized by Travel + Leisure a top five best U.S. city in 2025, Alexandria is a welcoming escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Preparing to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, Alexandria’s story follows in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and the Black Americans who shaped the United States and the city’s history. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new experiences at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, which are unique and alive with energy and excitement.

Advertisement