Alexandria Living Magazine
First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria.
First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam and officials from Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) on Wednesday afternoon recognized the City of Alexandria and Visit Alexandria for their COVID-19 recovery programs.
Visit Alexandria and its Great Walks program also received a $10,000 WanderLove Recovery Grant during an event conference at Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Northam graced the City of Alexandria with her presence and spoke about the importance of tourism in Virginia — and particularly in Alexandria, where tourism is a significant supporter of jobs and the local economy.
Roughly 30 people gathered in the main lobby of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
In addition to Northam, Virginia State Senator Adam E. Ebbin, Councilmember John Taylor Chapman and Councilwoman Del Pepper attended. Patricia Washington, President and CEO of Visit Alexandria, spoke about Alexandria’s unique efforts to support local businesses and the tourism industry while maintaining safety in the face of COVID-19. These efforts included ALX at Home, the new Flex Getaway Hotel Package, Great Walks and ALX Promise.
Chapman mentioned the City’s Back-to-Business grant program, which has given $3.5 million in aid to Alexandria’s small businesses. He thanked the residents of Alexandria for their support of small businesses and cooperation with safety efforts.
Virginia’s First Lady noted that the role of tourism in Virginia is significant as a large economic engine and a source of instant revenue. In 2018, tourists spent $26 billion in Virginia, a number that has decreased significantly in 2020. She acknowledged the devastation that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the hospitality and tourism industry.
“We know that a revived tourism economy can help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into our Virginia communities, yet we also know that we must proceed responsibly and encourage travel in a safe, measured manner,” Northam said. She continued by pointing out that consumer research shows that many Americans are looking for safe travel destinations that are close to home and allow for opportunities for social distancing and outdoor experiences — something that Visit Alexandria’s new marketing programs are designed to focus on in the coming months.
Visit Alexandria’s Great Walks program received a $10,000 WanderLove Recovery Grant. The WanderLove Recovery Grant program, administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), has awarded $866,504 to 90 destination marketing organizations around Virginia that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Great Walks initiative highlights Alexandria’s walkability in themes like architecture, art and history, including the Duke Street Black History Trail. The program also features an approach that encourages visitors to venture from Old Town to nearby attractions including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Trail and the Del Ray neighborhood.
Northam also lauded Alexandria’s programs to support small businesses and promote local tourism while maintaining dedication to safety.
Sen. Ebbin echoed previous speakers in his praise for the beauty of Alexandria and its reaction to COVID-19. He pointed out the need to shift focus to visitors from the Philadelphia, Richmond and D.C.-area markets as Visit Alexandria continues to market itself as a tourism destination.
While in town, the First Lady of Virginia visited with a few artists in their studios in the Torpedo Art Factory before walking to the Waterfront Park for pictures in front of the “Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies” public art exhibit.
