Arlington Receives Virginia Tourism Corporation Recovery Grant for Ma

Published on July 24, 2020

The Arlington Convention and Visitors Service (ACVS) will receive $10,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) WanderLove Recovery Grant Program. Nearly $870,000 in marketing grant funds have been awarded to 90 DMOs across the Commonwealth that have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to fund recovery marketing initiatives.

"Arlington will use VTC WanderLove grant funds to showcase outdoor adventures in an urban setting to East Coast road trippers," said ACVS Director Emily Cassell. In addition to supporting Virginia's WanderLove campaign by promoting scenic drives, hiking, parks and neighborhood experiences in Arlington, ACVS will commission a photography and video shoot to expand its collection of images reflecting the County's cultural diversity.

"As destinations like ours experience funding reductions due to the pandemic, we're grateful that the grant will help us invest in new visual assets for Arlington tourism marketing," said Cassell. "These images will also benefit VTC as it promotes Virginia to domestic and international audiences," said Cassell.

As Virginia continues reopening, there is significant demand for leisure travel, and people are seeking safe, close-to-home destinations that allow for social distancing and access to open spaces. With this in mind, the WanderLove campaign provides travel inspiration for road trips, outdoor recreation, hidden gems, small towns and Virginia's signature LOVEworks program.

"Virginia tourism is a critical sector of our economy and has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic," said Governor Ralph Northam. "Getting travelers back on the road and spending money in our cities and towns is one of the fastest ways to inject dollars back into our economy and our communities. The Virginia Tourism Corporation's DMO WanderLove Recovery Grants gives localities the ability to market their destination as safe and welcoming when visitors are ready to resume travel."

Visitors to Arlington spent nearly $3.4 billion in 2018, supporting more than 26,000 jobs and contributing $94 million in local tax revenue. Worldwide, the tourism and hospitality industries have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, experiencing drastic revenue drops, job losses and temporary closures. A revived tourism economy can help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into Arlington and other Virginia communities.

About the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service

A division within Arlington Economic Development, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service (ACVS) is Arlington County's official destination marketing organization. Funded primarily through a guest-paid, 1/4-cent tax on hotel rooms, ACVS promotes Arlington as the perfect combination of convenience, value and local flavor for travelers visiting the Washington, D.C., region. For more information on Arlington tourism, visit www.stayarlington.com.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation

Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. In 2018, visitors to Virginia spent $26 billion, which supported 234,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. In 2019, Virginia is for Lovers celebrates its 50th anniversary. To learn more, visit virginia.org.