December 2005 Tourism Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
December 2005 Report

Tourism Update

Projects

ï    Updated Nelson County 2006 events on the state of Virginia,
Charlottesville Albemarle and Lynchburg tourism calendars/websites
ï    Submitted Nelson County as a motorcycle friendly
place on the website Motorcycle Virginia – www.motorcycleva.com

ï    Submitted a proposal to host the 2006 US Challenge event ñwith
Wintergreen Resort and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and
Visitors Bureau

ï    Submitted attraction information for the 2007 AAA TourBook

ï    The newest collectible miniature, the Oak Ridge Railroad Station is now for sale

ï    Submitted Crabtree Falls as a unique kid oriented attraction to
the Family Road Atlas being published by the mapping company Rand
McNally

ï    Working with Virginia Tourism Corporation on Travel South February 2006 Showcase (Richmond)

ï    Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial

ï    Working with Explore Nelson Wine on marketing to Wintergreen Resort

ï    Planning Jamestown 2007 events

ï    Working with Lynchburg CVB and 7 other localities on a tourism attraction passport program

Marketing and Promotion

ï    10 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses

Montebello Fish Hatchery

390 paid visitors in November 2005

Meetings

November 2 ñ Explore Nelson Wine

November 7ñ Nelson County Summer Festival

November 8 ñ Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) research and branding project

November 18 ñ Virginia Wine Tours

November 22 ñ US Challenge event proposal

November 28 ñ Keep Nelson Beautiful

November 29 ñ bicentennial

Tourism Statistics
           
    November 2005    YTD 2005  
 November 2004        YTD 2004
Phone        126  
            
        3,182  
        73      
            
           
1,753    
Internet     44,414      
            
598,384       34,619  
            
         212,594
Walk In    765      
            
     11,989        
846          
            
      11,537

    

Taxes   
           
    October 2005       
YTD 2005    October 2004    YTD
2004    
Lodging    $16,922      
         151,455  
     14,176      
         159,280
Meals        $38,151  
            
397,593        37,576  
            
409,779    

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian,
magazines    Column Inches ñ 519  Number of
articles – 16

Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers ñ

Nelson County received $12,285 in advertising through print media sources

Economic Development Update
Projects
ï    Producing economic development profile of Nelson County with Dominion Virginia Power
ï    Charlottesville Chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executive now serves Nelson County businesses
ï     now has a geographic cluster map counter on the home page ñ now analyzing web site using google analytics
ï    Facilitating the Nellysford Planning process ñthe
second community meeting held November 22, 2005 ñ 60 participants
attended
ï    Facilitating Schuyler historic district project ñ Board update set for December 13
ï    Managing Lovingston Revitalization planning grant ñ beginning work on DHCD construction grant application
ï    Marketing Central Virginia Small Business
Development Center seminars and coordinating monthly onsite sessions
ï    Working on the online business directory
ï    Working with the Economic Development Authority on
broadband initiatives and business retention visits – EDA will fund
broadband survey of the county
ï    Working with Wintergreen Resort to change the GSA per diem and hotel project

Meetings
November 1 ñ Wintergreen Resort hotel project
November 1 ñ business consultant
November 1 ñ prospective business
November 2 ñ Explore Nelson Wine
November 3 ñ Economic Development Authority
November 4 ñ business retention
November 10 ñ Service Corps of Retired Executives
November 15 ñ Dept. of Historic Resources cost share grant application workshop
November 16 ñ prospective business
November 18 ñ Virginia Wine Tours
November 30 ñ Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
November 30 ñ business retention

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 3 new prospects and 2 ongoing relationships