Convention & Visitors Bureau

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
February 2006 Report

Tourism Update

Projects
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 and orchards on new event
ï    Planning Jamestown 2007 events
ï    Working with Lynchburg CVB and 7 other localities on a tourism attraction passport program

Marketing and Promotion
ï    11 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses
ï    Daily Progress is planning a special section for
February that focuses on outdoor activities in Central Virginia

Montebello Fish Hatchery
80 visitors in January ñ Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will not charge visitors in 2006

Meetings
January 6 ñ Travel South Showcase
January 9-10 ñ Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau
January 11 ñ Explore Nelson Wine
January 12 ñ Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau ñ Hospitality Network ñ panel on festivals
January 18 ñ Virginia Tourism Corporation ñ Travel South Showcase
January 20 ñ Nelson County Hospitality and Travel Association
January 23-24 ñ hosted travel writer from Recreation News
January 24 ñ Travel South Showcase

Tourism Statistics
              
            
           
Fiscal          
              
              Fiscal
           
    January 2006    YTD 2006  
 January 2005    YTD 2005
Phone        143  
            
1771             
  479          
         1528  
     
Internet      66,111      
    471,710  
       42,216  
            
257,520
Walk In     538      
         7,509  
           397  
       
          746

Taxes        December 2005  
 YTD 2005    December 2004    YTD
2004    
Lodging    $22,944      
         99,947  
         22,152  
            
    96,608
Meals        $48,433  
            
243,398          44,134  
            
    226,400

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian,
magazines    Column Inches ñ 555 Number of articles – 23
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers ñ
Nelson County received $8,995 in advertising through print media sources

Economic Development Update
Projects
ï    Online business directory now complete
ï    Facilitating Schuyler historic district project
ï    Managing Lovingston Revitalization planning grant ñ
third public meeting set for January 31, working on construction grant
application
ï    Marketing Central Virginia Small Business
Development Center seminars and coordinating monthly onsite sessions ñ
2/14 agribusiness seminar set
ï    Working with the Economic Development Authority on
broadband initiativesñ EDA funded broadband survey of the county
launched 2/6/06

Meetings
January 3 ñ Lovingston Revitalization Project management team
January 4 ñ Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
January 5 ñ Economic Development Authority
January 12 ñ business prospect
January 20 ñ Cumberland County ñ downtown revitalization
January 23 ñ bicentennial committee
January 24 ñ Department of Housing and Community Development How To Workshop for construction grant application
January 26 ñ Virginia Economic Development Partnership
January 27 ñ Virginia Economic Development Partnership
January 30 ñ Central Virginia Small Business Development Center executive committee
January 30 ñ Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
January 31 ñ Virginia Department of Transportation
January 31 ñ business prospect
January 31 ñ public hearing for Department of Housing and Community
Development block grant application for construction funds for the
Lovingston Revitalization Project

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 6 new prospects and 1 ongoing relationship