Convention & Visitors Bureau

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
May 2006 Report

Tourism Update

Projects

ï    Working with Land Rover on May 12-13 Spring Rallye

ï    Working with Virginia Film Office on an art film on location in Afton

ï    Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial

ï    Working with Explore Nelson Wine and orchards on Taste of Nelson event August 18-19, 2006

ï    Planning Jamestown 2007 events

ï    Arranging for the installation of signage for the Watchable Wildlife program

Marketing and Promotion

ï    33 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses

ï    Wintergreen Resort Spa featured in Southern Living

ï    Organizing familiarization tours of local wineries and accommodations

Montebello Fish Hatchery

251   visitors in April ñ Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will not charge visitors in 2006

April Meetings

April 4 ñ Lynchburg and Bedford Tourism

Regional Tourism Summit

April 11 ñ Explore Nelson Wine

April 12 ñTaste of Nelson

April 13 ñ Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus

April 14 ñ Explore Nelson Wine

April 19 ñ Taste of Nelson

April 24-25 – Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus Tourism Summit

April 28 ñ Virginia Film Office

Tourism Statistics
              
           
           
         Fiscal  
             Fiscal
           
    April 2006       
    YTD 2006        April
2005    YTD 2005
Phone     305      
            
    2356      
          111  
            
2064    
Internet   60494      
            
641227            
51163           
405516    
Walk In    971      
            
   9663      
         693  
             9216

    
Taxes    March 2006       
YTD 2006            March
2005    YTD 2005    
Lodging    $24842      
     175339      
         15258  
             155850
Meals        $36075  
         375755  
            
42442           
    378573

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian,
magazines    Column Inches ñ 357  Number of
articles – 13

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

Nelson County received $8450 in advertising through print media sources

Economic Development Update

Project
ï    Online business directory now complete and categorized by occupation
ï    Facilitating Schuyler historic district project ñfinal public meeting 5/4/06
ï    Managing the installation of historic district signage for Lovingston
ï    Lovingston Revitalization planning process ñ awaiting construction grant award
ï    Working with the Economic Development Authority on
broadband initiatives and Business Appreciation event (June 15, 2006)

April Meetings
April 3 ñ business prospect
April 4 ñ Lovingston Revitalization Project
April 4 ñ Schuyler Historic District
April 5 ñ Piedmont Community College-Monticello Wine Trail-South Africa project
April 6 ñ Economic Development Authority meeting
April 11 ñ Explore Nelson Wine
April 11 ñ Board of Supervisors update on Schuyler Historic District
April 13 ñ Virginia Downtown Development Association
April 14 ñ Explore Nelson Wine
April 18 ñ business prospect
April 26-27 ñ Community Development Block Grant workshop (Lovingston Revitalization Project)
April 27 ñ Shenandoah County Economic Development Council

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 3 new prospects and 5 ongoing relationships