Monday, March 25, 2013
Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association President and CEO Patricia Washington sees a city poised to progress.
People visit Alexandria for its history, art, charm and ambiance, among other things. So when it comes to tourism, the city pretty much sells itself, right? Not exactly, says Patricia Washington, president and CEO of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association. “Tourism marketing works,” said Washington, who stepped into her job in late 2012. That’s something she learned from her tenure at the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, she said, speaking with Patch at ACVA’s offices on N. Washington Street. “Tourism marketing is a big driver of economic impact for a city. It makes a difference in a city’s economy,” she said. “It generates revenues benefitting everyone in the city.” In fiscal year 2012, visitors to …
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association discussed the importance of tourism to the city's economy at a marketing forum last week.
The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association hosted a forum last week for small businesses, civic associations and other community members to review resources available for business growth. It’s important that the residents and business owners realize that tourism is a key and effective economic generator for the city, said ACVA President and CEO Patricia Washington. She added that her group has been building its technological tools, such as an interactive website to reach out to tourists, but also works hard to foster personal connections. “We’re high tech but high touch,” she said. Washington noted that in 2011, tourism spending generated $711 million, which brought in city tax revenue of $23.1 million. She added that with the …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association taps into business trend of corporate social responsibility to offer businesses and groups the opportunity to volunteer in the community.
The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association has introduced a community service program in partnership with a local nonprofit to offer corporate groups the opportunity to include service projects and events along with their business meetings and entertainment activities. The Alexandria Cares initiative jumps on the increase in corporate social responsibility initiatives by firms around the country seeking to operate in a way that accounts for their social and environmental impact. “Corporate community service projects are in high demand in our business,” said ACVA Vice President of Sales Lorraine Lloyd in a statement. “We have wanted to offer this service for a long time, and are thrilled to include this as part of a visiting …
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Patricia Washington comes to Alexandria from the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
Alexandria’s official tourism promoter has a new president and CEO — Patricia Washington from the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. Washington, who worked in her Philadelphia position for 12 years, will start her new position at the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Nov. 13. She is the third person to lead ACVA since it was created 13 years ago. “We are so pleased to welcome such a dynamic and innovative leader,” said Jody Manor, chair of the ACVA Board of Governors. “Patricia is joining a strong organization and a booming tourism economy — Alexandria has seen a 22 percent growth in visitor spending in the last five years. We know it will take a truly exceptional candidate to take the power of the ACVA to the…
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The new, more robust site allows visitors to better research activities in the area while being able to book plane, tour and other tickets to Alexandria venues.
Alexandria has a new website designed to motivate travel to the area and increase visitor spending, which was unveiled at the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Tourism Marketing Summit this month. The new site allows visitors to research information about Alexandria as well as directly book plane tickets and reserve hotel rooms, all via the portal visitalexandriava.com. For example, a tourist coming into town can now go online to the revamped site and purchase plane tickets, book a rental car and local hotel room, buy tickets to visit the Mount Vernon Estate and purchase a ticket for a D.C. Metro food tour, which includes Alexandria restaurants. “In a single year, visitors to Alexandria spend more than $650 million and …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Stephanie Pace Brown is leaving the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association for a new job in June.
Stephanie Pace Brown, the head of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association, is leaving in June to take a job in North Carolina. ACVA President and CEO Brown will head the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Brown has been Alexandria’s top tourism official since 2007. During her tenure, visitor spending has increased 17 percent—more than doubling the average growth in Virginia and neighboring jurisdictions, according to ACVA. Brown implemented research and redeveloped Alexandria’s tourism brand, and the new theme “Shop, Dine & Celebrate on America’s Historic Main Streets” was introduced. VisitAlexandriaVA.com now attracts more than 1 million visits annually. “Stephanie has done a fabulous job for Alexandria,” Mayor Bill …
Proposed route will connect King Street and Braddock Road Metro stations before heading up Mt. Vernon Avenue.
With more than a half-dozen routes on the drawing board, Alexandriaʼs Department of Transportation and Environmental Services announced Wednesday that it has selected a recommended route for trolley service in Del Ray. The preferred routing for the trolley, revealed at a community meeting Wednesday night at George Washington Middle School, will start at King Street Metro station, head east on King Street, then north on West Street, stopping at the Braddock Road Metro station. From there, the trolley will hop on Braddock Road and head up Mt. Vernon Avenue. The trolley will cross over West Glebe Road, then head east on West Reed Avenue, passing Cora Kelly Recreation Center. Then the trolley will go down Commonwealth Avenue, turning right on …
38.81655
-77.05688
George Washington Middle School
1005 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA
/articles/alexandria-reveals-recommended-route-for-trolley-service-in-del-ray
1380897
/locations/6687562
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association is hoping the city manager will approve an extension of a campaign designed to attract tourism to the area.
The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association is hoping City Council in its fiscal 2013 budget will approve a $100,000 extension of an ad campaign promoting tourism to markets largely outside the city. In 2007, ACVA commissioned a marketing and research study to develop advertising that would promote Alexandria as a destination and distinguish the area from tourism competitors such as Annapolis, Md., Charleston, S.C., or Savannah, Ga. “If we’re trying to market ourselves just like Charleston, for example, we’re not distinguishing ourselves,” said ACVA President and CEO Stephanie Pace Brown. The ACVA, which is charged with promoting the image and often the economics of Alexandria, conducted one-on-one interviews and focus groups with …
lawgal
11:24 am on Friday, March 29, 2013
Alexandria does benefit from tourism, although people need to realize that some stay here and in Crystal City to see D.C. monuments, memorials, museums, Cherry Blossoms, sports events (March Madness) as well. The King St. corridor and waterfront will likely remain the main attractions and the free trolley provided to and from Metro is well justified. It is also good to have regular police patrols… more ›