As a result of
Governor Gilmore's Virginia Post-Attack Economic
Response Task Force, in
October the WTEM announced the creation of a
$500,000 Emergency Recovery Tourism
Marketing Grants Program.
This program is one portion of the $1.5 million
emergency marketing
and advertising "Virginia Stands for Freedom"
initiative, designed to
encourage travel to and within Virginia.
This
program provides the opportunity for a two-to-one funding match
from the WTEM
- up to $25,000 - for any Virginia travel entity that can
demonstrate it
has been adversely affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.
Applications will be
accepted by the WTEM on a rolling basis until Jan. 15, 2002, or until the funds
have all been distributed, whichever
comes first. An application review/approval
and fund distribution
process of just two weeks will help speed Virginia's
recovery.
Because of the immediate needs of the Virginia travel industry
and
the devastating effects of the terrorist attacks on the United States'
travel industry, this program replaces the second round of matching
grants
scheduled for a Dec. 21, 2001, deadline.
Program guidelines can be found
on
Promote
Your Travel Specials
WTEM
has created a new area in its website, < for industry members to
offer
discounts and incentives at no charge. This promotional area will
remain
active for several months, allowing offers to change as you see fit.
Consumers
will be directed to the site through WTEM advertising. Once on the site,
visitors
will be directed to the promotional area through a home page button and
menu
links. The promotional page will feature two categories,
"Buy 2, Get
1 Free Offers" and "Discounts/Special Offers.
" All necessary
instructions to participate are provided below.
