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 Happy Holidays to our Valued Members of VADMO We had a very exciting and productive year in 2024 thanks to your support and involvement, and we are planning to keep pushing for more exciting professional development opportunities to keep VADMO on our growth trajectory for 2025. Our most significant new initiative for VADMO and our membership is the VADMO Tourism Leadership Institute (VTLI), which was launched in conjunction with the Fall Meet Up in Berry Hill VA last September. The First Session was focused on Leadership Development and included intensive training and interactive programs with the 17 members who were accepted into this first class of VTLI. The program will have three more sessions that will take place over the balance of the fiscal year in Richmond, Harrisonburg and Smithfield. For more details on this credentialed program, visit vadmoleadership.com. We will keep that website updated with new agenda items and pictures from the educational sessions. The Spring Symposium in Richmond was sold out, and attendees met and heard from many key leaders in recreation and sports asset development. The Virgo Awards, chaired by Theresa Earles, were very competitive with a record number of submissions of many interesting and exciting programs. The creativity and drive displayed by the applicants was truly amazing and inspirational. The Fall Meet Up in Halifax, chaired by LaTonya Hamilton, was an exciting and experiential event where attendees could visit the Virginia International Raceway and learn about the public/private partnerships that were involved to make that project such a success and a tourism asset for Virginia. One of VADMO’s most successful outreach programs is the AAA Sales Blitz, chaired by Bruce Newton of Hampton CVB, which also grew this year. Thank you to all the partners who participated. We encourage your DMO’s to get involved for the next event and will provide those details as soon as they are available. As we prepare for the coming year, you will see new and exciting opportunities that will add value to your dues investment. VADMO is also planning additional outreach via email for more “News You Can Use” in your local and regional programs. We will be seeking timely and relevant topics to cover, so if you see interesting articles to share or Best Practices in tourism programs, please share it with us. You can also share requests for specific topics, and all ideas are welcome at: vadmo@associationbuilders.com. In addition, VADMO supports the tourism advocacy efforts of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association (VRLTA), and they are planning a Legislative Day on the Hill on January 27 and 28, 2025. Please consider supporting this important outreach to our legislators, and you can sign up until January You can sign up to participate at this link: https://web.cvent.com/event/5778ff9a-8b44-477e-bfda-dceea82dbf21/regProcessStep1 Our crown jewel conference, the Spring Symposium, is scheduled for April 9-10, 2025, at The Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg. The conference theme is “Planning for the Future”, and the agenda will focus on community development challenges, building consensus and how DMO’s can get the best use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives. We will get the registration information posted in the new year so that you can sign up for this professional development opportunity. The next AAA Sales Blitz will be set up for later in the Spring or early Summer of 2025. The details and locations will be posted as soon as they are confirmed. Your DMO can benefit from participating in this very successful event. For those of you that would like to be a host location for the Fall Meet Up, Spring Symposium or VTLI, please contact VADMO at vadmo@associationbuilders.com and let your interest be known. On behalf of the VADMO Officers and Executive Committee, we thank you for your continued investment in our industry, and our partners and small businesses that make tourism great every day across the Commonwealth. We wish you all a season of joy. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please reach out to us via our email at vadmo@associationbuilders.com. Warm wishes, Paige Read President VADMO
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Special Thanks to the Talented Team at Go Halifax VA as they hosted a terrific VADMO Meet-Up, September 25-26. |
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If your destination is interested in hosting a future VADMO Conference or Meet-Up, contact Susan K. Deusebio, VADMO Administration | Association Builders susan@associationbuilders.com | 804-690-5212 |
VADMO Announces First Class for Tourism Leadership Institute
(VTLI)
For more information on the certification program, go to vadmoleadership.com
The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO) is pleased to announce its inaugural class roster for their new tourism leadership credentialing initiative, the VADMO Tourism Leadership Institute (VTLI). This innovative program was developed to prepare industry professionals who want to advance their careers to blend their knowledge, skills and abilities with leadership theory and business strategy.
The VTLI will focus on leadership, communication, advocacy, community development, finance and management, and has been brought to industry professionals in partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC). The University of Lynchburg Professional Development Institute will work with VADMO to certify the credentials, which will provide a Certified Virginia Tourism Professional (CVTP) designation to the program graduates.
Participants in VTLI’s First Class for CVTP Credentials:
- Casey Armstrong, Richmond Region Tourism
- Ellen Frazier, Marion Community & Economic Development
- Mary Fugere, Hampton Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Tracey Gardner, Madison County
- LaTonya Hamilton, Halifax County Tourism Department
- Samantha Johnson, City of Staunton
- Justin Kerns, Winchester/Frederick Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Brooke Love, Carroll County Tourism
- James McCann, City of Portsmouth
- Lisa Meriwether, Visit SoSi - Danville
- Laura Messer, Virginia Tourism Corporation
- Ben Owen, Halifax County Tourism Department
- Paige Read, Town of Culpeper Economic Development & Tourism
- Kelly Rowland, Visit Martinsville
- Erika Tolbert, Pulaski County Tourism
- Patty Williams, Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism
- Judy Winslow, Smithfield Isle of Wight Tourism
A selective enrollment process was used by VTLI to ensure industry-only participation and to target Virginia tourism’s current and emerging leaders. Industry experts will serve as course moderators and presenters to cover tourism industry best practices.
VTLI is a one-year (1) program that will include four (4) required, in-person sessions with a Tourism Impact Project as a part of the certification process. The sessions will be held in four (4) different regions across the Commonwealth. The course work is designed to move participants toward earning an industry credential with a planned recertification process. These quarterly, in-person meetings will provide important peer-to-peer networking opportunities in addition to the educational content and testing.
The University of Lynchburg’s Professional Development Institute (pdi.lynchburg.edu) is excited to partner with VADMO to support this innovative program. According to John Zinn, Executive Director of PDI, “this initiative complements our Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality portfolio and we look forward to working with tourism professionals across the Commonwealth." The PDI offers non-credit professional development, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning programs on campus, in the community, and online.
“The VTLI program and the new CVTP credential is an important initiative that will have a positive impact on the tourism profession in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Rita McClenny, President of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Through this credentialing opportunity, tourism staff in our localities will have access to cutting-edge training modules, current trends and challenges facing the tourism industry, and be trained with best practices in leadership, management, communications and public financing.”
“VADMO Welcomes this first class to the Tourism Leadership Institute. We are privileged to have this partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to provide professional development and industry credentials to top tourism leaders in the Commonwealth,” said Paige Read, President of VADMO. “We have worked hard to develop a meaningful and relevant credentialing program that is in place to grow the depth and opportunities for tourism professionals across Virginia. The University of Lynchburg’s Professional Development Institute will be a great credentialing ally for this new initiative that we believe will continue to evolve and provide critical leadership training to our profession.”
The program outline:
Session I: Transformative Leadership: Discovering Styles and Best Practices for Tourism Excellence
September 24-25, 2024
South Boston VA
Session II: Engaging Voices: Mastering Effective Communication Strategies and Advocacy for Tourism Professionals
January 14-15, 2025
Richmond VA
Session III: Destination Success: Strategic Management Tools for DMOs
April 8-9, 2025
Harrisonburg VA
Session IV: Finance & Flourish: Mastering Financial Literacy and Team Culture
June 17-18, 2025
Smithfield VA
For more information on VTLI and VADMO, please visit the VADMO website at www.vadmo.org or www.vadmoleadership.com.
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About VADMO: The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO) is a membership-based association of independent destination management organizations and supporting businesses who share political and community support with the primary mission of promoting their areas as meeting and tourism destinations.
Our Mission: To offer our members advocacy, networking and professional development opportunities for the purpose of member destination success.
About University of Lynchburg
Established in 1903, the University of Lynchburg is a comprehensive private university in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs, 15 master’s programs, and three doctoral degrees, Lynchburg offers a personalized, life-changing educational experience. It is regularly recognized by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review and stands out as one of 44 “Colleges that Change Lives.”
About the Professional Development Institute
The Professional Development Institute offers non-credit professional development, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning programs on campus, in the community, and online. The PDI empowers individuals, organizations, and communities to thrive by inspiring a lifelong journey of discovery and achievement.
New Programs & Committeesto Provide More Value to Your Dues InvestmentThank you for your continued participation in the Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO). We are a stronger organization due to the participation of CVBs and DMOs throughout the Commonwealth, regardless of destination and budget size. We each have knowledge to share with our Virginia counterparts and we each benefit through our shared experiences. During the 2023-2024 year, VADMO traveled across the Commonwealth for our various meetings and events. We had record-setting participation in the AAA Sales Blitz, and our Spring Symposium in Richmond VA was a |
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huge success with all available seats selling out in advance of the event. VADMO recognized Best in Class tourism programs with our annual VIRGO Awards, and the Fall Meet Up in Winchester highlighted the growing Agri-Tourism sector.
Additionally, VADMO Members represented you at the statewide Legislative and Tourism Day in Richmond and will continue to contribute to similar events to stay active and keep government officials informed about our industry.
The best way to receive maximum benefit from your VADMO membership investment is to take an active role on committees and in planning the meetings. The committees in which you and your staff may consider participating include Awards, Tourism Sales, Membership & Recognition, Education & Content, Marketing & Communications, and Sponsorship.
New in 2025 will be the introduction of the VADMO Tourism Leadership Institute (VTLI), which is an initiative being developed by VADMO in partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation, to provide professional development and credentials to its participants. VTLI will be a year-long program that will include four (4) sessions and a Capstone Project to be completed for graduation. Your investment in this important program will provide you with valuable credentials for you and your tourism office.
All of these opportunities are available to you with your dues investment, and for FY25, we are keeping dues at the same rate as last year.
If you have other questions or want to work with VADMO in new ways, please contact the VADMO office at vadmo@associationbuilders.com. I look forward to seeing you at a future VADMO event!
Sincerely,
Paige Read
VADMO President
You may view and print your invoice by logging on to the website www.vadmo.org. You may pay that invoice online with a credit card or by mailing a check. Please keep in mind that your VADMO membership is based on your organization's total annual budget. If there have been changes to your budget this year, please contact VADMO at or and we can update your invoice. Join Us for Our Many Educational Events in FY25! |
:: Meet Our Allied Members ::
About VADMO
The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations invites members, prospective members, allied members and the public, to use this site as a resource and to learn more about our association.
Our Mission: To offer our members advocacy, networking and professional development opportunities for the purpose of member destination success.
Please use the easy navigation links located on the top bar, to find areas of special interest:
- For DMO Members, there is a "Members Only" section.
- For prospective members the "Membership" section is a good place to start.
- For Allied Members, the "Members" list under "Membership" will prove useful.