2015 Virgo Award Winners

The 2015 Virgo Travel and Tourism Awards were presented at the Annual Awards Luncheon held at the Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center on April 30, 2015.  The competition was judged by a panel of four out-of-state peers who made their determinations based on the quality of the submission, economic efficiency, and the economic or community impact.  Once again, Tubby Kubick of Chocklett Press helped us find outstanding judges who turned in results reflecting the high quality of submissions and a very close competition.  

The 2015 competition debuted new categories which were designed to more accurately reflect the type of cutting edge promotional campaigns being waged state-wide.  These awards pay tribute to individuals, groups, businesses and destination marketing organizations that have significantly contributed to the Commonwealth of Virginia's economy through tourism promotion and development.  The winners of the 2015 VIRGO Awards for their respective categories are listed below:

• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Print – Botetourt County Office of Tourism, “What’s Your Bot-e-Type?”
• Advertising & Promotions – DMO Budget OVER $1million: Print – Visit Fairfax, “Visit Fairfax Metro “Punch Out” Car”
• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Interactive – Botetourt County Office of Tourism, “What’s Your Bot-e-Type?”
• Advertising & Promotions – DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Online and eMarketing – Orange County Department of Tourism, “Right Here in Orange County, Virginia”
• Advertising & Promotions – DMO Budget OVER $1 million: Online and eMarketing - Visit Fairfax, “Visit Fairfax Interactive Banner Campaign”
• Advertising & Promotions – DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Combination – Mecklenburg County Tourism “More of What Matters”
• Advertising & Promotions – DMO Budget OVER $1 million: Combination - Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, “Blue Ridge Standard Time”
• Destination Event of the Year: Spotsylvania Economic Development and Tourism – “150^th Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse Living History Weekend” 
• Niche Tourism:  Spotsylvania Economic Development and Tourism – “150^th Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse Living History Weekend and Re-enactment”
• Regional Marketing Initiative:  Friends of Southwest Virginia, “Discover Southwest Virginia”
• Peer Selected “Best in Show”: Mecklenburg County Tourism, “More of What Matters"