Spring 2023 VADMO AAA/Tour Operator Sales Blitz

About

Join VADMO as we canvas AAA offices and meet with tour operators in our bordering state/drive markets. We have three teams with leaders for three sets of dates. Each team has room for a third member to join, or we could set up a fourth team if we have interest from our partners:

Team Ohio - May 7-11, 2023

Dana Howe, Visit Norfolk; Bruce Newton, Hampton CVB West Virginia, Columbus & Cleveland, Ohio

Team Western PA-NE Ohio - May 15-19, 2023

Andrew Marks, Lynchburg Tourism; Hannah Oliver, Loudoun County Tourism Pittsburgh and Northeastern Ohio

Team Detroit - June 4-9, 2023

Jim Coggin, Virginia Beach CVB; Toni Bastian, Richmond Region Tourism Metro Detroit and surrounding areas

Joni Johnson with VTC will join a team or be a part of a 4th team. Thanks to Virginia Tourism for their support in providing canvas bags, binders and giveaway items for this mission.

What will the AAA Offices / Tour Operators receive?

At each of our visits, a Resource Binder with profile sheets from participating DMOs and a

Virginia Is For Lovers bag filled with “goodies” supplied by the participants to be shared. Teams will review each of the destinations/profile sheets in the binder with the tour operators or AAA auto travel counselors.

Benefits to participating DMOs:

For those only sending profile information, be assured that everyone’s profile sheet and destination will be included in the Resource Binder and reviewed with staff members who make travel recommendations. Sample itineraries for tour operators will be shared or created during our desk side calls. An after-action report will be sent to participating DMOs with office mailing address, staff listing with contact information and any special notes or requests made during our presentation for follow up.

Costs:

$100 for DMO’s participating in the actual Blitz, making calls to tour operators and AAA offices.

$125 for DMO’s participating by sending materials to be included in the calls.

Deadlines and Materials:

• ·       Registration cut off is April 7, 2023 – If you are able to be a traveling partner, please let us know ASAP.
• ·       Materials need to be received by April 7, 2023 -- Each DMO will need to send their destination profile sheet in a 3-hole punched plastic sheet protector along with their Visitor Guide booklet to be included in the binder. 100 copies of each will be needed to cover all of our calls and we’ll be prepared for our 4th team.
• ·       Gift items included in the bags will give DMOs additional exposure. Consider small items, like ink pens, hi-liters, cell phone pockets or other similar sized items. No large water bottles, please. We are stuffing 80 to 100 bags, so send as many items as you would like to share in each of the bags.

DMOs will need to send their profile sheets, visitor guides and giveaway items in advance for placement in binders and bags. Be sure to mark VADMO Mission on the shipping label or box and send to:

Bruce Newton / VADMO Mission

Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau

1919 Commerce Drive – Suite 290

Hampton, VA 23666

Hope you can join us!