For Immediate Release (Warrenton, VA) – The Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (VACVB), an association supporting destination marketing organizations and the development of tourism and travel professionals in Virginia, announced the winners of the 2014 VIRGO Awards at their Spring 2014 Meeting held in Loudoun County, VA on April 10 and 11.

The VIRGO Awards, now in their sixth year, celebrate the success of destination marketing organizations along with their respective staff members and volunteers. In describing the awards, VIRGO Program Chair Theresa Earles of Suffolk, Virginia, said “For the past five years, VACVB has been honoring the best work being done by our local tourism professionals.  This friendly competition among Virginia’s destination marketing organizations provides an excellent opportunity for statewide recognition, as well as peer assessment. “

The VIRGO Awards are split into numerous categories and a good number of nominations were submitted for consideration this year.  The awards are determined based on the quality of the submission, economic efficiency, quality, and the economic or community impact.  The winners of the 2014 VIRGO Awards for their respective categories are listed below.

• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Combination: Abingdon CVB  for “It’s Always Play Time in Abingdon”
• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget UNDER $1 million: Online & eMarketing: Staunton CVB for their Online & E-Marketing Campaign
• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget OVER $1 million: Combination: Visit Fairfax: Historical Figures Campaign
• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget OVER $1 million: BROADCAST: Charlottesville Albemarle CVB -   CACVB Videos & Radio Commercials
• Advertising & Promotions - DMO Budget OVER $1 million: INTERACTIVE: for Discover Prince William & Manassas Launches DiscoverPWM.com
• Heritage Tourism: Halifax County Department of Tourism:  Halifax County Herritage and Antique Machinery Festival
• Public Relations Initiative: Visit Fairfax: Ambassador Program
• Regional Marketing Initiative: Virginia By Rail campaign – Visit Norfolk, Richmond Region Tourism, Discover Prince William & Manassas, and Fredericksburg Area Tourism
• Visitor Center of the Year: Halifax County Tourism Department for their amazing new visitor center!
• Sales Manager/Team of the Year: Virginia Beach CVB  for Virginia Beach’s Sports Marketing Campaign
• Visitor Center Manager of the Year: Kevin Sary of Suffolk Division of Tourism
• DMO Rising Star:  Tracy Kellum, Charlottesville Albemarle CVB
• Peer Selected “Best in Show”: Staunton CVB for their Online & E-Marketing Campaign

“Our members continue to impress and challenge each other with the new programs they develop each year.  The judging remains tough and we continue to see the economic impact of these various campaigns impress our peer-judges from neighboring states,” said VACVB Operations Manager, Brian Gorg.  

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The Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus is a not-for profit 501(c)(6) membership organization made up of destination marketing organizations, visitor bureaus, and the companies that support them.  Since it started in 1978, the organization has been promoting professionalism within the Virginia tourism industry and has worked on behalf of its members to make sure that tourism and travel continue to be strong economic drivers in the Commonwealth’s economy.  For more information about VACVB please visit www.vacvb.com or contact the organization at +1 540 904-4710.