Departments In - Depth:
This month, OC Insight takes an in - depth look at Orange County Tourism through an interview with Lori Landes - Carter, Orange County Tourism Manager.
OC Insight: What is the Orange County Tourism Department, and when did it begin?
Lori: The Orange County Tourism department functions as the destination marketing organization for Orange County, promoting Orange County as a leading travel destination in Central Virginia. Twenty - six years ago, in 1994, Orange County added a part - time tourism director. Today we have two staff members. I am the Tourism Manager, and Susan Turner is the Economic Development & Tourism Assistant. Our office is located at 109 West Main Street, in the Historic Clerk ’ s Office.
OC Insight: What are the goals of the Tourism Department?
Lori: Through collaboration and enhanced messaging, Orange County Tourism Department ‘ s goals are to promote a sought - after quality of life for residents and a memorable destination for visitors. Building partnerships with tourism industry businesses and organizations is crucial to the success of the department and our destination. Successful collaborations with businesses and community organizations consistently result in increased visitor spending and contribute to the economic health of Orange County. Orange County Tourism also manages a state - certified Visitor ’ s Center, fully supported by volunteer staff, located in the historic Train Depot in Downtown Orange (pictured above). The Visitor Center welcomes visitors to the County, promotes businesses and attractions, and provides community - related information to residents.
OC Insight: How do you promote Orange County and encourage visitors?
Lori: The Department promotes Orange County as a visitor destination in a variety of ways, including print, digital & television advertising; social media - creating content for YouTube, Facebook & Instagram; our website (www.visitorangecounty.com) covering events, business, and attraction listings, suggested itineraries/blogs, visitor services, and links to regional partners; print publications (Visitor Guide, Attraction Map, Tracks Through Time - OCVA Train history, All Four Years Civil War Driving Tour, and the Downtown Orange Commercial District Walking Tour) distributed at visitor centers, businesses, special events and to visitors; and public relations – working with local, regional and national media to promote OCVA as a premier destination in central Virginia including arrangements for media, images, video and fact - checking. The main markets we currently focus on are the Richmond, VA, Washington, DC/Northern VA, Norfolk, VA, Raleigh, NC, triangle, and Baltimore, MD areas.
Page 5 | May, 2021
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