The 2013 annual Tourism Forum at the Kimball Theater began when a troop of angered 18th century townspeople and soldiers stormed the theater, blasting the governor for his order to remove the magazine’s gunpowder, which was then carted off by ship.
“Liberty or death! Liberty or death!” the townspeople chanted. The display of angry townspeople was a sample of “Storming the Palace,” a piece of Revolutionary City at Colonial Williamsburg, which will take place on the Governor’s Palace green at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting this month.
“For us and for our guests [Revolutionary City] is really the start of the experience,” said Bill Weldon, director of Revolutionary City.
The tourism forum is hosted by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance and aims to give the local tourist destinations an outlet to share information about advertising and upcoming attractions.
In keeping with the excitement, Bob Harris, vice president of tourism at the chamber, said the speakers would each answer one of three questions using a slide show presentation and video.
On the speaker panel this year were Harris; Dan Dipiazzo, vice president of marketing for Busch Gardens; Skip Ferebee, director of consumer strategy and sales for Colonial Williamsburg; Susan Bak, senior director of retail sales and marketing for the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation; and Robin Carson representing the Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee. Due to the winter storm, Virginia Tourism Corporation Advertising Director Thad Smith was not present at the meeting so Harris read Smith’s notes to the audience.
This year, Busch Gardens is taking a new approach to its advertising campaign and branding with the new slogan “born for Busch Gardens.”
“The idea is to really show that family connecting … [and to] resonate with mom as the key decision maker,” Dipiazzo said.
WADMC’s television commercial and web advertisements also have a heavy family focus and a campaign to allow people to connect emotionally to the area and talk about the experience. Family-friendly events and focused advertisements should bring vacationing families to the area for spring break and summer vacation. WADMC’s commercial is running longer this year than last year to catch more people during the vacation planning stage.
Carson said in creating the commercial, they had to “make sure it’s told through the eyes of someone who really could have a great time.” The commercial is running during several shows including “Dr. Phil,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “Rachael Ray.”
To further draw families and repeat visitors to the area, Busch Gardens is hosting its first-ever Food and Wine Festival on Fridays through Sundays between May 31 and June 23. The festival will include 12 stations with food and beverages from around the world with non-alcoholic drinks as well. Dipiazzo said the event was family-friendly and would not be a typical wine and cheese-type tasting.
Ferebee said Colonial Williamsburg is extending an offer to all Virginia residents: Pay for a day and come back all year. Residents of James City County, the city of Williamsburg and the Bruton District of York County are currently eligible to purchase a yearly pass to Colonial Williamsburg, called the Good Neighbor Pass, for $10.
The Jamestown Yorktown Foundation is offering a series of special events to encourage repeat Virginia visitors, Bak said.
The tourist destinations continued to place emphasis on the Christmas season, hoping to attract repeat visitors and grow the season as it becomes a top choice for destination travel during the holidays.
