A recent article in the Washington Post highlights how excited Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, is regarding the announcement of the location of the 2015 Wine Tourism Conference: Loudoun County, Virginia. The annual Wine Tourism Conference is held in a different wine region every year and the 2015 conference represents the first time the WTC will be on the East Coast. Happening November 18-20, 2015 in Leesburg, Virginia, Governor McAuliffe lauds the Wine Tourism Conference as
…an exciting opportunity to showcase our award-winning wines and world-class wine industry.
The Governor and local tourism officials hail the 2015 Wine Tourism Conference as a “milestone in the ascent of Virginia’s wine industry” and “speaks to the importance of what’s happening here in Loudoun County and throughout the entire commonwealth,” relays Beth Erickson, president of Visit Loudoun, the county’s tourism association.
Virginia’s wine industry and wine tourism is increasingly important to the state’s tourism, as a whole, and the economy.
Some Facts About Virginia’s Wine Industry
– Virginia has more than 250 wineries, ranking fifth in the nation in number
– Virginia’s wine industry contributes nearly $750 million to the state economy annually
– More than 1.6 million tourists visited Virginia wineries last year, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation
Appealing to wineries, wine & tourism association, wine destination marketing organizers, media and wine tour operators, the annual Wine Tourism Conference provides hard information abou the important and growing industry of wine tourism and provides a forum for leaders in the wine tourism industry. Wine tour operators represent a significant number of WTC attendees. Visit Loudoun’s Beth Erickson relays their county is especially excited about showcasing their wine region and seeing more wine tour businesses operate in Loudoun County:
We have local companies that do tours, but now there are tour operators that are currently running tours in Sonoma or in the Finger Lakes, and they are most excited about coming to see the tours that they can start running in Loudoun County.”
Zephyr Adventures, the organizer of the Wine Tourism Conference, is thrilled by the warm, Virginia reception. Thank you, Governor McAuliffe and Visit Loudoun for your enthusiasm regarding the 2015 Wine Tourism Conference!