Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Visit Williamsburg touts sports center bookings and 250th‑anniversary marketing push
Summary
Visit Williamsburg officials described marketing campaigns for the 250th commemoration and bookings for the Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center, and previewed creative assets and projects meant to boost overnight stays and visitor spending.
Visit Williamsburg’s CEO Ed Harris updated the Board of Supervisors on recent tourism and sports marketing work, saying the Historic Triangle’s drive‑market position and an active sports sales program have helped keep hotel tax receipts higher than many leisure markets. Harris highlighted planned marketing tied to the nation’s 250th commemoration and a concerted sales effort for the new Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center.
Why it matters: Increased overnight stays and events can boost local restaurants, hotels and retail and expand room‑night revenue that funds tourism marketing. Harris said Visit Williamsburg and its partners are planning once‑in‑a‑generation programming for early 2026 tied to the 250th commemoration and that sports bookings already committed to the new center are expected to generate tens of thousands of hotel room nights.
Details from presentation: Harris said transient‑occupancy tax collections for the county fiscal period (July 1–June 30) were up about 10%. Visit Williamsburg is producing videos, billboard and print advertising (including a New York Times placement) and a “Great American Birthday Quilt” project to gather quilt squares nationwide for a 250‑foot quilt to be displayed next summer. The group is partnering with William & Mary artist Steve Prince for quilting workshops and outreach.
Sports center update: Harris said the agency has branded sports marketing around “FOR THE W” and reported agreements that collectively approach 90,000 hotel room nights in bookings tied to tournament business, including events for the Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center opening mid‑next year. Visit Williamsburg is working with digital ad platforms and trade shows to recruit tournaments and expects sports events to help stabilize slow winter quarters for local businesses.
Board comments and next steps: Supervisors praised the creative materials, videos and the sports‑center sales effort. Harris said Visit Williamsburg will continue outreach and trade‑show work and will return with updates; no board action was taken at the meeting.
