Visit Alexandria Highlights Record Visitor Spending and Future Plans from New President & CEO at Annual Meeting
Alexandria, VA—At Visit Alexandria’s annual meeting on September 26, 2024, the tourism organization highlighted record visitor spending and introduced new President & CEO Todd O’Leary in a celebratory gathering of the hospitality community and city leaders with a theme of “Building for the Future Together.”
Visit Alexandria Board Chair Kate Ellis announced Alexandria’s tourism spending from travelers residing more than 50 miles away grew 17.6% to a record $941 million in calendar year 2023, the fifth highest rate in the state out of 133 localities, according to data released by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In Fiscal Year 2024, City of Alexandria consumption tax revenues (sales, meals and lodging) reached a record $86 million, surpassing the previous record set in Fiscal Year 2023 ($81 million) and up 30% over pre-pandemic levels. An estimated 71% of consumption taxes are paid by non-residents, saving the average Alexandria household $822 per year.
Among consumption tax sectors, the biggest gain was in lodging, which has been the lagging sector throughout COVID recovery. In FY 2024, City lodging tax revenues climbed by $3 million to almost $15 million. Record revenue per available room (RevPAR) of $118 and room supply growth increased Alexandria’s total lodging revenues by 9.4% year-over-year, thehighest rateamongst Alexandria’s regional competitive set.
In addition to sharing economic impact data, Board Chair Kate Ellis recapped the organization’s FY 2024 programs and achievements that drove the record growth, recognizing the leadership of recently retired former President & CEO Patricia Washington. As highlighted in the presentation and annual report, Visit Alexandria’s success securing top-tier media coverage and accolades in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and more, multi-channel marketing with the humorous “Best Kept Shh!” destination advertising campaign, rapid expansion of video content and aggressive meeting sales efforts worked to increase awareness and drive visitation. Additionally, the organization discussed the “halo effect” of destination marketing which raises the city’s reputation not only as a tourism destination but also as a place to live, work and start a business.
Visit Alexandria’s new President & CEO Todd O’Leary further highlighted the importance of tourism marketing to Alexandria beyond just the visitor economy. He also spoke about future initiatives the organization is focused on for Fiscal Year 2025 and beyond, including:
- Strategic planning to vision the next 5 to 10 years of the organization
- Deepening the organization’s data-driven approach to optimize its promotional efforts
- Strengthening Alexandria’s destination promotion with a high-level, integrated strategy
- Expanding the neighborhoods program to spread the positive impacts of tourism to more areas within the city
- Leveraging major events including the U.S. presidential inauguration and WorldPride DC, both happening in 2025, and America’s 250th birthday in 2026
- Building on record meetings and group travel to drive mid-week business
- Evolving Visit Alexandria’s inclusive travel initiatives including accessibility and sustainability
The annual meeting culminated in a sneak preview of the organization’s new holiday campaign, “Merry Me.” The Hallmark movie-style campaign with a humorous twist depicts Alexandria’s feeling of holiday magic and connects visitors to the breadth of seasonal experiences.
The Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report and meeting slides are available on Visit Alexandria’s website.
Download high-resolution images here.
ABOUT VISIT ALEXANDRIA AND ALEXANDRIA, VA
Visit Alexandria is the not-for-profit visitor marketing organization for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. Recognized by Travel + Leisure among the Best Cities in the U.S. 2024, Alexandria is a welcoming weekend escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Celebrating its 275th anniversary in 2024, the port city has played a major role in the nation’s story and reflected its progress toward inclusivity. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States.
Connect with us!
Web: VisitAlexandria.com
Facebook: VisitAlexandriaVA
Instagram: VisitAlexVA
X: AlexandriaVA
Hashtag: #visitALX
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