Alexandria Sees 8 Percent Lift in Visitor Spending

Alexandria experienced a more than 8 percent increase in visitor spending in 2011 over the prior year, bringing in $23 million in city tax revenue.

In five years, visitor spending has increased 22 percent in Alexandria, significantly outpacing increases for Virginia and Northern Virginia, both at 9 percent, said Elizabeth McLaughlin, vice president of research at Virginia Tourism Corporation, who spoke at the event held at Metro Stage in Old Town.

ACVA Acting President and CEO Lorraine Lloyd said that for each dollar spent to attract visitors, there was a $133 return on investment in visitor spending.

To reflect the importance of attracting visitors to the area, City Council passed a fiscal year 2013 budget for ACVA with a $100,000 increase that largely will be targeted for holiday advertising, Mayor Bill Euille said.

ACVA is still in the process of looking for a permanent leader to replace Stephanie Pace Brown, who left in June to take a similar position for the city of Asheville, N.C.