Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Assoc. (VRLTA) to Kick Off Delicious New Twist on State’s Iconic Slogan, Encouraging Virginians and Visitors to Frequent State Restaurants
RICHMOND – The ever-popular “Virginia is for Lovers” marketing brand will soon add a new item to its menu. That’s because the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, (VRLTA), in partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), will in early October roll out “Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers,” drawing fresh attention to the diverse selection of eateries across the Commonwealth and the value of that industry to the economy.
VRLTA, which represents over 15,000 restaurants across the Commonwealth, will formally announce the campaign at the following member restaurants in four cities over a three-day period.
- Wednesday, October 2: Richmond (Vagabond – 700 East Broad Street at 11 a.m.)
- Wednesday, October 2: Charlottesville (Maya – 633 West Main Street at 5 p.m.)
- Thursday, October 3: Northern Virginia (Glory Days Grill – 6341 Columbia Pike in Falls Church at 11 a.m.)
- Friday, October 4: Virginia Beach (Rockafeller’s – 308 Mediterranean Ave. at 11 a.m.)
Representatives from VRLTA and key business and civic leaders from each region will attend the events and be available for interviews. Besides promoting the quality and variety of restaurants in the Old Dominion, VRLTA will also announce special events that will take place in 2020 in association with the “Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers” effort.
“From the coast to the mountains, Virginia has some of the finest restaurants anywhere in America,” says Rita McClenny, President of the VTC, which manages the 50-year old “Virginia is for Lovers” brand, one of the most popular in the country. “‘Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers’ will remind all Virginians about the fantastic food options right in our backyard and how important they are to localities and their citizens.”
There are over 15,000 restaurants in Virginia of all types. The$18.1-billion industry is responsible for over 378,000 jobs or 9% of total employment in the state. “The VRLTA represents hundreds of restaurant owners and their teams who work hard every day to provide quality dining experiences,” says Eric Terry, President of the Richmond-based trade organization. “One of our goals for this campaign is to build more restaurant collaboration to benefit the industry as a whole, which will lead to increased advocacy at the state and local levels, workforce resources and of course customers.”