Hotel-Motel Assoc. to Keep Trying for State Support of Visitor Center

By Desiree Parker Wednesday, June 09, 2010

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has rejected an application to make the visitor center opened by the local hotel motel association in March an official state visitor center.

In March, the Williamsburg Hotel Motel Association decided to invest $200,000 to turn its office at the Village Shops at Kingsmill into a new visitor center called the Greater Williamsburg Tourist Information Center. The WHMA has applied with the VTC to become an authorized site with the state, which offers benefits like free marketing, training and advice. Colonial Williamsburg is currently the only local visitor center recognized by the state (read a previous story here).

In order to become an official center certain guidelines must be met, including cooperation from a local destination marketing committee, convention and visitors bureau or local government. In a letter dated May 26, the VTC president Alisa Bailey wrote to the WHMA that her organization wouldn’t certify their application.

She cited the need for support from one of the above-listed groups, and said “we asked that you provide us with a letter of support in this regard. I cannot stress enough that the success of a… visitor center is dependent upon the support of the overall tourism community.

“I understand that efforts have been made to include your information at the Certified Visitor Center located at Colonial Williamsburg. I trust that will best serve the traveling public and provide attractive exposure to the businesses of the Williamsburg area.

"Inasmuch as no letter has been received in support of your application by the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Tourism Alliance, we must deny your application.”

Priscilla Caldwell, the new director of operations for the WHMA, responded to the rejection by saying, “As there was no time frame required for the application process, we are still pursuing approval and recognition of the Greater Williamsburg Tourist Information Center as a state certified local/regional visitor center.

“We have garnered support from many area businesses, as well as officials and state legislators, several of whom have provided written letters of support to VTC, just this week.”

She says WHMA has received approval from the state’s department of transportation for the location of signs to their visitor center, and VDOT is just waiting for approval from the VTC to order and install the designed signs.

According to a statement from Dick Schreiber, president and CEO of the Alliance, “the Alliance has not taken a position regarding the WHMA tourist information center. We are interested in supporting collaborative, community-based regional projects to enhance tourism, as was the case of our support for initiatives of the Jamestown 400th Host Committee (way-finding signage, prepare-care-share training, regional transportation planning, etc.)”

The Alliance received a letter from Alvin Garrison asking for support for their application. “Our executive committee asked the WHMA, in a letter from chair Jim Golden on April 19, to answer questions it thought important in considering the initiative,” the Alliance statement continues.

“Those questions related to indications of support from the three local governments, members of our legislative delegation, and major attractions. Additionally, we asked for clarification of the WHMA’s views regarding potential confusion by travelers because of signs for the WHMA center and those for the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.  Finally, we asked for clarification regarding WHMA’s plans beyond the first year of operation.

“We have received no response from WHMA and, therefore, have not taken a position on this issue.”

Caldwell says the WHMA will keep working on getting support from the Alliance. “We expect that once we respond to questions and concerns that they have expressed, they will ultimately support this much needed venue to assist travelers and promote area businesses.

“One question the Chamber has asked us is how we will avoid confusion between the Tourist Information Center and the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. We maintain that the new Tourist Information Center will reduce confusion that has existed in the marketplace for decades as the destination has expanded offerings.”

Since opening in March, the WHMA’s Tourist Information Center as helped about a thousand visitors with getting information, directions and reservations.