New wayfinding system coming to downtown Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. โ Itโs about to be much easier to navigate your way through downtown Roanoke thanks to a new wayfinding system. It will feature 33 wayfinding signs and five kiosks spread throughout downtown Roanoke. The system in downtown Roanoke is part of a larger-scale, cohesive regional wayfinding system which was spearheaded by Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge and made possible thanks to grants from the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia. Downtown Roanoke, Inc. (DRI) and Roanoke Foundation for Downtown Inc. (RFDI) shared details about the new system on Monday. And itโs exciting to actually see people interact with it and find it useful as they journey around downtown," said Downtown Roanoke marketing and communications manager Jaime Clark.
Local tourism efforts to get a boost with new marketing grant
ROANOKE, Va. โ Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge has just been awarded a $10,000 tourism recovery grant. The organization will use that money to enhance branding efforts, marketing the region as a hub to experience metro-mountain adventure, especially to cities within driving distance. โWeโre really working hard to find that balance of inviting people to the region as well as making sure that are residents are safe as well, but itโs all about really helping the businesses sustain and recover from this pandemic,โ said Catherine Fox, vice president of public affairs and destination development for Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge. The Virginia Tourism Corporation has awarded more than $866,000 in marketing grant funds to 90 organizations across the commonwealth.
Hotel Roanoke hosts Visit Virginias Blue Ridge leaders with new social spacing protocol in place
ROANOKE, Va. A popular local hotel is making some changes in response to the coronavirus. The meeting rooms in the Hotel Roanokes conference center have been designed to try to ensure social distancing. On Thursday, Visit Virginias Blue Ridge held its quarterly meeting in the hotel to witness first-hand the new social spacing protocols put in place as a result of COVID-19, according to a news release. Visit Virginias Blue Ridge is working to create a safe space for meetings and events as the state gradually reopens. Hotel Roanoke is also taking extra steps to keep hotel rooms clean.
Tourism slowly rebounding in Virginiaโs Blue Ridge
ROANOKE, Va. โ Tourism in Virginiaโs Blue Ridge is starting to rebound now that the state has begun to reopen. Landon Howard, President of Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge, said Thursday a lot of families from Virginia and North Carolina are asking for information about outdoor activities. Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridgeโs visitors center in Roanoke will reopen June 12. According to data provided by Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge, tourism industry revenue was down an average of 70% over the last three months compared to last year. Heโs also still hopeful there will be a strong rebound in tourism in 2021.