April 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015

The City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia were ground zero for the incredible events that gripped the United States 150 years ago – the American Civil War and the end of slavery, Emancipation.  The Sesquicentennial – the 150th anniversary of these events – will be commemorated from 2011 through 2015 and in an effort to take maximum advantage of this unprecedented opportunity for the Community of Richmond, Replenish Richmond has created the Double the Travelers Campaign which intends to more than double the number of travelers to the Richmond Region starting in 2012 versus the averages of the preceding years, using 2008 as the benchmark.  The balance of 2010 and all of 2011 will be used to generate the energy and develop the community infrastructure necessary to make Double the Travelers a reality in 2012 and every year thereafter.  The main purpose of Double the Travelers is to act as an immediate and ongoing income and revenue generator for the Community of Richmond.  Based on 2008 numbers provided by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, each year we double the number of travelers to the Richmond Region (in this case defined as the City of Richmond and the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and New Kent), we can reasonably expect to generate the following new income and revenue benefits:

While economic development is the primary purpose of the Double the Travelers Campaign, it is understood and anticipated that there will be significant community development benefits that will flow from the new income and revenue; and from the community collaboration that goes into achieving the Campaign goals.  And while the Community of Richmond will be the starting point for the Double the Travelers Campaign, it is intended and expected that the entire Commonwealth of Virginia will participate in and benefit from Double the Travelers.  Virginia communities will benefit from visitors as out of state travelers will be provided with different paths through Virginia on their way to Richmond and back, offering a wide variety of reasons to stop and explore throughout the Commonwealth.  In addition, Richmonders will reach out to other communities across Virginia to help them replicate the Double the Travelers Campaign in their hometown.

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For more information on Replenish Richmond’s Double the Travelers Campaign, please contact us HERE.