Town of Culpeper’s Tourism & Economic Development Office Awarded Two Virgo Awards
May 2, 2023 Updates
CULPEPER, VIRGINIA (5/8/2023) – The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO) awarded the Town of Culpeper’s Tourism and Economic Development team two Virgo Awards for ‘Tourism Professional of the Year’ and ‘Niche Tourism’ at their annual Spring symposium held in Suffolk, VA.
VADMO’s Annual Virgo awards pay tribute to individuals, groups, businesses and destination marketing organizations that significantly contribute to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s economy through tourism promotion and development.
The ‘Niche Tourism’ Virgo Award is given to a destination that has created a creative and successful tourism initiative that showcases a destination’s niche tourism market. This award was received as a result of the newly launched Right the Record project, which aimed to raise awareness regarding the vast wealth of African American history and heritage within the community and celebrate African American History in Culpeper.
“Right the Record was created in an effort to balance our collective histories,” said project founder and historian Zann Nelson. “Imagine a community that acknowledges and honors the histories of all its sons and daughters,” said Nelson.
Zann Nelson worked tirelessly as wearing the hats of president of Right the Record and the African American Heritage Alliance to see this to fruition in partnership with the Town of Culpeper. The mission of the Right the Record project is to create an all-encompassing umbrella for projects large and small that share a common purpose to correct, add, and/or amend the histories that have been ignored, denied, and excluded. These activities will enable individuals and communities to advance reconciliation and foster a more knowledgeable community.
The project met with great success due to the collaboration of Right the Record, the African American Heritage Alliance and the Town of Culpeper’s Tourism and Economic Development team.
“We are honored to be the recipient of this years ‘Niche Tourism’ Virgo Award,” said Michelle Tutt, President of the African American Heritage Alliance. “People are indeed drawn to real life stories. They reveal mysteries and inspire. We hope the stories told through the Right the Record project will invite visitors in and bring a new found understanding and appreciation for this part of our community’s culture and history.”
The Town of Culpeper would like acknowledge Right the Record and the board members of the African American Heritage Alliance, without whom the Right the Record project would not exist: Angela Chapman (historian), Simone Logan, Zann Nelson (VP and former president), and Michelle Tutt.
The second Virgo Award for ‘Tourism Professional of the Year’ was awarded to Paige Read, Culpeper Tourism and Town Economic Development Director, for her impact on tourism in the community through creativity, teamwork, and leadership. Serving as the Director of Economic Development and Tourism since 2014, this award not only acknowledges Read’s consistent ability to seek out and secure state and federal grant funding to boost marketing and development in The Town of Culpeper, Culpeper County & regional initiatives but also recognizes her ongoing tourism product development efforts in the community as well.
About Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations
The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations is a not-for profit 501(c)(6) membership organization made up of 105 destination marketing organizations and the companies that support them. Since it started in 1978, the organization has been promoting professionalism within the Virginia tourism industry and has worked on behalf of its members to make sure that tourism and travel continue to be strong economic drivers in the Commonwealth’s economy. For more information about VADMO please visit www.vadmo.org/ or contact the organization at (540) 904-4710.
About Culpeper Tourism
Tourism is a leading industry in Culpeper, generating $64.8M in economic impact during 2021, up 32.8% from 2020. Culpeper Tourism is responsible for promoting Culpeper as an attractive travel destination, enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live, work and vacation. Through the impact of travel, we strengthen Culpeper’s economic position and provide opportunity for our citizens. Learn more at visitculpeperva.com
