The funding, which was announced at a news conference in Richmond's Historic Shockoe Slip, will support a number of programs: a cooperative marketing program to help local attractions tie-in with MRCVB promotions; opportunities to promote African American heritage; and expansion of existing MRCVB marketing programs. Also, significant seed funds will make it possible to develop a "closed loop" visitor transportation system to link key attractions.

"Richmond has all the elements to be major league convention and visitor destination," said Bill Baxter, president and CEO of the Retail Merchants Association, "and private sector support is essential to compete with other cities in the nation. The Retail Merchants Association's Board recognizes the economic impact the tourism industry can have on our Richmond area economy. Our organization's goal is to join with other businesses, the local governments, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation through the MRCVB to make the Richmond area the leading visitor and convention destination in Virginia."

The support of the Retail Merchants Association is intended to increase the Richmond area's already lucrative visitor and convention industry, which is a major driver for economic development. More than 4.5 million visitors spent $1 billion in Metro Richmond in 1997, and shopping was their number one activity.

Beginning in 1999, the $500,000 from the Retail Merchants Association and additional local government funds will increase MRCVB's annual budget from $2 million to $3 million. Those funds will help attract more visitors to the area, supporting the $500 million being invested in the Richmond area's tourism infrastructure between now and the year 2000.

"The leadership of the Retail Merchants Association," said Jack Berry, executive director of MRCVB, "is unprecedented in the Richmond area and unusual for most cities across the country. The Association's funding was a catalyst for more support from the state and the localities, making this a landmark day for the future of the tourism industry in Metro Richmond."

Growing support for tourism is reflected in the voices of business groups and spokespeople from the City of Richmond, the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and the State of Virginia, who have collectively identified tourism as a major priority. After enjoying more than 40 percent growth in traveler spending in Virginia since 1989, the Virginia Tourism Corporation's goal is to be among the top five tourism states in the nation.

In partnership with MRCVB, the Retail Merchants Association hired The Travel Destination Company (TravelDes) to look at joint strategies, new opportunities, success stories and potential new initiatives that would support further development of the Richmond tourism industry. TravelDes is one of the nation's leading tourism consultants.

In March of 1998, TravelDes began its review of all existing reports and surveys on tourism and conventions in the Greater Richmond area. Specifically, TravelDes was engaged to research the challenges and opportunities for the Metropolitan Richmond Convention Visitors Bureau, and project potential visitor and convention traffic. TravelDes recommended the reorganization of the Metropolitan Richmond Convention Visitors Bureau's board of directors. In the reorganization, the Metropolitan Richmond Convention Visitors Bureau's board of directors would be governed by:
 

Those appointees are to be professional business CEOs or decision makers from the fields of accounting, banking, media and law.

Founded in 1906, the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond is one of the nation's largest local retail trade associations. The mission of the Association is to promote excellence in the retail business community. The Association operates educational programs and discount buying services for area retailers, while providing support for local business and civic organizations.