King George County has appointed three members to the Northern Neck Tourism Commission after voting in November to join the group.
King George supervisors selected Nicole Thompson, director of economic development; Ruby Brabo, Dahlgren District supervisor, and Jean Hudson, president of the King George Historical Society, to represent the county.
King George is a part of the National Heritage Area Designation Study, undertaken by the National Park Service. By joining the commission, King George creates the opportunity for a unified branding and marketing effort for the Northern Neck to draw more visitors for longer stays, according to the commission.
“I am extremely enthusiastic about our participation and the opportunities the membership will make available to our county,” Brabo said.
King George’s tourism assets currently include the birthplace of James Madison, a winery, a state natural area, numerous historic buildings, two museums (one of which is slated to open this summer) and a number of lodging facilities and restaurants.
Geographically, King George is the entryway to the Northern Neck along the U.S. Route 301 corridor from neighboring Maryland across the Potomac River and from the south across the Rappahannock River.
Businesses and tourism attractions in King George are eligible to be listed in The Official Guide: Virginia’s Northern Neck and on the website, northernneck.org. Listings cost $125 per business and include a hotlink from northernneck.org to the organization.
Brochures are placed in all Virginia Welcome Centers, in municipal convention and visitors bureaus, at consumer travel shows and mailed upon request.
According to research by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Northern Neck generates more than $218 million in visitor spending per year, and sustains 2,700 jobs in the five-county area.
More information is available at northernneck.org or by calling 804/333-1919.