The Newport News Tourism Development Office won a 2016 Virgo Travel and Tourism Award, presented by the Virginia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau at its annual meeting recently. The awards pay tribute to tourism organizations that have significantly contributed to the Commonwealth of Virginia's economy through tourism promotion and development.

Newport News Tourism won for submitting its “Art & Sculpture Tour” in the “Niche Tourism” category for a creative and successful tourism initiative that showcased the city’s promotion of the arts.

Newport News Tourism chose National Travel & Tourism Week as a vehicle to spotlight the Art & Sculpture Tour by:

· Using it as the theme during their annual recognition luncheon for the tourism industry.
· Showcasing it in a contest to promote tourism awareness, called Where in the World Can You Find These Sculptures in Newport News?
· Providing free windshield washings for all visitors at the Newport News Visitor Center so they could get a “clearer view” of all the public art found in the city.

The competition was judged by a panel of three out-of-state tourism professionals who made their determination based on the quality, economic efficiency and community impact of the submission. Other local winners of the 2016 VIRGO Awards included:

•Advertising & Promotions: Smithfield & Isle of Wight, “Smithfield Rocks”
•Advertising & Promotions: Visit Norfolk, “Dynamic. Distinct. Diverse.”
•Visitor Center Manager of the Year: Barbara Gullickson of Norfolk