There's Less of Virginia Tourism to Love

ATLANTA More than a dozen agencies attended a pre-proposal conference last week for Virginia’s tourism account, sources said. Despite a 40 percent cut in the advertising budget, the state-mandated review is even attracting agencies from nearby West Virginia.

Work, the incumbent agency in Richmond, Va., will not be among those pursuing the $2.8 million account. “We enjoyed a successful relationship with [the Virginia Tourism Corp.] for almost three years,” said Work chairman and chief executive officer Don Just, who noted that his shop helped the state increase visitorship 9 percent in 2001 and 17 percent in 2002.