We now offer a new set of options to highlight the health and safety measures your business has in place as reopening begins across the country. This is a free benefit and can easily be done via the Visit Fairfax Extranet portal. (Need a log-in?) Here’s a brief reminder on how to update your amenities.

Visit Fairfax has started a new video series called “Feel Good Friday” highlighting various stakeholders as they prepare to reopen, as well as to offer safe ideas for locals and visitors to enjoy. Feel free to share these with your audiences as well. See the first few videos and share them here.

Visit Fairfax hosted a virtual happy hour saluting National Travel and Tourism Week in early May to honor the “Spirit of Travel” in recognition of the travel industry’s strength, selflessness, and resiliency. Thank you to those of you who joined us in a celebratory “Cheers!” despite the uncertainty and the challenges we are currently facing. Special thank you to our partners at Streetsense for co-hosting and emceeing the event!

Visit Fairfax will continue to evolve its messaging as Fairfax County joins Virginia in its reopening phases. The “Fairfax at Home” landing page will continue to offer activities and learning for those who would like to remain home and the “We’ll Be Ready” campaign will run until it is safe for visitors to travel again. The Fairfax County Take Out Trail will also continue to support the restaurant industry. (Want to sign up for free?) Keep us updated on initiatives that your business is rolling out so that we can feature them where possible by emailing amorris@fxva.com.

Visit Fairfax will attend one of the first virtual tradeshows for the group leisure market this month. TAP Dance is an exclusive, members-only show that will enable Visit Fairfax to meet with tour operator partners for one-on-one itinerary building and to gain insight on the current national tour trends. Over a 3-day period, Visit Fairfax will have virtual appointments with over 20 tour operators and participate in round table discussions as the industry prepares for travel to resume.

Have you spent time perusing the Visit Fairfax Partner Toolkit? You will find a variety of sales tools that are designed to enhance your sales proposals, sales presentations, and most importantly, to assist you in closing the deal. Browse assets like sales collateral, sample itineraries, a virtual site tour, group marketing copy and more in the Partner Toolkit.

Meetings Today Magazine recently highlighted the top 10 catering considerations for outdoor events as the industry begins its recovery from COVID-19. Mary Cline and Ashley Lampe of Wolfgang Puck Catering break down some fresh ideas as food and beverage professionals look to reinvent what outdoor event catering looks like. Read the article here.

The owners of Vienna’s Jammin’ Java have opened a new pizza shop at the iconic venue, serving up Jersey-style pizza pie 7 days a week. With locations also at Java’s sister-site, Union Stage, and a waterfront kiosk in Washington, DC, Union Pie has already been named “Top Five New Slices in DC” and “the perfect bar food.” Get the crave-worthy details here.

Despite having to cancel the entirety of Wolf Trap’s summer lineup this year due to COVID-19, the performing arts foundation has gone digital! Families can now access over 250 educational resources at wolftrap.org, from a Virtual Stage to arts-integrated exercises and Field-Trip Fridays. Learn more via Northern Virginia Magazine.

The Workhouse Arts Center will be hosting drive-in movies throughout June, offering a fun and safe activity for families looking to get out of the house. These “socially distanced flicks” will premiere Fridays and Saturdays starting June 12. Get the latest info here.

Congratulations to the Fairfax County and City of Falls Church restaurants on their 2020 RAMMY Nominations! Finalists include Taco Bamba, Founding Farmers Tysons, Alta Strada Mosaic, Trummer’s, Clarity, B Side, Caboose Tavern, Sweetwater Tavern Centreville, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture, Thompson Italian, and Liberty Barbecue. Winners will be announced later this summer.

Did you catch Visit Fairfax President and CEO, Barry Biggar, on the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation’s Highway Happy Hour video series? Listen in as Barry speaks with Evan Kaufman about tourism in Fairfax County and how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of the travel industry. Watch the video here.

U.S. Travel Association has a multitude of resources that will help the industry navigate the road to recovery. Watch webinars, keep up with examples from around the industry, read the latest research and much more at USTravel.org.
 

Keep up with the daily changes related to businesses and county employees at Fairfax County Government’s online hub. Get the latest info on the area’s phased reopening strategy, find small business resources, and stay connected via the county’s emergency information blog. Find everything right here.