VIRGINIA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY
Virginia’s Tourism Industry is a network of statewide businesses and tourism offices located in all urban and rural areas, including state and federal parks, private property and public areas⎯ from coastal bays and beaches to main street communities, farm country, mountains, rivers, lakes and beaches ⎯ each a KEY partner creating visitor tourism experiences.
Virginia travelers are ⎯ multi-generational families, couples, friends, groups including businesses, corporations, associations and sporting events ⎯ Domestic and International.
This includes all levels of lodging, dining, retail, attractions, parks, arenas and outdoor areas.
DMO ⏐ Destination Marketing / Management Organization
⦾ Local Tourism Offices are called Destination Marketing /or/ Management Organizations or DMOs
⦾ Local governments fund and staff Economic Development & Tourism offices to create strategic plans, marketing plans, events and offer business resources to support the local economy and businesses by welcoming visitors of all types to stay, enjoy, return and tell others to visit
⦾ Some localities form a Chamber of Commerce, who directs tourism for the locality
⦾ Others form regional Tourism Associations to leverage their marketing and spending power
⦿ Find Virginia’s statewide tourism DMOs visit > VA Tourism Industry Contacts
⦿ Visit this link to reach VADMO (statewide DMO association)
⦿ Visit this link to reach the Virginia Main Street program
* statewide mainstreet tourism development & marketing
TOURISM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
⦾ Many DMOs hire marketing and advertising firms to use state-of-the art research to create their brand, create marketing campaigns and review the results, answering questions such as:
⎯ How much marketing budget do we spend to reach our goal?
⎯ To attract repeat or new visitors from different areas, with different interests and travel budgets?
⎯ Have we researched our out-of-state competition similar to us, to gain insight and perspective
⎯ Did more visitors come because of our ads and social media campaign?
⎯ Are more people aware of our local destination’s brand?
⎯ Where and how should we spend are budget, targeting which visitors?
⎯ What research do we use to find the answers to ALL our questions?
⦾ Careers in tourism individual businesses, local governments, DMOs and creative agencies
⦾ Partnerships are crucial in tourism, and many DMOs, form strong relationships with local leaders, Chambers of Commerce (VACCE), Planning District Commissions (VAPDC), and local banks, city councils and county boards
⦿ Find job opportunities with Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) visit > VTC Employment Page
⦿ Check Virginia Workforce Connection, Virginia’s one-stop electronic workforce system
⦿ HCareers is for tourism industry & hospitality job and career seekers
⦿ Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association (VRLTA) Job Board for hospitality jobs
VIEW OTHER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES BELOW
Visitor Center Manager – City of Danville
The City of Danville is hiring a Visitor Center Manager to manage the daily operations of the City’s visitor centers by providing outstanding customer service and accurate information to all customers and visitors. This full-time position is responsible for supervisory, technical support, training, and overall guidance of the center’s staff, administering programs and events at the center, and monitoring the operating budget. Position reports to the City’s Tourism Manager. Hiring range is $52,000-62,500.
Development Coordinator – Shenandoah National Park Trust
The Development Coordinator will lead the Shenandoah National Park Trust’s suite of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, from conception to execution, as well as serve as the manager of the donor database. The Development Coordinator will be both process- and product-oriented, able to refine and iterate on existing protocols, plans, and partnerships to improve outcomes and deliver top-quality, concierge-level service to colleagues, partners, constituents, and donors. This position will be based at the Shenandoah National Park Trust’s Charlottesville HQ office. Salary $40,000-50,000.
Director of Membership & Visitor Services – Visit Alexandria
The Director of Membership & Visitor Services is a department leader responsible for driving Visit Alexandria’s private revenue generation, including their membership program and visitor experience operations. The Director is an entrepreneurial self-starter who owns the strategic direction, growth, and long-term value of the membership program while ensuring Alexandria’s Visitor Center delivers a best-in-class hospitality experience aligned with the city’s brand and economic goals. This role is expected to be highly visible and connected in the community, serving as a key Visit Alexandria leader in the community who facilitates and inspires strong connections between Alexandria’s business community and Visit Alexandria’s program of work. Salary $115,000 per year plus bonus of 10% based on performance against goals.
Brand Content Specialist – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Content Specialist will support day-to-day graphic design support for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, creating and organizing high-quality graphic assets that power digital channels, in-park signage, and sales collateral. Reporting to the Advertising and Brand Manager, this role will focus on hands-on production, ensuring a consistent pipeline of graphical content aligned with brand strategy. This is a full-time hourly position at $22 per hour.
Direct, Park Media – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Director of Media is responsible for leading the development and execution of paid media strategy for Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, driving attendance, revenue, and brand awareness through a data-driven, integrated marketing approach. Reporting to the VP of Marketing & Sales with a dotted-line reporting relationship to corporate leadership, this role owns media planning, investment, and measurement across digital and traditional channels, and leads a team responsible for delivering marketing programs from strategy through execution — including content, promotional partnerships, and creative production that support the paid media plan. Salary is $90,000-105,000.
Vice President, Operations & Administration – Stratford Hall Historic Preserve
Stratford Hall, a National Historic Landmark, seeks a strategic and hands-on Vice President, Operations & Administration to lead the day-to-day operational and administrative backbone of the organization, with particular emphasis on financial, facilities, grounds, and capital project stewardship. Reporting to the President & CEO and serving as a core member of the senior leadership team, this role oversees sitewide facilities, landscapes, and security; oversees Stratford Hall’s business operations (gift shop, hotel/lodging, private events, and festivals); and provides senior-level financial oversight, including monitoring institutional budgets and directing the outsourced Controller. As Stratford Hall enters a period of significant capital investment across its 1,800-acre campus, this position will serve as the primary point of contact for the organization’s Owner’s Agent/Project Manager on large facilities projects. Hiring range is $90,000-120,000.
Marketing Manager (Hampton Coliseum/Hampton Arts Commission) – City of Hampton
The City of Hampton is looking for an innovative Marketing Manager to lead dynamic marketing efforts for the Hampton Coliseum, The American Theatre, and The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center. This role is ideal for a driven professional who thrives in fast-paced environments, excels in cross-platform promotions, and is ready to lead digital, print, and grassroots marketing strategies that generate ticket sales and elevate community engagement. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or Public Relations, or a closely related field of study is required. Salary range is $48,827 – $53,709.
Events Manager – The Montpelier Foundation
The Montpelier Foundation at James Madison’s Montpelier is hiring a full-time Events Manager. The Events Manager has responsibilities integral to the successful execution of the Foundation’s strategic plan through the management and planning of events that welcome and entertain guests both at Montpelier and off-site. This includes meeting the event needs and providing excellent service to all departments at Montpelier and to outside customers using the facilities and services. The Events Manager has a passion for special events, a strong administrative background, provides outstanding customer service, is an enthusiastic professional, and builds relationships with internal and external customers. Hiring range is $48-50,000.
Department of Conservation & Recreation and State Parks
Find open jobs on the DCR jobs page http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/jobs