Alexandria tourism is on the upswing for 2010 after a very challenging 2009. That was the message of Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association President and CEO Stephanie Brown to hotel executives as well as city and state government representatives attending ACVAs annual Summer Social last Thursday.
    
Overnight guests drive Alexandrias tourism economy. In the last 12 months, more than 1.2 million nights were sold in hotels throughout the city up 6.8 percent from last year, according to Brown, who informed more than 100 guests gathered at the Holiday Inn hotel. The event was sponsored by the Alexandria Hotel Association.
    
Citywide room revenue totaled $163 million, generating about $11 million in room tax for the city, Brown said. This hotel tax supports the free King Street trolley and has been instrumental in funding ACVA programs. And, all these overnight guests shop, dine and celebrate – benefitting our businesses and leaving behind a total of more than $22 million in city taxes each year.