The West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association (WVHTA) is the official voice of the food service, lodging, convention and visitors bureaus, and travel industries in the state. The WVHTA represents the hospitality and travel industry's interests to both governmental and private sectors. WVHTA serves as the connection between all those involved with the development of tourism in West Virginia.
OUR MISSION
The purpose of this association is to unite and benefit West Virginia’s unique lodging, restaurant/food service, travel and allied industries for the protection, education and promotion of their common goals and interests.
WHY YOU SHOULD BELONG
The WVHTA is continually finding ways to improve the amount of tourism dollars coming to and being spent in – West Virginia. Members of WVHTA share marketing ideas with their peers. The Associations members also work together to monitor local, state and national legislation and act accordingly. It makes a difference when everyone works as a team.
Teaming Up With The WV Tourism Commission and the WV Office of Tourism. The Association has an excellent working relationship with the WV Tourism Commission and the WV Office of Tourism. The Commission and the Office staff welcome advice and comments pertaining to the state’s efforts to promote tourism from association leaders and members. The success of the state’s tourism marketing plan results in direct benefits for the entire hospitality industry.
LET US "SHOW" YOU THE WAY TO SUCCESS
The Association sponsors an annual Hospitality University. The agenda includes educational seminars, informational meetings with state and other governmental officials, and an exhibit arena featuring vendors who provide the latest information pertaining to the travel and hospitality industry. The Association is always looking for ways to provide forums for discussion on specific areas of interest, and problem-solving on a grass roots level.
INVEST IN A MEMBERSHIP
Your membership in the Association is really an investment in your future. In a world where "going it alone" is not a wise business decision (nor usually a profitable venture), you will find that a membership will be one of the best investments that you'll ever make.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Membership dues are based on the size and/or volume of your business. This allows each member to pay their fair share of this cooperative effort to support West Virginia tourism.
WE KEEP AN EYE ON GOVERNMENT
The West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association is the legislative voice of the hospitality industry. Our professional government relations staff, working with daily input from our members and legislators, has successfully increased the state marketing budget for tourism by more than 680 percent. In 1989, the state marketing budget was $850,000. Today it totals $6.9 million. It has increased through the appropriation of lottery funds and video lottery funds.
The West Virginia Tourism Commission, which was also created through the work of WVHTA, allows industry input into decisions affecting tourism in West Virginia. WVHTA has also been instrumental in stopping detrimental legislation, including a fast food tax, an increase in the liquor tax, double taxation of hotel amenities, protection of the hotel/motel tax for designated purposes, increases in your insurance costs.