FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 18, 2013
Media Contact: Lisa Stites, 434-984-7529

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB), Monticello and Montpelier announce the re-launch of the Presidents Passport— a cooperative marketing program designed to encourage tourism to the greater Charlottesville area—with a significant sweepstakes totaling more than $1,000 in prizes.

The program, “Presidents Passport,” is supported by a marketing partnership with the CACVB, Monticello, and Montpelier. The program now has more than 7,700 members and has connected more than 55 travel partners in the area, ensuring that members of the program will have access to all the best the Charlottesville area has to offer.

The sweepstakes officially launches today—Presidents Day—and is a heritage traveler's dream weekend getaway, offering three days and two nights exploring presidential history in the beautiful Charlottesville, Albemarle and Orange County countryside.

 The prize includes two free nights lodging at award-winning Keswick Hall at Monticello. Winners will enjoy progressive arts and culture, award-winning restaurants, shopping, nightlife and ice-skating fun on Charlottesville's historic downtown mall. The prize also includes tours of Monticello, Montpelier and Ash Lawn-Highland, the homes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.

The sweepstakes grand prize drawing will be held March 18. All passport holders are automatically entered to win. Registration for the passport and sweepstakes is free.

Presidents Passport Sweepstakes Details

Sweepstakes grand prize drawing is March 18:

  • Two free nights at the award-winning Keswick Hall at Monticello, including breakfast each morning
  • Fine dining on the Historic Charlottesville Downtown Mall at award-winning restaurants
  • Admission for two to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson
  • Admission passes for two to Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of James Monroe
  • Admission passes for two to a guided tour of Montpelier, the home of James Madison
  • Lunchtime dining at the Elmwood at Sparks Restaurant in Historic Orange, near Montpelier
  • Lunchtime dining at Historic Michie Tavern, less than a mile from Monticello
  • Admission passes for two to Charlottesville's indoor ice-skating facility - Main Street Arena

Visitors using the passport may register online to receive insider’s travel tips to the Charlottesville region in addition to special offers and discounts for lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment.  Additional businesses and organizations already participating include The Clifton Inn, Keswick Hall at Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, The Monticello Artisan Trail, Nelson 151 Travelers, the Inns at Montpelier, and the Virginia Film Festival.  Additional information about the Presidents Passports program is available at Monticello, Montpelier and the CACVB in downtown Charlottesville.

Sign up online at monticello.org/passport.

About Monticello

Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia. Monticello is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark and a United Nations World Heritage Site. As a private, nonprofit organization, the Foundation receives no regular federal or state budget support for its twofold mission of preservation and education.  About 450,000 people visit Monticello each year. For information, visit www.monticello.org.

James Madison's Montpelier

Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth President of the United States. Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the heart of Virginia’s wine country, Montpelier embraces 2,650 acres on Route 20 four miles south of Orange, Virginia, and 25 miles north of Charlottesville, Virginia. Montpelier is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site administered by The Montpelier Foundation. Montpelier's mission is to inspire continuing public engagement with American constitutional self-government by bringing to life the home and contributions of James and Dolley Madison. To learn more, visit www.montpelier.org

About the CACVB

In addition to providing a wealth of information on the area to individual visitors, the CACVB assists

tour operators, meeting planners, reunions and other groups to find attractions, restaurants, hotels, and other visitor related businesses. Its mission is “to enhance the economic prosperity of City and County by promoting, selling and marketing the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle, as a destination, in pursuit of the meetings and tourism markets.” The CACVB is also a Virginia Green

Certified destination marketing organization.