Virginia's Retreat Awards Merge Interactive Group State-wide Tourism Project

Virginia's Retreat offers an unprecedented historical driving tour experience through some the most pristine, untouched locations in the nation. Merge Interactive was awarded the contract to market that experience through an innovative Web presentation.

Richmond, VA - February 18, 2002 - In a move to upgrade their Web presence, Virginia's Retreat awarded a major interactive Web-based tourism project to Richmond's Merge Interactive, a division of Merge Computer Group, Incorporated. Virginia's Retreat, a tourism-marketing consortium encompassing South-Central Virginia, promotes two Civil War driving trails and many other outdoor recreational attractions that span that area of the state.

The new site will give Web visitors the ability to explore some of Virginia's richest historical landmarks and recreational spots through the use of animated maps, 360-degree photography, and interactive tourism information. Users will explore battlefields, view local restaurant information, and research accommodations. The project will commence in February and will take three months to complete, with the new site launching in the late spring of 2003.

Ed Gooding, President of Merge Computer Group, says, "We are honored that over a dozen municipalities have afforded us the chance to work with them on a project of this scope and importance to the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Bill Humm, Project Director for Merge Interactive, remarked, "Virginia's Retreat gives us a chance to leverage existing relationships with museums, galleries, and photo collections and merge them into not just a complete online experience, but also a resource for families looking for great vacation experience."

Archie Miller, Creative Director for the project cites research and access to a wealth of historical photography as keys to the visual success of the project. "We plan to travel the entire trail of Lee's path of retreat from Richmond to Appomattox, shooting a few gigabytes of digital photos and movies," Miller stated.

Merge Interactive Group is a division of Merge Computer Group, Inc. and was established in 1983 as a Virginia corporation by Edward N. Gooding, Sr., President and Richard H. Rackley, Executive Vice President. Both men are residents of the Richmond metropolitan area. Merge is a full-service information technology consulting firm offering I.T. services that span the enterprise, from mainframe through mid-range, client-server, web-based and new media technologies.

Founded by former VCU art students, Merge Interactive was established in 1999 to serve as Virginia's premiere interactive agency for creative design, new media, web services and application development.

Virginias Retreat is a tourism marketing consortium comprised of representatives from the City of Petersburg and Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties. Organized in 1993, the consortium strives to increase tourism and economic development activity in South-Central Virginia. Its primary tourism products include the two Civil War driving trails, Lees Retreat and The Wilson-Kautz Raid, the soon-to-open Civil Rights In Education Heritage Trail, as well as the region's rich abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. Virginias Retreat works closely with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Department of Conservation and Recreations Division of State Parks and the National Park Service.

Bookmark -  Del.icio.us | Furl It | Technorati | Ask | MyWeb | Propeller | Live Bookmarks | Newsvine | TailRank | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Stumbleupon | Google Bookmarks | Sphere | Blink It | Spurl