VC chosen as 'Tourism Cares' destination for work project

Next summer, hundreds of tourism professionals will put on work gloves to help preserve the historic sites of Virginia City.

The Comstock-era town, a popular tourist destination, will host the 2007 Tourist Cares service project, an annual project that brings together tourism professionals from across the nation.

"They are scheduled to come to Virginia City May 17-19," said Virginia City tourism executive director Susan Sutton.

Virginia City's history attracts tourists, and that needs to be preserved, according to a press release from the nonprofit organization.

"We're just in the planning stages right now," Sutton said.

In the past, as many as 300 volunteers have joined the massive restoration and renovation effort. The group visited Biloxi, Miss., last year, Mount Vernon in 2005, New Orleans in 2004 and Ellis Island in 2003.

The tour operators, students and industry professionals will also shop and stay in the area, which will benefit the economy. Sutton said they'll then fly home to tell all their clients and friends about Virginia City, which will benefit the area in the future.

Tourism officials are organizing the service projects. Volunteers will spend one day working. The last day, they will break up into smaller groups and visit hot tourist destinations, such as historic Carson City and its environs, Lake Tahoe and Reno.

For information, visit www.virginiacity-nv.org or www.tourismcares.org.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.