PRINCE WILLIAM, VA., JUNE 3, 2022 -- After a nationwide search, Prince William County has selected Kevin Costello as its next Tourism Administrator. Kevin currently serves as the President of the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau in New York’s Finger Lake region. In his previous position, he served as Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the Town of Abingdon, Virginia and Tourism Coordinator for Botetourt County, Virginia.
Over his 16-year career, Kevin has developed several award-winning programs such as the Wine Trail of Botetourt County, the Upper James River Water Trail, the Abingdon Music Experience, and Rooted in Appalachia. Under his leadership, the Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau was recognized as the Tourism Office of the Year by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2014. He has a Masters of Tourism Management from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelors of Tourism Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
“We are elated to welcome Kevin to Prince William County to help us narrate our unique story and increase visitation across all markets,” said Seth Hendler-Voss, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. "Kevin brings a wealth of experience in research-based product development and has the engagement sensibility and hands-on touch that our tourism partners are seeking." Deputy County Executive, Rebecca Horner shares the Department’s excitement, stating, “Mr. Costello will fit well into our high-performance culture, and I look forward to seeing all the fantastic contributions he will make to our tourism economy."
Mr. Costello will lead the Office of Tourism, which is accredited by Destinations International and funded by Tourism Occupancy Tax revenue collected by local lodging establishments. “I am excited to join the great Office of Tourism team and continue the hard work to elevate Prince William’s status as a top destination in the metro D.C. region," said Costello. Kevin and his wife Maggie have two teenage children, Jack and Katie, along with an adopted Sheltie, Luke, and two cats. He will begin his role on Monday, June 27.
Tourism promotion is a critical aspect of the County’s efforts to achieve quality of life goals established in the 2022-24 Strategic Plan. Most notably, tourism spending fuels small businesses and creates jobs. Prince William County is one of the top ten travel destinations in the Commonwealth of Virginia according to a 2019 Virginia Tourism Corporation study, based on visitor spending of $640 million. The County is home to 48 hotels and approximately 4,875 rooms. In 2019, 7.5 million people visited Prince William County attractions. Visit www.visitprincewilliam.com for more information.
