Prince William County/Manassas 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the American Civil War Named Top Event for 2011 by The American Bus Association

MANASSAS, Va., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a press conference today on the steps of the Old Manassas Courthouse, site of the Peace Jubilee on July 21, 1911, the vice-president of marketing of the American Bus Association, Eron Shosteck, announced that the 150th Commemoration of the Civil War's First Battle of Manassas earned top honors among the ABA's Top 100 events in North America.

The Top 100 list is chosen from among more than 600 events nominated by tourism officials, convention and visitors bureaus, American Bus Association members and destination management organizations.

The chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, Cory Stewart, thanked the ABA for their recognition and announced that Prince William County is ready to welcome the world to participate in the County's plethora of planned events including the scheduled re-enactment of The First Battle of Manassas on July 23 and 24, 2011 to reflect on the Civil War's effect on the United States, and our nation's reunification after the end of the conflict.

Also speaking were Steve Randolf, Councilman from the City of Manassas and Ed Clark, Superintendent of Manassas Battlefield Park, where the state's Sesquicentennial Commemoration will begin with nationally renowned speakers and appropriate living history events.

Ann Marie Maher, the Executive Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau remarked on the diversity of planned events from the battle re-enactment to the peace jubilee…noting that the battle on July 21, 1861 was "The moment that changed America." That moment, and the years of the war will be highlighted particularly during July 21-24, 2011 and continuing over the next four years.

Prince William County/Manassas welcomes more than 4 million visitors annually from across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. The Manassas National Battlefield Park and The National Museum of the Marine Corps draw the largest number of visitors with many more exploring the natural beauty of Leesylvania and Prince William Forest Park, finding entertainment at Jiffy Lube Live, Hylton Center for the Performing Arts and dozens of other venues.  Visitation is increasing to the 25 sites along the Prince William Civil War Heritage Trail including Ben Lomond Manor House, Bristoe Battlefield, Brentsville Courthouse and Old Town Manassas.

Prince William County currently offers a variety of lodging options including 3782 hotel rooms, bed and breakfast properties, and campgrounds with more hotels being added annually.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing arm of Prince William County. It is a 501C6 corporation funded by a portion of the Transient Occupancy tax levied on hotel room stays in the county. The $1.3 million dollar budget for 2011 will be enhanced by an additional investment by the county board of supervisors to fund the re-enactment.

According to the statistics provided by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, tourism in Prince William County sustained 5,699 jobs in 2008, generating payroll of $113,949,358 and expenditures worth 438,029, 753  up 6.9 % from 2007.  The City of Manassas tourism industry sustained 547 jobs with a payroll of $9,288,886 and expenditures totaling $56,879,582 in 2008, the last year for which these figures were available.

For a complete list of Prince William County/Manassas Sesquicentennial events, go to www.visitpwc.com.

SOURCE Prince William County/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau