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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992                   TAG: 9201220236
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Short

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PULASKI COUNTY HOSTS CONSIDER EXPANSION

The Pulaski County Hosts, a tourism-promotion group, recently voted to explore expansion to serve the entire New River Valley, possibly as the New River Valley Hosts.

Hosts, which operates the state-recognized visitor center at Exit 98 off Interstate 81, began in May 1991 and is the destination-marketing organization for the Pulaski County area.

"We stand ready to work with the whole of the New River Valley in making tourism a vital part of economic development," said Kevin Meadows, the Hosts' new president and manager of the Dublin Comfort Inn.

The group plans to work with the newly formed New River Valley Tourism Steering Committee, which is composed of representatives from Chambers of Commerce and other groups, toward state accreditation as a tourism destination.

The committee will meet again Feb. 13 to discuss possible application for state accreditation and valleywide cooperation. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hosts center. Call Bob Thomas at 980-0201 for more information.

Meadows succeeds Bob Thomas, who was the organization's first president. Other new officers include Pulaski County Assistant Administrator Peter Huber, vice president; Debbie Lineweaver of New River Community College, secretary; and Mark Wigginton of Signet Bank, treasurer.

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