Tourism in review [July 2004]

Tourism

July '04 in review . . .

Volume 28 June

Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee

EVENTS
Georgia Department of Economic Development's first Georgia Golf Symposium was a huge success. Over 52 industry partners attended the meeting July 13 at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee which was designed to report on the Tourism Division's 2003-2004 golf marketing efforts and determine continued interest in marketing Georgia's golf product.
Joseph Guerra from the Georgia Golf Course Owners Association and Mike Waldron, President of the Georgia State Golf Association, spoke about the importance of Georgia golf and explained how organizations could assist the golf facilities in the state.
The 2005 Golf Marketing Plan was also discussed including the production of a new Georgia On My Mind Golf Guide and the opportunity to attend major golf shows that are held annually from January-March in the northeast.
Anyone interested in advertising in the 2005 Georgia on My Mind Golf Guide or receiving a copy of the "Master Your Game In Georgia" golf promotion summary which includes information about the guide, public relations efforts, the online golf image library, and much more, should contact Jeannie Buttrum at (706) 667-4944 or email jbuttrum@georgia.org

Becky Basset Ginger Taylor

On July 15 and 16 the Georgia Tourism Division's nine Regional Representatives gathered in Atlanta for a planning session. They met with tourism managers from the Atlanta office to discuss goals for fiscal year 2005 and how to improve the promotion of Georgia. Also announced during the meeting was the promotion of Becky Basset, Georgia Tourism's Presidential Pathways Regional Representative, to Director of the State's Regional Representative Tourism Program. Many thanks go to Ginger Taylor who has run the state program for the last few years and transferred into the GDEcD Commissioner's office to now solely focusing on community and government relations.

Tourism

July '04 in review . . .

Volume 28 June

Student Tour Operator FAM

SALES/ INTERNATIONAL
GDEcD conducted a Student Tour Operator FAM of the Atlanta Metro area and parts of the north Georgia Mountains during the last week of July. The participants came from all over the country. They included Sunshine Travel Company; DeTours, Inc.; Sunshine Express Tours; Suburban Tours; Blue Ridge Tours; Educatours; Fantastic Tours & Travel; Academic Travel Services; Magic Carpet Tours; and Leisure Time Charters & Tours. The group experienced attractions in Alpharetta, Roswell, Cartersville, Kennesaw, Atlanta, and Stone Mountain. Several operators booked tours of Georgia during the week long event and were thrilled with the high quality of attractions Georgia offers for students.

Franci Edgerly & Janis Cannon

Georgia's international marketing team comprised of GDEcD Deputy Commissioner Janis Cannon, Director of Global Sales Bob Harris, Georgia Representative Franci Edgerly, and German Representative for Georgia Marcel Bodenbenner traveled to Germany in July for a very successful international sales mission. They participated in the German-American Volksfest in Berlin, which is a three-week festival with attendance of over 500,000 people. This year's theme was the Deep South USA, where Georgia's new tourism posters were the hit of the show. Also, Cannon addressed international journalists during a planned press conference, where she invited them to the Deep South (GA, AL, LA, MS, TN). The Georgia team also spoke with representatives of NTV, the sister network of CNN in Germany, and began working on an upcoming show to spotlight Georgia.

Americus, GA

VICS
Georgia's 11 Visitor Information Center managers and one specialist gathered for three days in Americus (July 14-15) to talk about ways of increasing Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide distribution, center reservations and visitor sign-ins. VICs discussed the need to have "Free Lodging Reservations" signs placed on state visitor information operating signs as you enter Georgia. They also plan to work with Regional Representatives and their communities asking for participation in the center reservation process. Communities can help by accepting a coupon when a reservation is made by one of the state centers.
After the meeting VIC managers participated in a familiarization tour of the President Carter High School, Boyhood Farm, Habitat for Humanity Global Village, and the Plains Inn.

Tourism

July '04 in review . . .

Volume 28 June

REVENUES

RESEARCH
According to the latest Smith Travel Research Standard Historical TREND Report, Georgia hotel revenues are up 9% for the first six months of 2004 over 2003. This equals an increase of $103 million in revenues. All travel regions reported an increase of at least 5% with the Coast showing the highest increase with 14.8%.
For just the month of June, statewide Georgia hotel revenues were up 11.5% over June of 2003. This equals an increase of $23.7 million in revenues. The Coast region showed the highest increase at 28%, with the Mountains region showing the second highest increase with 11%.

42% RESPONDENTS WERE FROM OTHER STATES: Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, & Tennessee.

Results are in from a survey sent to everyone who entered the Golf & Spring Sweepstakes in 2003 and who are now receiving the eCRM newsletter every other month. Significant results show that 42% of the total respondents came from the bordering states of Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Of the total number of people who took the survey, 47% visited the state in 2003; 27% of visitors came to Georgia in May, June or July; 35% spent more than $300 during their stay; 70% visited the state before; 58% have visited the website; and 46% claimed that receiving the eCRM email has influenced their visit to the state.

ANNOUNCEMENT
The 2004 Governor's Conference on Tourism is right around the corner. If you have not registered yet, you can do so online at www.MarketGeorgia.org. Information and registration forms are listed.
Visitors can now learn about the American Civil War's impact on Georgia and the historical locations that are spread throughout the state in a new microsite launched in July under the "More to Explore" section of the Georgia On My Mind website. Read about famous Georgians and how they played a part in an event that changed the South forever. Also, learn about the attractions, the battles, must see and do locations, and Civil War trails. Go to http://www. georgia.org/tourism/heritage/civil_war/index.asp for a glimpse into Georgia's history.

Tourism

July '04 in review . . .

Volume 28 June

Dalton /Whitfield County Aerial view of Jekyll Island

The biennial Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference is fast approaching on August 16, 17, and 18 in Dalton /Whitfield County, with sessions on tourism included in the line up. The conference produced by Celebrating Rural Georgia (CRG) and supported by the Georgia Rural Development Council is an opportunity for all rural Georgians to network, share new ideas and hear what their neighbors have accomplished. Please go to www.celebratingruralgeorgia.org to learn more about the event.
Celebrating Rural Georgia (CRG) is a unique collaboration of public and private organizations committed to the betterment of rural Georgia. Partners include state agencies, colleges from throughout Georgia's university system, non-profit community groups, city and county organizations, environmental advocates, economic development organizations, agricultural support groups and many others.
STATE AGENCY MARKETING ROUNDTABLE MEETING
On July 27, 10 state agencies met to discuss opportunities to collaborate on marketing projects. The Retreat at Lake Blackshear, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Brasstown Valley Resort, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Jekyll Island Authority, Stone Mountain Park, the Agrirama, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development were all represented. Topics discussed included annual marketing plans, target audiences and measurement/ accountability. At the end of the day-long workshop, action steps were determined for sharing resources, integrating major advertising buys, exploring options for joint press conferences and increasing brochure distribution for each of the organizations. The group enthusiastically looks forward to making the most of their marketing dollars through partnerships among the State agencies. The meeting was hosted by Jekyll Island Authority and facilitated by GDEcD Deputy Commissioner Janis Cannon.

REGIONAL UPDATE
For information about what is happening in Georgia Tourism's Nine Travel Regions go to: http://www.georgia.org/tourism/market_ga/media/regional_updates.asp