~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Georgia Tourism - Peach Byte 
August 14, 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
In this issue 
1) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - REGISTRATION INFORMATION 
2) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - GDEcD SPEAKERS & SESSIONS 
3) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - FEATURED SPEAKERS 
4) 2008 GEORGIA TOURISM AWARDS - CALL FOR ENTRIES 
5) GA MUSIC HALL OF FAME PRESENTS 'LIVE AT FIVE' AT ATLANTA'S HARD ROCK CAF 
6) ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER WELCOMES OFFICIAL 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES TORCH 
7) MOUNTAIN PARK CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE YELLOW DAISY FESTIVAL 
9) ESPN: VALDOSTA IS TITLETOWN USA 
10) FLAT CREEK LODGE DAIRY PLACES 12TH IN WORLD CHEESE COMPETITION 
11) BLUE RIDGE'S ASKA LODGE B&B RECOGNIZED FOR FALL FOLIAGE VIEWS 
12) GDEcD HIRES CHINA PROJECT MANAGER 
13) TIFFANY MARLIN JOINS GDEcD's TOURISM DIVISION 
14) GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE 
15) GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE 
16) TRAVEL TRENDS: WIFI NEARING TAKEOFF 
1) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - REGISTRATION INFORMATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 2008 Governor's Tourism Conference will take place September 10 - 12, 2008 in Albany. Combining the significant resources available to the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB), the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia (TDAG), the 2008 Governor's Tourism Conference will bring all three organizations together for the first time, providing one unified meeting for our state's tourism industry. This dynamic conference will provide enhanced programs, excellent speakers and fantastic opportunities to network with industry leaders. 
The Hilton Garden Inn Albany will serve as the host hotel and main meeting location. To learn more about the conference and to register, click here. 
2) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - GDEcD SPEAKERS & SESSIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GDEcD's Commissioner Ken Stewart and Charlie Gatlin, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism and Marketing will join Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle; Peter Bowden, GACVB President, Columbus CVB and Chuck Jones, TDAG Chairman, Athens CVB to kick off the 2008 Governor's Tourism Conference on Wednesday, September 10 during the open general session. 
GDEcD's Assistant Commissioner for Tourism, Kevin Langston and Fred Huff, Director of Marketing will discuss the 2009 Tourism Division Marketing Plan. They will talk about the state's 2009 marketing plan including primary target markets, advertising plans and so much more. They will also discuss co-op opportunities available to communities, interactive marketing, sales missions and trade shows. 
GDEcD's Huff along with Al Skelton and Amber Thomas of Engauge will host an ExploreGeorgia.org Update session. Learn about the new functions of the site and what changes and/or upgrades are coming your way. 
GDEcD's Ginger Taylor will be part of a "how to talk to legislators" session with other key tourism legislative supporters. Whether it is your first time or you need a refresher, learn best practices on how to effectively and efficiently communicate your message to your legislators! 
GDEcD's Bruce Green, Tourism Product Development Director will lead the Product Development session along with Gilda Watters, Tourism Foundation and Barry Brown, Heritage Tourism Specialist. Hear the latest on Georgia's Creative Economies Initiative from Gilda Watters, who launched the program at last year's Tourism Conference. Learn about the progress made in the Georgia Made Georgia Grown products promotion. And, learn from Barry Brown, Heritage Tourism Specialist about the latest plans for the commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. 
Be sure to attend the Grants & Financing session to hear what GDEcD's Green and Leslie Breland, Manager of Marketing Programs for the Tourism Foundation have to say in regards to co-op marketing and the new Tourism Product Development grants - how to apply, how to write a winning proposal and how funds can and can not be used. They will be joined by Nancy Cobb, Executive Director, One Georgia. 
3) 2008 GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - FEATURED SPEAKERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter Yesawich will open the 2008 Governor's Tourism Conference on September 10th with a discussion on Mega Trends. Mr. Yesawich is chairman and chief executive officer of Ypartnership, an integrated marketing communications company. The firm's Research & Brand Strategy Group is regarded as one of the most respected sources of insights on the emerging travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans. Yesawich is a frequent commentator on travel trends in such publications as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Business Week, on the CNN, CNBC and MSNBC cable television networks and on National PublicRadio. 
Don't miss Duane Vinson of Smith Travel Research (STR) who will present the latest in lodging performance for Georgia, the Southeast region, and the nation. STR's presentation will bring you up to speed on the latest trends and break down hotel industry performance in a way that is easy to understand. Which cities will see the largest increase in new hotel rooms next year, and why? Will room rates continue to grow through 2009? What are some of the challenges facing hotels today? Whatever your relationship with the lodging community, STR has the facts and insight you need to know. To learn more about the conference and to register, Click here. 
4) 2008 GEORGIA TOURISM AWARDS - CALL FOR ENTRIES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nominate your choice for the Very Best in Georgia's Tourism & Travel Industry. Nominations accepted through Friday, August 22nd. Award categories include the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives; Larry Allen Award for Excellence in Tourism; The Award for Creative Expression; Lifetime Achievement Award and the Tourism Champion Awards for Private Industry, Partner Agency, Product Development and Legislative. 
Any individual in the Tourism and Travel industry; including individuals from the following organizations are eligible: non-profit organizations, public service agencies, communities, regional travel association members and private businesses in the tourism and travel industry. Click to find out more. 
5) GA MUSIC HALL OF FAME PRESENTS 'LIVE AT FIVE' AT ATLANTA'S HARD ROCK CAF ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the second year in a row, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame is bringing its "Live at Five" performance series to Atlanta with a series of five Thursday evening performances by well-known and rising Georgia musicians beginning Aug. 28. Performances will take place at 5 p.m. at the Hard Rock Caf at the intersection of Peachtree Street and International Boulevard in the heart of downtown. Admission is $5, with proceeds benefiting MIKE, the museum's Music in Kids' Education program. To find out more, visit www.georgiamusic.org. 
6) ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER WELCOMES OFFICIAL 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES TORCH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Centennial Olympic Games Museum at the Atlanta History Center adds a chapter of Olympic history with the recent acquisition of the official torch of the 2008 Beijing Games. The Centennial Olympic Games Museum is the only museum in the nation to display a complete collection of Olympic Summer Games torches. At an estimated distance of 85,000 miles, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay covers the longest distance of any previous Olympic Torch Relay. During the 130-day "Journey of Harmony," the torch passes through six continents, following principal points of the ancient Silk Road. The Beijing Olympic torch will remain in the museum's permanent collection. The donation is made possible with assistance from the Coca-Cola Company, a Presenting Partner of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. To find out more, visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com. 
7) MOUNTAIN PARK CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE YELLOW DAISY FESTIVAL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stone Mountain Park celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Yellow Daisy Festival Sept. 4-7. Thousands of shoppers, young and young at heart, are invited to experience 500 crafters from all over the United States and their works of art. The Yellow Daisy Festival is a former winner of the "Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events" and was named "The Nation's #1 Arts & Crafts Show" five years in a row by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The four-day festival is free with $10 vehicle entry into the park. To find out more, visit www.stonemountainpark.com. 
8) NTA DEVELOPS ONLINE PROGRAM TO TRACK EI OF TOURS AND PACKAGED TRAVEL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As part of the Natioanl Tour Association's ongoing efforts to assist destinations in tracking the economic impact of tours and packaged travel, NTA has developed an easy-to-use online program that allows tour operators to quickly e-mail itineraries to destinations. NTA's new system allows tour operators to pull up a specific state, province or country and see what destinations are NTA members and which DMOs a recent itinerary included. Through the system, the operator can simply send the NTA contacts the itinerary information so they can calculate how long a group will spend in their community. The association created the NTA Tracking Task Force to address the critical tracking issue in 2005. Since that time, the group has interviewed tour operators and implemented a number of ideas. 
In the first week of introducing the program, more than 10 NTA tour operators have gone online and sent itineraries to nearly 40 DMOs. To access the system, click here. 
9) ESPN: VALDOSTA IS TITLETOWN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SportsNation has spoken. Valdosta, with its high school football tradition, young but powerful Division II college football and overwhelming spirit is TitleTown. This spring, fans nominated towns and cities across the country based on their championship pedigree. A panel reviewed the nominees and fan voting in May determined the 20th finalist. ESPN's "SportsCenter" visited each city in July, and fan voting July 23-27 determined TitleTown USA. To find out more, visit www.valdostatourism.com. 
10) FLAT CREEK LODGE DAIRY PLACES 12TH IN WORLD CHEESE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The influential insider's wine guide, Wine Report 2008 (DK Adult), by Tom Stevenson has recognized Georgia's own Persimmon Creek Vineyards with a notable "top ten" placement. 
Persimmon Creek Vineyards located in Clayton stands out as the Georgia's only vineyard and winery on the list of 10 "Fastest Improving Producers" in the book's section entitled "Other U.S. States." (Large winemaking regions such as California and the Pacific Northwest have their own sections.) The list is written by internationally celebrated wine expert Doug Frost, one of three individuals in the world to have achieved both Master of Wine and Master Sommelier status. To find out more, visit www. persimmoncreekwine.com. 
11) RIDGE'S ASKA LODGE B&B RECOGNIZED FOR FALL FOLIAGE VIEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Aska Lodge Bed and Breakfast was selected by BedandBreakfast.com editors as one of the best undiscovered inns for fall foliage trips. "Aska Lodge B&B has always been one of our favorite fall foliage destinations," stated Sandy Soule, Editor of BedandBreakfast.com and one of the most highly recognized authors in the B&B industry. "Blue Ridge conjures up visions of scenic mountain views, and this is no exception. Enjoy armchair leaf peeping from the chairs surrounding the inn's private fire pit or hike the nearby trails. The complimentary bottomless cookie jar means guests will have plenty of energy to take in the color," Soule stated. 
BedandBreakfast.com is the leading online bed and breakfast directory and reservation network, listing nearly 7,000 B&Bs and inns throughout the United States and internationally. To find out more, visit www. askalodge.net. 
12) GDEcD HIRES CHINA PROJECT MANAGER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stella Xu will join the tourism division as the new China Project Manager. Stella was an integral part of the team who planned the Governor's Mission to China earlier this year while she was teaching at Kennesaw State University. Stella is originally from China and worked for several years for organizations in Shanghai including China International Travel Service, the Shanghai American School, Nestle and Honeywell. Since coming to the U.S. a few years ago, Stella has earned degrees from Georgia Perimeter College and Kennesaw State University and has held numerous leadership positions at Kennesaw State. Stella will serve in a unique role bridging both Tourism and Global Commerce, initially focusing most of her effort on helping Tourism launch our group tourism initiatives in China and transitioning over time to focus on global commerce as well. 
13) TIFFANY MARLIN JOINS GDEcD's TOURISM DIVISION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tiffany Marlin is the new Program Coordinator for the Visitor Information Centers, working with Jeffrey Tatum and his team on GDEcD's consumer sales initiatives. Tiffany is moving to Tourism from the Global Commerce division. Her experience working in the international environment, previous sales experience and educational background, which includes a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California, will be terrific assets in her new work in Tourism. 
14) GDECD SALES TEAM UPDATE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
q GA Motorcoach Operators Association (GMOA) annual meeting and marketplace was held in Gwinnett from July 19-22. GDEcD participated as a co-sponsor of the event and participated in appointments as a supplier. Congratulations to the Gwinnett CVB and Cricket Elliott who did a wonderful job showcasing their city and for hosting an outstanding meeting. 
q National Tour Association (NTA) promises to be an exciting show for Georgia in 2008! Georgia's Tourism division will once again participate as a sponsor at the National Tour Association Marketplace in Pittsburgh, PA from November 15-20, 2008. NTA is comprised of nearly 4,000 tourism professionals, actively involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. NTA membership includes individuals from 28 countries who are committed to providing business opportunities and knowledge to its membership base, while offering a collaborative, caring environment in which to build relationships. 
GDEcD's Tourism division will give National Tour Association members and attendees Movies, Music and Munchies of Georgia. For five days, we will distribute collateral as well as information regarding Georgia's rich music history and sites you can see on the big screen. And we cannot forget about the food - we will have Georgia Made, Georgia Grown snacks, so attendees can refuel and experience a taste of Georgia. 
GDEcD would like to offer state tourism partners the opportunity to help sponsor the booth at $500 or $750 levels. Your partnership and sponsorship will help subsidize the cost of set up, shipping, handling, and maintenance of the Georgia booth. Please contact Katie Bassen, Senior Sales Manager, for more information via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. 
q American Bus Association (ABA) promises to be an exciting show for Georgia in 2009! GDEcD will once again participate as a sponsor for the American Bus Association Marketplace in Charlotte, NC from January 6-13, 2009. Our theme will be Movies, Music and Munchies which will help to increase Georgia's exposure in the marketplace. For six days, we will distribute collateral as well as the movie and music themed itineraries and giveaways that celebrate Georgia. 
We are looking for co-sponsorship through either monetary or donations of Georgia product to be distributed at the booth. As a sponsor, your company is afforded a unique opportunity to highlight your Georgia product to hundreds of tourism professionals at this ABA conference. The State would like to offer you the opportunity to help sponsor the booth at $350 or $650 levels. Your sponsorship and partnership will help subsidize the cost of set up, shipping, handling, and maintenance of the booth. Please contact Katie Baasen, Senior Sales Manager, for more information via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. 
q Katie Baasen attended the Southeast Tourism Society's Marketing College Alumni course July 31-August 1, 2008 in Dahlonega. For one week each year, tourism industry professionals from all over the Southeast meet on the campus of North Georgia College & State University for the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College. During this week, students experience a broadbased curriculum of courses designed to teach marketing techniques from all facets of the tourism industry. Marketing College professors are working, experienced professionals from across the U. S. who not only bring expertise, but real-world knowledge and experience, to the classroom. Students who attend three years of Marketing College receive a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification, presented at a special graduation ceremony at the STS Spring Meeting. 
q This year, GDEcD is participating as a sponsor at several of the Regional Motorcoach Association shows. We are giving away gas cards in support of tour operators and their industry. As we have all been affected by the high gas prices, tour operators are consuming much of the cost due to tours being priced one to two years out. GDEcD has partnered with some of Georgia's Regional Travel Associations to sponsor this giveaway to show our support and appreciation for tour operators and the motorcoach market. So far, we have given away six gas cards at the Florida, Georgia and Alabama Motorcoach Operators Association events. If you are interested in getting involved and supporting the Gas Card Initiative please contact Katie Baasen, Senior Sales Manager, at kbaasen@georgia.org. 
q The 2008 AAA Sales Blitz was a huge success! Led by GDEcD, 14 Georgia tourism partners visited 16 AAA offices in Georgia and Florida from August 4 - 7. Attendees had the opportunity to talk to AAA Travel Counselors about their destination, attraction and hotel. Donated by Atlanta's Hard Rock Caf, the group greeted the AAA offices with Peach Tea, brownies and cookies. 
The group left behind a 'Georgia Reference Book' that included profile sheets from those who attended and participated in the profile sheet co-op. And, co-op participants also donated items for the Georgia gift bags for each AAA office. Vidalia Onions were also given to the AAA offices to enjoy. 
q Information on upcoming Consumer Travel Show Co-ops for Fall will be passed along to you by your Regional Tourism Representatives shortly, so keep an eye out for it. Please contact Pam Kruseck, Consumer Sales Manager, for more information at pkruseck@georgia.org. 
15) GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
q 2007 Tourism at a Glance- Vital Stats (Source: 2008 TIA Economic Impact Report)  Direct Expenditures = $20.2 Billion  Direct Domestic Expenditures = $18.6 Billion up 5.3% from 2006  Direct International Expenditures = $1.5 Billion up 12.2% from 2006  243 Tourism-Related Jobs  1.5 Billion in State and Local Tax Revenues  Georgia is ranks 8th in terms of Tourism expenditures domestically  Georgia consistently ranks within the top states for inbound international travel in 2007 Georgia was ranked 9th.  Residents Benefit in tax savings is $482 in STATE and LOCAL Tax for very Georgia HOUSEHOLD due to domestic tax revenue. $510 if you include domestic and international. 
q August's Monthly Research Newsletter is available on www.marketgeorgia.org. Click on industry research on the left side of the page to find a variety of information including Georgia and National Travel indicators. 
q The 2007 Economic Impact State and County level reports will be posted on www.marketgeorgia. org in late August. 
q For the first time this month, the new Georgia Tourism Satellite Account Report will be available online at www.marketgeorgia.org. This report showcases the total Economic Impact of Tourism in Georgia. A Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) is a set of data tables based around analyses of data on both expenditure by tourists, and on business sectors which serve tourists. A TSA provides a much enhanced set of statistics which are more accurate than by taking the results of individual surveys alone. It is the official international standard for measuring the economic contribution of tourism. This methodology was developed by the World Tourism Organization and ratified by the United Nations in 2000. 
The TSA for Georgia will provide credible measures of the contribution of travel and tourism to Income, Employment, Gross state product, Government tax revenues and other measures. 
16) TRAVEL TRENDS: WIFI NEARING TAKEOFF ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wireless Internet access is about to move out of coffee shops and airport lounges and into airplanes. After years of talking about what customers wanted and waiting for new technology, Delta Air Lines said it will begin offering broadband Internet service on domestic flights as early as October. Delta is trying to outmaneuver rival JetBlue, known for outfitting planes with satellite TV, and American Airlines, which is planning to launch Internet service later this year. Other airlines, including Continental, Southwest and Virgin America, are planning tests or have them underway. 
This announcement makes Delta the first large U.S. airline to commit its main fleet of jets to a technology that lets passengers surf the Net while flying. The service will be available for a $9.95 flat fee on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on longer flights. Click here to find out more.