Georgia tourism monthly e-newsletter, Oct. 2008

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Georgia Tourism - Peach Byte
October 23, 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue
1) GEORGIA.ORG NEWS
2) GDECD AND ACVB HOST US-BASED RECEPTIVE OPERATORS WHO SERVE CHINESE MARKET
3) GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE
4) RESACA BATTLEFIELD GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 27
5) STATE AWARDS HERITAGE TOURISM GRANTS FOR CEMETERY PROJECTS
6) GDEcD's GRANT PROGRAM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WWW.MARKETGEORGIA.ORG
7) PRESS RELEASE: FALL FESTIVAL FEVER HITS GEORGIA
8) PRESS RELEASE: DISCOVER GEORGIA'S GREAT OUTDOORS
9) PRESS RELEASE: HALLOWEEN HOOTS AND HOWLS: GEORGIA IS FULL OF FUN
10) GEORGIA'S CULTURAL COAST CREATED BY 25 ORGANIZATIONS
11) CNN MONEY NAMES BLUE RIDGE, GA TOP SPOT FOR FALL COLOR
12) THE LODGE AT SMITHGALL WOODS NAMED HOT 10: CULINARY COUNTRY INNS BY BON APPTIT MAGAZINE
13) SAVANNAH'S AZALEA INN AND GARDENS NAMED IN BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS
14) U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES "TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT OF 2008"
15) GEORGIA TRUST ANNOUNCES 2009 LIST OF 10 PLACES IN PERIL
16) GERMAN BOOKINGS TO UNITED STATES PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE
17) BRITISH BOOKINGS TO UNITED STATES PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE
18) GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
19) GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
20) TRAVEL TRENDS: ADDING VACATION TIME TO A BUSINESS TRIP
21) TRAVEL TRENDS: HOLIDAY TRAVELERS SEE FEWER FLIGHTS
22) TRAVEL TRENDS: MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE
1) GEORGIA.ORG NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A big change is coming to the main Travel page on www.georgia.org. Beginning Friday, October 31, 2008 users will be re-directed from www.georgia.org/Travel/ to www.exploregeorgia.org. This move is designed to drive more traffic to partner pages and our new consumer travel site. More than 11,000 users visited the Georgia.org site from Sept. 20, to Oct. 20, 2008. During the same time period close to 31,000 people visited www.exploregeorgia.org.
2) GDECD AND ACVB HOST US-BASED RECEPTIVE OPERATORS WHO SERVE CHINESE MARKET ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The week of September 30, GDEcD and the ACVB jointly hosted a group of 17 US-based receptive operators who are licensed to do business with Chinese outbound operators. The objective of the familiarization tour was to enable the operators to experience Georgia tourism product and convince them to add more Georgia product to their offerings in the Chinese market.
The week included an evening reception featuring Georgia destinations from around the state that offer commercial air service. The CVBs and operators were then split up into smaller groups for dinner meetings, providing an effective but low-cost way for additional communities to make relationships with these important operators.
Highlights of the FAM included a reception at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency (host hotel for the group), breakfast at Twelve at Atlantic Station and a tour of the Millennium Arch, visits to the Carter Presidential Library, CNN Studio Tour, Georgia Aquarium, Margaret Mitchell House, MLK Historic Site, World of Coke, hotel properties, shopping venues and a lunch with Chinese community leaders in Atlanta's Chinatown.
3) GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE - PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On behalf of the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia, thank you to those who participated in our first ever unified Governor's Tourism Conference in Albany. We hosted a record number of attendees and have been delighted to hear the positive feedback on our speakers. Click here for all of the presentations that have been shared with us.
Congratulations to the Albany CVB on the fabulous job they did hosting the conference. The welcome was so gracious, their staff was so accommodating and the food was absolutely delicious!
We look forward to seeing you at the 2009 Governor's Tourism Conference which will be held August 31 - September 2, 2009 at Lake Lanier Island Resort's newly renovated and expanded Legacy Lodge and Conference Center. To reserve your accommodations now, please call the hotel directly at 800-768LAKE. Until then, keep singin' the same song for Georgia tourism!
4) RESACA BATTLEFIELD GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 27 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A groundbreaking ceremony for the future Resaca Battlefield State Historic Site in Gordon County will take place at 10 a.m. on October 27. Civil War re-enactors in period attire will add to the festivities as they demonstrate artillery used during battle. This will be the first time in 144 years that a cannon or musketry has been fired at this location. Invited speakers include State Representative John Meadows, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Noel Holcomb, Department of Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart, Gordon County Commissioner Alvin Long and Friends of Resaca Battlefield President Ken Padgett.
Resaca Battlefield State Historic Site will serve as Georgia's gateway to its numerous Civil War sites. Located just off I-75 near the Georgia/Tennessee border, its strategic location welcomes casual visitors as well as history buffs as they enter the state -- helping generate tourist dollars for not only Gordon County, but all of Georgia. This battle occurred May 13 - 15, 1864 and represents the first major confrontation in Major General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. When it was over, more than 5,500 men lost their lives - and many believe this was a low estimate. The three days of fighting produced nearly 10 percent of the combined casualties sustained during the Atlanta campaign. For more information, visit www. ResacaBattlefield.org.
5) STATE AWARDS HERITAGE TOURISM GRANTS FOR CEMETERY PROJECTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Tourism Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development announce that they jointly have awarded six grants totaling $8,000 for heritage tourism cemetery projects located throughout the state. The dual agency grant program was created in response to the increasing interest Georgians have in the preservation and promotion of the historic cemeteries located within their communities. Thirty-six applications requesting almost $80,000 were received. It is anticipated that there will be second round of grant awards after the first of the year. The Historic Cemetery Heritage Tourism Program is funded by GDEcD and administered by HPD. Click here for more information.
6) GDEcD's GRANT PROGRAM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WWW.MARKETGEORGIA.ORG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
q Marketing Co-Op Grant Program: The FY July 2008-June 2009 Marketing Co-Op Reimbursement Grant program information is available below. Please note - the FY 2008-2009 grants have been awarded and those programs are in place. Application information and guidelines for FY 2009-2010 will be available after January 2009 with an application deadline of April 2009.
q Techno-Tourism Grant Program: Techno Tourism E-Challenge Grants are available to Techno Tourism Conference attendees. The 2008 grants have been awarded. 2009 grant information will be available soon, so please check back often for updates.
q Tourism Product Development Program: The Tourism Division has established a semi-annual program to offer grants for Tourism Product Development. The first round of grants for 2008-2009 has been awarded. A second round of grants will begin November 3, 2008. Additional information including the application and completion guidelines will be posted at that time.
q Other Sources of Tourism Grants: As additional sources for tourism grants are identified - links will be added to this site.
7) PRESS RELEASE: FALL FESTIVAL FEVER HITS GEORGIA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Georgia's fall festivals are in full swing! Our mild climate and crisp autumn air offers plenty of opportunities to discover outdoor adventures, activities and festivals this fall. Oktoberfest celebrations, harvest and arts & crafts festivals can be found all across the state offering Georgians and visitors opportunities for day trips or weekend getaways. For the state's complete press release, click here.
8) PRESS RELEASE: DISCOVER GEORGIA'S GREAT OUTDOORS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outdoor adventurers revel in Georgia's breathtaking autumn views and temperate fall climate. Leaf watching, skydiving, birding, camping, quail hunting and hiking are just a few ways to experience the colors and scents of fall, delighting the senses and restoring the soul. For the state's complete press release, click here.
9) PRESS RELEASE: HALLOWEEN HOOTS AND HOWLS: GEORGIA IS FULL OF FUN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attractions across Georgia put on their own costumes during October, offering special events and activities for visitors in the spirit of Halloween. Ghosts and ghouls, screams and scares, and, of course, candy can be found from the mountains to the coast. For the state's complete press release, click here.
10) GEORGIA'S CULTURAL COAST CREATED BY 25 ORGANIZATIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the time of its earliest human occupants, the Georgia coast has nurtured man's creative spirit through expression in the visual, cultural and performing arts. The pure brilliance of the coast's golden sunlight, its mesmerizing tidal waters and the energy of its diverse flora and fauna have inspired artists in every medium to create and share their works. Georgia's Cultural Coast comprises the historic port city of Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. With more than 25 organizations dedicated to the arts and humanities, Georgia's Cultural Coast offers a broad palette of visual and performing arts, festivals and special programs that showcase and celebrate its diverse culture and heritage. For more information about cultural arts programs and activities, visit www.goldenislearts.org.
11) CNN MONEY NAMES BLUE RIDGE, GA TOP SPOT FOR FALL COLOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blue Ridge, GA has been listed as one of five top spots for fall foliage by CNN Money.com. Others mentioned were Las Vegas, Nev., Osage Beach, Mo., Cooperstown, N.Y. and Hood River, Ore. The peak of the season for Blue Ridge is mid to late October. According to CNN Money, Blue Ridge is a prime spot for seeing late fall color. According to the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center, the peak time for leaf-peaping varies according to elevation. This week, glorious color can be seen at the higher elevations of the north Georgia mountains. The peak weekend for Blue Ridge will probably be the last weekend in the month, according to the Chamber.
12) THE LODGE AT SMITHGALL WOODS NAMED HOT 10: CULINARY COUNTRY INNS BY BON APPTIT MAGAZINE
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According to Bon Apptit, at this secluded 14-room lodge located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, you'll find a menu loaded with local ingredients, including pasture-raised chicken, trout, heirloom tomatoes, and honey. Click here for the complete article.
13) SAVANNAH'S AZALEA INN AND GARDENS NAMED IN BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Azalea Inn and Gardens in Savannah was selected as one of the 'Best of the South' in the annual 2008-2009 Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards. The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards are based upon a qualitative and quantitative review of the nearly 50,000 independent reviews submitted to BedandBreakfast.com, the leading online B&B directory and reservation network worldwide. Click here for a complete list of Best of BedandBreakfast.com winners.
14) U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES "TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT OF 2008" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3232, the "Travel Promotion Act of 2008," by voice vote on Thursday (September 25). The legislation will create thousands of new jobs and spur economic growth nationwide by attracting millions of additional international travelers to the United States who, since 9/11, have found ever-changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage to be a deterrent to visiting the United States. The "Travel Promotion Act," H.R. 3232, introduced by Representatives William Delahunt (D-MA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and co-sponsored by 243 additional members of the House of Representatives, establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies. Click here for more information.
15) GEORGIA TRUST ANNOUNCES 2009 LIST OF 10 PLACES IN PERIL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Georgia Trust's Places in Peril list identifies significant historic and archaeological properties that are threatened by demolition, deterioration, or insensitive development, and have a demonstrable level of community interest, commitment and support. Each listed property also represents an entire category of historic resources that is threatened throughout Georgia. Through this program, the Trust encourages owners and individuals, organizations and communities to employ preservation tools, partnerships and resources necessary to preserve and utilize selected historic properties in peril.
The 2009 Places in Peril Sites are Mary Ray Memorial School, Newnan, Coweta County; Crum and Forster Building, Atlanta, Fulton County; Rock House, Thomson, McDuffie County; Campbell Chapel AME Church, Americus, Sumter County; Fort Daniel, Buford, Gwinnett County; Metcalf Township, Thomas County; Battery Backus, Tybee Island, Chatham County; Sallie Davis House, Milledgeville, Baldwin County; John Berrien House, Savannah, Chatham County; and Bibb Mill, Columbus, Muscogee County. Click here for more information.
16) GERMAN BOOKINGS TO UNITED STATES PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
German bookings to the United States remained strong through the first half of 2008 and are projected to continue to grow for the year, according to the German Travel Trade Barometer, a survey sponsored by the Travel Industry Association and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Trade reported that German bookings to the United States increased from 16 to 20 percent in the second quarter 2008 compared to 2007. Germany is projected to continue to send a growing number of visitors to the United States during the summer and the fourth quarter of 2008. According to the trade, a positive exchange rate continues to be the primary driver behind this strong growth. The top deterrent for travel to the United States was airfare, reflecting the high cost of jet fuel. Click on the Travel Barometer Program for more information.
17) BRITISH BOOKINGS TO UNITED STATES PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
British bookings to the United States remained strong through the first half of 2008 and are projected to continue to grow for the year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce United Kingdom Travel Trade Barometer. British bookings to the United States increased from four to nine percent in the second quarter 2008 compared to 2007. The United Kingdom is projected to continue to send a growing number of visitors to the United States during the summer and the fourth quarter of 2008. According to the trade, the exchange rate continues to be the primary driver, along with strong trade and consumer confidence for the U.S. product.
Eighty percent of all travel trade organizations reporting in the survey stated that they were very confident in recommending travel to the United States. Also, half of the trade organizations reported that U.K. consumers' confidence level is positive in selecting the United States as their holiday destination in 2008. Click on the Travel Barometer Program for more information..
18) GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August-September Research Newsletter
The August-September Research Newsletter is available at www.marketgeorgia.org under the industry research tab. The report includes a variety of Georgia and National Travel indicators.
Report Update: Preliminary Overview of Georgia's Museums Interconnectivity with Georgia's Tourism Industry
A preliminary overview of Georgia's Museums Interconnectivity within Georgia's Tourism Industry is now available online at www.marketgeorgia.org. The report was written from a museums perspective. It addresses the various challenges they face and the role the tourism industry plays within the museum sector. Specific challenges museums face including visitation, revenue, and marketing capacity are highlighted.
Project Update: The Healthy Collections Initiative The Tourism division is participating on an advisory committee that focuses on the visibility of cultural collections and the use of these archival institutions as tourism product. The project is funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) planning grant. The goal is to create synergies among a variety of industry partners and ultimately encourages visitors to visit Georgia. The collaborative effort is underway to determine the following:
1. Extent of archival institutions receiving a significant amount of visitors who are engaged in genealogical research.
2. Number of visitors engaged in this activity as a part of a family reunion. 3. Correlation between historic cemetery visitation and archival/genealogical research
institutions. 4. Possibility of increasing the number of visitors based on the new efforts.
19) GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS - The next "edition" of Group Tour Boot Camp will take place December 4 and 5, 2008. We plan to expand on topics covered in the first boot camp as well as focus on itinerary planning. More details including location will be available later this month.
Katie Baasen attended Discover America Day Canada September 29 in Toronto, Ontario sponsored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA). Katie met with Canadian media during pre-scheduled appointments as well as Canadian tour operators following a luncheon sponsored by GDEcD. Participants during the day were given Canadian/Georgia pins and luggage tags to encourage and promote travel to Georgia from Canada. While in Toronto, Katie also visited with several other media outlets, Golin Harris PR, and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) headquarters.
Katie Baasen attended the Ontario Motorcoach Association Annual Marketplace in Toronto from October 19-22. Attendees requested pre-scheduled appointments with tour operators from the Greater Ontario area. In addition, tour operators, coach operators and suppliers met in a "town hall" format to discuss issues of mutual interest.
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 from November 15-20, 2008. 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 co-op the booth at $500 or $750 levels. Promote your destination or attraction to marketplace attendees by offering your brochures and itineraries at the Georgia booth. Please contact Katie Baasen, Senior Sales Manager, for more information via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. The deadline to sign up is November 1.
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. GDEcD is looking for co-sponsorship through either monetary or donations of Georgia product to be distributed at the booth. As a sponsor, you are 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. Promote your destination or attraction to marketplace attendees by offering your brochures and itineraries at the Georgia booth. Please contact Katie Baasen, Senior Sales Manager, for more information via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. The deadline to sign up is November 1.
20) TRAVEL TRENDS: ADDING VACATION TIME TO A BUSINESS TRIP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
According to Orbitz and PhoCusWright, a growing number of workers are extending business trips to squeeze in some vacation time. Nearly three-quarters of 450 participants in a recent Orbitz for Business/ Business Traveler Magazine said they've added a leisure component to a business trip within the last year. Click here for the complete article.
21) TRAVEL TRENDS: HOLIDAY TRAVELERS SEE FEWER FLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Airlines will offer almost 3,000 fewer domestic flights a day during the Thanksgiving season, promising fewer choices, fuller planes and higher fares for millions of Americans. Compared with last Thanksgiving season, there will be 11% fewer flights - 2.6 million fewer seats - on non-stop domestic routes from Nov. 20, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, through Nov. 30, the Sunday afterward. The busy Thanksgiving season will be many travelers' first encounter with the slimmed-down schedules. The effect of fewer flights and full planes will make it harder for fliers to recover from delays, missed connections and canceled flights. Click here for the complete USA Today article.
22) TRAVEL TRENDS: MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
House swapping, or trading homes with someone else for an agreed-upon period of time (usually at the same time), is gaining more visibility and popularity. There's the economic appeal, but such exchanges also appeal to a growing number of travelers who enjoy the comforts of home and want to try their hand at living the way the locals do. Click here for the complete Wall Street Journal article.
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