November 2009 Issue In This Issue: GDEcD CHINA SALES MISSION DEEMED A SUCCESS GDEcD "STAY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS" PROMOTION AGRITOURISM WORKSHOPS THE GEORGIA TRUST RELEASES 2010 PLACES IN PERIL LIST THE CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER IS THE FIRST HOTEL IN GA TO BE CERTIFIED BY GREEN GLOBE GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE GPB'S GEORGIA TRAVELER RETURNS WITH ALL NEW EPISODES GEORGIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL SEEKS AWARDS NOMINATIONS PRESS RELEASE: GEORGIA TOURISM DIVISION GETS NEW LEADER PRESS RELEASE: STATE'S TOURISM DIVISION AWARDS MARKETING GRANTS PRESS RELEASE: STATE AWARDS TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TRAVEL NEWS: ATA REPORTS TRAVELERS HITTING THE ROAD, STAYING WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR HOLIDAYS TRAVEL NEWS: HOTEL OCCUPANCY UP IN 2010, WHILE PRICES FALL TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. TRAVEL PREDICTS MODEST 2010 INCREASES IN TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS: STUDY: FOR FIRST TIME, U.S. RANKED WORLD'S TOP COUNTRY BRAND TRAVEL NEWS: BUSINESS TRAVEL PITCHED AS ECONOMIC ENGINE TRAVEL NEWS: CHINESE TOURISTS TO U.S. COME OFTEN, STAY A LONG TIME AND SPEND HEAVILY TRAVEL NEWS: NEW NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE TRAVEL TO U.S. ECONOMY TRAVEL NEWS: MORE COMPANIES WANT EMPLOYEES TO STAY IN 'GREEN' HOTELS TRAVEL NEWS: GLOBAL TRAVELERS RANK UNITED STATES NO. 1 TRAVEL NEWS: DELTA ELIMINATES SAVANNAH FLIGHTS AT CINCINNATI HUB TRAVEL NEWS: NO REST FOR THE WEARY AS ROADSIDE REST AREAS CLOSE IN UNITED STATES IN THE NEWS: DA VINCI ON DISPLAY IN MUSEUMS ACROSS THE USA IN THE NEWS: THE ARMY'S GRUNTS GET THEIR DUE IN THE NEWS: SAVANNAH HONORS ONE OF ITS OWN: JOHNNY MERCER ........................................................................................................................................ GDEcD CHINA SALES MISSION DEEMED A SUCCESS Kevin Langston led a very successful joint sales mission with Atlanta CVB and two receptive operators in October 2009. The participating receptive operators actively market Georgia product in China. The group met with more than 20 outbound tour operators and four different airlines to pitch Georgia product and had interviews with 10 different travel-related publications. Five news stories promoting Georgia have already run; several more are anticipated in the next few weeks. According to Kevin Langston, "We are seeing significant interest among operators in moving beyond the traditional Honolulu-Los Angeles-San Francisco-Las Vegas-NY-DC 15-day itinerary. Areas like the American South will be the next beneficiary of this growing market as Chinese customers seek to get to know new and unique parts of our country." ........................................................................................................................................................................ GDEcD "STAY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS" PROMOTION The Tourism division is getting ready to launch a "Stay Home for the Holidays" promotion. By partnering with local and regional radio stations we will encourage listeners to travel to or within Georgia. We will provide weekly prizes to the radio stations starting in November through the holiday season. If your community, attraction or hotel is interested in getting involved in this promotion, please contact Nerissa Serrano via email at nserrano@georgia.org. ........................................................................................................................................ AGRITOURISM WORKSHOPS The Agritourism Workshops are a joint effort between GDEcD, the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, Dept. of Agriculture and others. Learn about the business side of agriTourism, taxes, zoning & conservation easement, how to build an effective, affordable website for your business (you will leave with your own website!), social media marketing, insurance and risk management, and more. For more information and registration information, click here. s The middle state workshop/conference will be held Wednesday & Thursday, December 2-3, 2009 at Oakhurst Farms in West Point. s The southern workshop/conference will be held in the Spring 2010, dates to be determined, in Valdosta. .................................................................................................................... THE GEORGIA TRUST RELEASES 2010 PLACES IN PERIL LIST The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 2010 list of 10 Places in Peril on November 4. For more information, click here. .................................................................................................................... THE CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER IS THE FIRST HOTEL IN GA TO BE CERTIFIED BY GREEN GLOBE The Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia announces its certification by Green Globe, the premier international brand for sustainable travel, tourism and related green businesses. Green Globe traces its roots back to the United Nations Earth Summit of 1992, and uniquely looks at a hotel's effects on the environment as well as its impact on the community. For more information about Green Globe Certification, click here. .................................................................................................................... GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE GROUP SALES: American Bus Association - National Harbor, MD - January 15 - 19, 2010 The Tourism division will participate and sponor the American Bus Association (ABA) annual marketplace. This sponsorship provides the tourism division with a booth on the marketplace floor in an effort to maximize our exposure in this market. Co-ops are available for state partners: Kudzu Sponsorship - NTA: $500 and ABA: $350 Peach Sponsorship - NTA: $750 and ABA: $650 Please contact Katie Baasen via email for more information or to participate, kbaasen@georgia.org. Georgia Peach Greet - GDEcD has started a new program for tour companies involving the state's 11 Visitor Information Centers. VICs are the perfect place for a pit stop for tour groups, the state's tourism division is encouraging the group leader to plan a stop with the group, so we can showcase our southern hospitality and say "Hey Y'all". All we need is 48 hours advance notice to prepare special Georgia favors. The tourism division is offering it as an added amenity for a tour operator planning a tour to or through Georgia. This program is in conjunction with the motorcoach tracking the VIC staff is currently working on. Thank you to the VIC staff for their efforts on this program. Please contact Katie Baasen at kbaasen@georgia.org for more information. GDEcD has launched an e-newsletter targeted towards tour operators. "FYI from the Peach State" will be sent quarterly to tour operators around the country. If you have any updates or special offers for the tour market and would like to have the information included in the e-newsletter, please contact Katie Baasen at kbaasen@georgia.org. The next newsletter is scheduled to go out in November. Group Tour Boot Camp is scheduled to take place December 3-4, 2009 at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. Registration materials have already gone out via your Regional Tourism Representative. Sessions will include: Group Tour 101; Marketplace Appointment Tips; Group Tour Media Strategies; Cooperative Marketing Success Stories; Customer Service Strategies and GA Group Tour updates (this is a tentative listing). We have some exciting things planned - so get ready! Please contact Katie Baasen via email for more information or to participate, kbaasen@georgia.org. GDEcD is organizing a Family Reunion Seminar for state tourism partners to take place January 7-8, 2010 at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. This seminar will cover the family reunion market including characteristics, trends, and how you can break into this growing segment. Registration information will be going out through your Regional Tourism Representative. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Baasen via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. CONSUMER SALES: GDEcD's Nija Torrence and Peggy Rogers attended the Southern Women's Show in Birmingham September 24 - 27, 2009. There were 24,101 in attendance at the show. The Douglasville CVB participated in the brochure co-op for this show. The GDEcD Tourism Division had a booth at the Georgia National Fair from October 8 - 18, 2009 in Perry. The Fair had 416,709 attendees in their 20th year! Rosati's Depot, Vidalia CVB, Jekyll Island Authority, Warner Robins CVB and Ramada Inn Atlanta Airport participated in the co-op program for this event. Pam Kruseck attended the Southern Women's Show in Orlando from October 8 - 11, 2009. There were 30, 136 in attendance at the show. Savannah and the North Georgia Mountains were the most requested destinations by show attendees. Pam Kruseck attended the Southeast ASTA Tradeshow in Atlanta on October 15, 2009. 137 Travel Agents from Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Illinois attended the tradeshow. Six Flags Over Georgia and the Sandy Springs CVB participated in the partner co-op for the tradeshow. Pam Kruseck attended the AARP Life@50+ Expo from October 22 - 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. Tybee Island, Sam Shortline, City of Stockbridge and Blairsville participated in the pin co-op for the Expo. Many of the 24,080 attendees talked about spending time in Georgia on their way to other destinations as well as planning an upcoming trip to Georgia. Savannah, Tybee Island and the North Georgia Mountains were the most inquired about destinations among attendees. The Expo will be held in Orlando in 2010. AAA Carolinas - Charlotte, NC - November 21, 2009 AAA Superbowl of Knowledge is an annual gathering of AAA Carolinas Travel Counselors and staff to learn what new offers are available as well as new things to sell to their members. A lunchtime tradeshow allows Travel Counselors an opportunity to meet with the travel industry and gather information to take back to their offices and pass on to their membership. Consumer Sales Manager Pam Kruseck (pkruseck@georgia.org) will attend. Snowbird Extravaganza - Lakeland Center in Florida - January 26 - 27, 2010 They are expecting 30,000 to 35,000 attendees to the 15th Annual Snowbird Extravaganza. 60 percent are Canadian Snowbirds and 40 percent are American Winter Residents. Organizations from the private sector to Tourism Offices, Convention and Visitors Bureaus and other organizations from all over the world have participated and continue to do so. Partner co-op and brochure display opportunities are still available. Please contact Pam Kruseck, Consumer Sales Manager, for information on the co-op programs via email at pkruseck@georgia.org. Southern Women's Show - Savannah, GA - February 5 - 7, 2010 The Southern Women's Show attracts more than 12,000 women over a 3-day period. This consumer show targets women with give-a-ways and tips on beauty, cooking, fashion, health & well-being, shopping, travel and much more! Consumer Sales Manager Pam Kruseck (pkruseck@georgia.org) will attend. Southern Women's Show - Nashville, TN - April 14 - 17, 2010 The Southern Women's Show attracts more than 12,000 women over a 3-day period. This consumer show targets women with give-a-ways and tips on beauty, cooking, fashion, health & well-being, shopping, travel and much more! Consumer Sales Manager Pam Kruseck (pkruseck@georgia.org) will attend. **Show schedule subject to change** ........................................................................................................................................... GPB'S GEORGIA TRAVELER RETURNS WITH ALL NEW EPISODES According Now in high definition, Georgia Traveler offers viewers a tour of Georgia. From ghost tours to gardens tours, this season has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for family fun, a place to eat, a place to sleep, an outdoor activity or even a local legend, our traveling team delivers plenty of ideas and adventures that fellow Georgians can go experience for themselves. Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. For more information, click here. ................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL SEEKS AWARDS NOMINATIONS The Georgia Humanities Council is seeking nominations for its annual Governor's Awards in the Humanities. The awards recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations that are working to increase understanding and appreciation of the humanities in Georgia's local communities. Nominations must be received by December 7. For more information, click here. .................................................................................................................... PRESS RELEASE: GEORGIA TOURISM DIVISION GETS NEW LEADER The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has named Kevin Langston the Deputy Commissioner of the state's tourism division. In this role he will spearhead the state's work to grow the tourism industry in Georgia. For the complete press release, click here. .................................................................................................................................................................. PRESS RELEASE: STATE'S TOURISM DIVISION AWARDS MARKETING GRANTS The Georgia Department of Economic Development's (GDEcD) Tourism Division awarded co-operative tourism marketing grants to 41 communities, convention & visitor bureaus, regional travel associations and other non-profit tourism entities across the state. A total of $500,000 was awarded. For the complete press release, click here. ........................................................................................................................................................................ PRESS RELEASE: STATE AWARDS TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS The Georgia Department of Economic Development's (GDEcD) Tourism Division has awarded tourism product development grants to 14 communities, convention & visitor bureaus, downtown development authorities and other non-profit tourism entities across the state. A total of $103,000 was awarded. For the complete press release, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: ATA REPORTS TRAVELERS HITTING THE ROAD, STAYING WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR HOLIDAYS The Air Transport Association (ATA) says despite airfares and hotel rates that are among the lowest in over a decade, more recession-battered travelers will forgo the airports, hit the freeways and stay with family and friends to save money during the upcoming holiday season. This Thanksgiving, the number of passengers traveling by air nationwide will be down 4 percent from last year, according to a report released Monday by the Air Transport Assn., a trade group that represents the nation's leading airlines. The trade group's forecast is based on recent traffic demands, capacity and economic trends for all scheduled traffic on all U.S. passenger airlines. For the complete Los Angeles Times article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: HOTEL OCCUPANCY UP IN 2010, WHILE PRICES FALL After one of the worst years on record, some metro Atlanta hoteliers may be able to look toward 2010 with some hope. PKF Hospitality, one of the city's main hotel industry analysts, predicts that overall occupancy will increase 0.7 percent in 2010 while average daily rate - the price visitors pay for an overnight stay - will improve 2.5 percent. For the complete Atlanta Journal Constitution article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. TRAVEL PREDICTS MODEST 2010 INCREASES IN TRAVEL Modest 2010 increases in leisure, business and international inbound travel will enable the travel industry to add nearly 90,000 jobs in the United States, the U.S. Travel Association predicts. Leisure travel is expected to rise 2 percent, business travel is projected to increase by 2.5 percent and international inbound travel will increase by 3 percent. For the complete Travel Agent Central article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: STUDY: FOR FIRST TIME, U.S. RANKED WORLD'S TOP COUNTRY BRAND For the first time in its five-year history, the United States has been ranked No. 1 in FutureBrand's Country Brand Index (CBI) study, which also named the country the world's fourth best conference destination. For the complete Successful Meetings Magazine article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: BUSINESS TRAVEL PITCHED AS ECONOMIC ENGINE The travel industry is working to redefine itself as a key player in the American economy: a means by which companies can improve profits, a source of tax revenue and a provider of jobs. For the complete Associated Press article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: CHINESE TOURISTS TO U.S. COME OFTEN, STAY A LONG TIME AND SPEND HEAVILY Nearly 500,000 mainland Chinese traveled to America last year, said the U.S. Travel Association. Visitors from China tend to come frequently and spend an average of 23 nights in the U.S. They also spend more than people from any other country, an average of $7,200 each on accommodation, air travel, dining, shopping and gambling. For the complete Advertising Age article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: NEW NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE TRAVEL TO U.S. ECONOMY A new study, the first of its kind, confirms that cultural and heritage tourism is huge - and bigger than many of us thought in terms of economic impact. For the complete article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: MORE COMPANIES WANT EMPLOYEES TO STAY IN 'GREEN' HOTELS Many big companies and states are increasingly steering their travel business to hotels that meet "green" environmental standards. The results are twofold: Companies can tout environmentally conscious business practices, and hotel owners are spurred to adopt energy-saving standards to attract guests. For the complete USA Today article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: GLOBAL TRAVELERS RANK UNITED STATES NO. 1 G'day, Yanks: After trailing perennial favorite Australia, the USA earned the No. 1 spot for the first time in this year's Country Brand Index, an online survey of about 3,000 international business and vacation travelers that ranks how countries are perceived. For the complete USA Today article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: DELTA ELIMINATES SAVANNAH FLIGHTS AT CINCINNATI HUB Delta Air Lines is cutting another 10 percent of its flights at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, further worrying local officials who are concerned about the airline's diminishing presence. The Atlanta-based company said it's cutting 25 flights from its daily schedule and eliminating service entirely to Savannah, Charleston, Tulsa, Okla., and Huntsville, Ala. For the complete article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: NO REST FOR THE WEARY AS ROADSIDE REST AREAS CLOSE IN UNITED STATES That old adage "No rest for the weary" could have been coined with Mark and Barbara Van Art in mind. Several states have shuttered rest areas because of financial woes. This summer, Georgia closed two rest areas on Interstate 85 not too far from Atlanta. The state is considering whether to shutter others, or cut back hours of operation. "We've just got significant budget deficits and are trying to find ways to save money," said David Spears, press secretary for the Georgia Department of Transportation. The annual savings: $300,000 for each closed rest area, he said. Spears said the growth of private businesses in urban areas have made rest areas somewhat duplicative. "Certainly in rural parts of the state, there's still a need for them," he said. Georgia is not alone in looking at rest areas for potential cost savings. For the complete Canadian Press article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ IN THE NEWS: DA VINCI ON DISPLAY IN MUSEUMS ACROSS THE USA Cities around the country are in da Vinci mode with shows about Leonardo da Vinci's work. In Atlanta, an exhibit of sculptures and sketches by da Vinci and his contemporaries is at the High Museum, including some never before seen outside of Europe, borrowed from the Vatican's art collection, the Louvre in Paris and the royal collection at Windsor Castle in England. For the complete USA Today article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ IN THE NEWS: THE ARMY'S GRUNTS GET THEIR DUE World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin once said, "I'm convinced that the infantry is the group in the Army which gives more and gets less than anybody else." The infantryman has finally been given the recognition he deserves with the opening of the National Infantry Museum, situated just outside the gates of Fort Benning, "Home of the Infantry." For the complete Wall Street Journal article, click here. ............................................................................................................................................ IN THE NEWS: SAVANNAH HONORS ONE OF ITS OWN: JOHNNY MERCER Prolific songwriter Johnny Mercer would have turned 100 next week, and his hometown of Savannah, Ga., is continuing its year-long celebration surrounding his Nov. 18 birthday. For the complete USA Today article, click here. ...................................................................................................................................................................... Share the Peach Byte To sign-up yourself or someone else up for this monthly newsletter, please email peachbyte@georgia.org. Feedback Welcome We look forward to your feedback and comments. Please contact us at peachbyte@georgia.org. Forward email Email Marketing by This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by peachbyte@georgia.org. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. 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