March 2010 Issue 
In This Issue: 
JOSEPH WALKER NAMED GEORGIA TOURISM'S DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GEORGIA TO BENEFIT FROM NEW FEDERAL TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK - MAY 8 - MAY 16, 2010 PRESS RELEASE: STATE AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS PARTNER ON HERITAGE TOURISM CONFERENCE, HANDBOOK FORT VALLEY-MADE BREAD SELECTED AS FLAVOR OF GEORGIA CONTEST WINNER TRAVEL NEWS: IT'S TOURIST-POACHING SEASON, WITH MUCH AT STAKE TRAVEL NEWS: HOMEAWAY BUYS B&B WEBSITE TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. CITIES, STATES CONVENE TO DISCUSS GLOBAL TOURISM MARKETING TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. TRAVEL LAUNCHES MEETINGS, INCENTIVES AND TRADE SHOW COUNCIL TRAVEL NEWS: 2010 OUTLOOK BRIGHTER FOR DOWNTOWN HOTELS TRAVEL NEWS: IATA: PREMIUM TRAVEL ROSE IN JANUARY IN THE NEWS: STATES USE TAX INCENTIVES TO DRAW FILM WORK FROM HOLLYWOOD IN THE NEWS: SHOOTING FOR A COMEBACK 
 
 ........................................................................................................................................ JOSEPH WALKER NAMED GEORGIA TOURISM'S DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
The Georgia Tourism Division is pleased to welcome Joseph Walker to our team as Director of International Sales. Joseph brings more than 20 years of international travel experience in 35 countries around the world, but he's also a Georgia native. After starting his career in the U.S. Navy, Joseph stayed in Italy where he started several tour operator and online travel-related companies. He then moved to Brazil, starting another tour operator there before moving back to Georgia to start his own company here in 2007. Joseph is fluent in English, Italian and Portuguese and speaks practical Spanish and Irish Gaelic. Joseph will lead our domestic and international group and consumer sales efforts. He is a high-energy guy, has tons of creative ideas about how to move us light years ahead in our efforts and we are excited to work alongside him to grow Georgia's tourism industry both here and abroad. 
........................................................................................................................................................................ GEORGIA TO BENEFIT FROM NEW FEDERAL TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT 
The Travel Promotion Act will create economic growth and thousands of new American jobs by welcoming millions more international travelers to the United States. In 2008, international visitors spent $1.7 billion in Georgia. "The new legislation will increase the U.S. share of the international travel market impacting communities all across Georgia," said the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Deputy Commissioner for tourism Kevin Langston. "The tourism industry is a major economic stimulus, and employs 241,500 Georgians." For the complete press release, click here. 
.................................................................................................................... GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE 
Mild Travel & Tourism Growth for 2010 The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that global travel and tourism economy GDP declined by 4.8 percent in 2009 and this caused the loss of almost five million jobs - or 5.6 million since 2008. All regions experienced significant contractions in visitor arrivals, spending and travel and tourism economy GDP; travel and tourism investment declined by more than 12 percent. Only residents' spending on domestic trips increased, and that was by 0.7 percent in real terms. Nevertheless, even in a depressed year, travel and tourism still employed more than 235 million people across the world - 8.2 percent of all employment and generated 9.4 percent of world GDP. To find out more, click here. 
U.S. Travel Association Panel to Study Customer-Friendly Security for Airports The U.S. Travel Association has formed a "Blue Ribbon Panel for Frictionless Security" to create a vision for the world's most secure, efficient and customer-friendly air travel security screening process. The group, formed on the heels of the attempted Christmas Day bombing, features prominent security and facilitation experts, including Tom Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security; Robert Crandall, former president and CEO of American Airlines; Jim Turner, former Democratic congressman and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee; Dave Bronzek, president and CEO of FedEx Express; and Sam Gilliland, president and CEO of Sabre Holdings. The panel also includes experts in aviation security, queuing, technology, privacy and economics. Recent research reveals growing traveler frustration with the air travel security screening process and a significant negative economic impact from fewer travelers flying due to unnecessary "hassles." To find out more, click here. 
What Hotels Will Resort To for a Good Review 
 
 It's not enough to ask guests for a positive write-up on a popular site such as TripAdvisor or Yelp after they've checked out. Lately, some innkeepers have been pressuring their guests to say positive things online - in extreme cases, even before they've checked in. At a time when properties from the largest chain hotel to a two-room bed-and-breakfast are engaging in a practice known as reputation management, the latest tools of the trade are their guests. While many hotels are on the up-and-up, there are thousands more that believe the Internet can be manipulated to their ends. They don't talk about their actions in public, but from time to time someone will post an anonymous comment on a travel blog, complaining about a tactic their competitors have used to boost their online ratings. Those strategies usually include asking someone connected with the hotel to post a fake review or offering free rooms or discounts to guests who write something nice. To find out more, click here. 
The Rental Car Squeeze Tried renting a car lately? In some cases, travelers say, the final bill is double or even triple the amount they thought they had agreed to. The charges include roadside assistance or collision insurance packages that some travelers say they do not want or need but are urged to accept at the car rental counter. Some travelers also say rental companies are more aggressive about charging for damage to a rented vehicle, and more lax about making sure there is no damage before the renter drives it off the lot. And consumer advocates argue that some renters are being charged refueling prices that bear no relation to the prices at nearby gas pumps, high drop fees to return the car to a different location and administrative fees for processing toll payments. Auto rental companies maintain that these are individual issues and that customers need to resolve their disputes at the local rental counter. To find out more, click here. 
Sharp Economic Recovery Will Further Boost Travel, Predicts Economist The U.S. economy has better than even odds of a swift recovery, which will lead to a slower but steady level of recovery for business travel, Economic Outlook Group chief global economist Bernard Baumohl said at the opening session of the Business Travel News/ National Business Travel Association Strategic Travel Symposium in New York. "I think the worst is over for business travel, which came to a screeching halt in 2008 and 2009," Baumohl said. "There is a recovery underway, but there's going to be a longer lag time between when the economy comes back and how soon we'll see a recovery in business travel." Economists are divided among three scenarios for the economy, according to Baumohl: a "double-dip" back into a recession, a drawn-out, anemic recovery and a quicker recovery. Baumohl gave the best odds, 55 percent, to the latter scenario, pointing to such metrics as recovery in manufacturing orders, capital spending and pent-up demand indicated by a boost in consumer debt. To find out more, click here. 
As Rates Decline, Hoteliers Levy New, Higher Fees, Says Hanson Despite a forecast for a continued decline in hotel rates in 2010, hoteliers will become more aggressive in collecting fees and surcharges this year, some of which are proving difficult to bundle into negotiated rates, according to New York University Tisch Center associate professor Bjorn Hanson. Speaking at the Business Travel News/National Business Travel Association Strategic Travel Symposium in New York, Hanson said fees pose a budgeting problem for travel buyers because they are difficult to anticipate and vary even among hotels under the same brand flag. In particular, hotels are adding charges to hold travelers' bags after they check out, extra room service charges and increased or stricter cancellation and early checkout fees. On the group business side, Hanson noted a growth in master folio charges, audiovisual charges and set-up and breakdown fees for meeting rooms. To find out more, click here. 
 
 .................................................................................................................... GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE 
GROUP SALES: 
The 2010 Travel South Showcase will take place April 10-14 in Birmingham, AL. This invitation-only event is open to qualified Tour Operators and Southern Suppliers. Showcase isn't just a Marketplace - it's a marketing platform. The Georgia Tourism division will participate in Showcase this year with appointments, sponsorship and organizing Team Georgia for the bowling event. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Baasen via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. 
Atlanta is set to host the 2011 Travel South Showcase! The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and the Omni Hotel at CNN Center joined together to serve as official hosts for the annual event. Nearly 700 tourism professionals are expected in Georgia from April 3 - 5, 2011. Information will be available soon on how you can get involved in the 2010 event in Birmingham and in the planning and executing of Showcase 2011 here in Atlanta. We need to show this group what our Georgia partners can do and what wonderful hosts/hostesses we are. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Baasen via email at kbaasen@georgia.org. 
ABA Top 100 Events Nominations: Nominations are officially open for the 2011 Top 100 Events in North America. Now in its 29th year, ABA's Top 100 Events in North America recognizes the best group-friendly events for the coming year. Don't miss your chance to showcase the top group tour events in your area. ABA surveyed operators and asked "Do you use the Top 100 booklet in planning your tours/charters?" The answer - an overwhelming 70% of the operators who responded said YES! In addition to the operators' feedback, ABA has recorded nearly 800 main-stream media hits since September 2009 - helping you promote your destination.Please contact Katie Baasen at kbaasen@georgia.org for more information on how you can be nominated. As the official tourism office from Georgia, Georgia Tourism can submit a maximum of seven nominations to be considered for this prestigious distinction. Please note that all ABA members are eligible to submit three nominations this year. For the 2011 Top 100 - ABA non-members can submit one nomination for a fee which is then refunded if they join the association in 2010. These nominations are separate from your nominations and have no bearing on them. If you are interested in nominating an event from your area - please contact Katie Baasen at kbaasen@georgia.org for a nominations form. Thank you. 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. 
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. The next newsletter is scheduled to go out on May 18. 
The Georgia Tourism Division of GDEcD will again be participating as sponsors of the National Tour Association Annual Marketplace (November 13-17, 2010) and the American Bus Association Annual Marketplace (January 9-13, 2011). The 
 
 sponsorship provides us with a booth on the marketplace floor where we will maximize our exposure to all those who are present and give Georgia more opportunity to sell our product at the marketplace. To make this a huge success, we are asking for co-sponsorship through monetary donations. As a co-sponsor, your company is afforded a unique opportunity to highlight your Georgia product to hundreds of tourism professionals at these NTA and ABA conferences. The two levels are: Kudzu Sponsorship (NTA/ABA: $750) or NTA/ABA: $1000). If you have any questions or need any clarification on this opportunity, please feel free to contact Katie Baasen at 404-962-4080, or kbaasen@georgia.org. Thank you. 
Mark your calendars for the next Group Tour Boot Camp taking place June 10 - 11 at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. Registration information will be sent out later in April as well as a list of topics to be covered. We look forward to seeing you in Macon! 
CONSUMER SALES: 
AAA Georgia Specialist Program: GDEcD has launched a new program with AAA Auto Club South allowing AAA Travel Counselors the opportunity to become more familiar with Georgia's nine travel regions. This program provides the travel counselors with current information and travel essentials to help them promote travel in Georgia to their membership. They will take an exam comprised of questions about Georgia's nine travel regions in order to become a certified "Georgia Specialist." Their certification will be valid for two years at which time they will have the chance to renew and take an updated exam. Please contact Pam Kruseck (pkruseck@georgia.org) for more information. 
Southern Women's Show - Nashville, TN - April 8 - 11, 2010 The Nashville Southern Women's Show attracts more than 35,000 women over a 4-day period. These consumer shows target women with give-a-ways and tips on beauty, cooking, fashion, health & well-being, shopping, travel and much more! There are still slots open for the brochure co-op if you are interested. Consumer Sales Manager Pam Kruseck (pkruseck@georgia.org) will attend. 
**Show schedule subject to change** 
............................................................................................................................................ NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK - MAY 8 - MAY 16, 2010 
The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel. It was established as National Tourism Week when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 designating the week to be celebrated in May. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with "the appropriate ceremonies and activities." The U. S. Travel Association provides a number of free, useful resources to help you plan and stage effective activities in support of National Travel and Tourism Week, including everything that you will need to organize. Click here for the U. S. Travel Association's toolkit. 
 
 ............................................................................................................................................ PRESS RELEASE: STATE AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS PARTNER ON HERITAGE TOURISM CONFERENCE, HANDBOOK 
The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will cosponsor a statewide heritage tourism conference entitled History & Heritage Tourism: Discovering Georgia's Community Landmarks on March 25-26 at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, a National Historic Landmark located in Warm Springs. The conference will promote the preservation of community landmark properties across the state of Georgia and will highlight their importance in generating heritage tourism within their communities. The Heritage Tourism Handbook: A How-to-Guide for Georgia was co-produced by HPD and the Georgia Department of Economic Development and will be given to conference participants. The full-color, 63-page book provides guidance on developing, implementing, and evaluating a community's heritage tourism potential and will be unveiled at the conference. A second publication, a historic preservation primer, will be forthcoming later this year. For the complete release, click here. 
............................................................................................................................................ FORT VALLEY-MADE BREAD SELECTED AS FLAVOR OF GEORGIA CONTEST WINNER 
Lane Southern Orchards's Fresh Peach Bread won first place in the annual Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest for its cleverly packaged confection. Winners were announced by Gov. Sonny Perdue on March 16 as part of Georgia Agriculture Awareness Day. Ricky Vining and Chef Nancy Sindell of Lane Southern Orchards presented the product at the annual Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest held in downtown Atlanta as one of four finalists in the confections foods category. Other category winners were: Dairy - Robin Schick and Cathy Spivey of CalyRoad Creamery won with Clouds of CalyRoad Camembert; Jams, jellies and sauces - Vicki Waddell-Forton and Larry Eisenberg of Olive Affairs won with Olive Tapenade; Barbecue and hot sauces - Ted Dennard of Savannah Bee Company won with Grill Honey; Other products - Douglas Horn of Vidalia Valley won with Organic Vidalia Onion Tomato Basil Dressing; and Snack foods - Susan Cordell of Goodness Gracious! Granola won with You Struck Gold. 
............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: IT'S TOURIST-POACHING SEASON, WITH MUCH AT STAKE 
Giant banners, kites, beach balls and photographs hang suspended over the heads of shoppers at Lenox Square mall. Their message is consistent and insistent: Come spend money in South Carolina. With unemployment in double digits, Georgia officials would prefer that state residents opt for "stay-cations" and keep their money inside the border. But it's a marketing jungle out there. For the complete article, click here. 
Photo: Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com 
 
 ............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: HOMEAWAY BUYS B&B WEBSITE 
HomeAway, provider of online listings for vacation rental homes, has acquired BedandBreakfast.com, a site that performs a similar service for B&Bs. HomeAway plans to operate BedandBreakfast.com as an independent brand. For the complete Travel Weekly article, click here. 
............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. CITIES, STATES CONVENE TO DISCUSS GLOBAL TOURISM MARKETING 
The U.S. Travel Association and representatives of 21 U.S. destinations met in Berlin during the ITB Berlin to discuss the recent passage of the Travel Promotion Act, signed into law by President Obama on March 4. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow discussed the details of the Travel Promotion Act and its goal to welcome more foreign visitors by establishing a global marketing and communications campaign while improving America's image and explaining new security policies to foreign travelers. For the full article, click here. 
............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: U.S. TRAVEL LAUNCHES MEETINGS, INCENTIVES AND TRADE SHOW COUNCIL 
The U.S. Travel Association said that it is enhancing its advocacy activities on behalf of the meetings, incentives and trade shows industries through the creation of a new board member council that will build a proactive research, communications, government relations and promotion agenda. The Meetings, Incentives and Trade Show Council (MIT) held its first strategy session on March 2. The group challenged U.S. Travel to become a powerful collective voice for the industry and build capabilities that add to the activities of other meetings-related associations. For the full Travel Pulse article, click here. 
............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: 2010 OUTLOOK BRIGHTER FOR DOWNTOWN HOTELS 
Rocked by recession-related retreats in business and personal travel during 2009, downtown hotels are primed for what ought to be a better 2010. For the full Atlanta Business Chronicle article, click here. 
............................................................................................................................................ TRAVEL NEWS: IATA: PREMIUM TRAVEL ROSE IN JANUARY 
Premium air travel grew on increased business travel in January, the International Air Transport Association reported Wednesday. Air travel by passenger numbers was 5.7 percent higher in January 2010 than in January 2009, IATA said. By seat class, economy travel jumped 5.7 percent and premium travel spiked 5.5 percent. For the full Atlanta Business Chronicle article, click here. 
 
 ............................................................................................................................................ IN THE NEWS: STATES USE TAX INCENTIVES TO DRAW FILM WORK FROM HOLLYWOOD 
"The Blind Side" could have been filmed anywhere, says Tim Bourne, an independent producer who worked on the film. But there's a reason producers brought the project to Georgia: money. "There's nothing in [the movie] that couldn't have been shot in any midrange urban setting. The reason, and the sole reason, it was shot in Georgia was the tax incentives," he said. For the full CNN.com article, click here. 
Photo: The 20th Centry Fox 
............................................................................................................................................ IN THE NEWS: SHOOTING FOR A COMEBACK 
As the fond memories of our brush with celebrity during last summer's shoots for The Last Song and The Conspirator begin to fade, the state and the greater Savannah area are still making efforts to secure the future of the entertainment industry here. One of the most important aspects of the long term success of the industry locally and in the state is tied to the incentives that help draw features here in the first place. For the full Connect Savannah article, click here. 
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