Georgia tourism monthly e-newsletter, Apr. 2011

April 2011 Issue
In This Issue:
NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IS SET TO TAKE PLACE MAY 7-15, 2011 GEORGIA TOURISM DIVISION HOSTS GENUINE GEORGIA EVENT AT SOUTHERN LIVING HEADQUARTERS CHERYL SMITH, REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS, RECEIVES "TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN" AWARD PRESS RELEASE: GEORGIA'S 11 VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS 'GO ORANGE' FOR NATIONAL WORK ZONE SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY REACHES OUT TO VISITORS DURING 'MINI TRADE FAIR' AT I-95 WELCOME CENTER GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE GEORGIA NEWS: TRAVEL + LEISURE READERS NAMES SAVANNAH ONE OF THE BEST CITIES FOR PEOPLE WATCHING GEORGIA NEWS: WILDLIFE WONDERS IN CLEVELAND, GA NAMED ONE OF 10 GREAT PLACES TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET DIRTY GEORGIA NEWS: THE WESTIN SAVANNAH HARBOR GOLF RESORT & SPA PROVES TO BE ONE OF THE GREENEST HOTELS IN THE US INDUSTRY NEWS: INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP THREE PERCENT IN JANUARY 2011; SPENDING AT $11.7 BILLION FOR THE MONTH INDUSTRY NEWS: TRAVEL LEADERS REVEALS: MAJORITY WOULD SPEND TAX REFUND ON TRAVEL INDUSTRY NEWS: EXAMINING CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS

........................................................................................................................................................................ NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IS SET TO TAKE PLACE MAY 7-15, 2011
National Travel and Tourism Week is a collective effort taking place across the United States to celebrate the benefits created by travel and tourism industry. "Tourism is a powerful jobs and economic development generator in almost every community in Georgia," said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "National Tourism Week is a great opportunity to draw attention to the importance of the tourism industry to both visitors and Georgians."The Georgia Department of Economic Development will kick off National Tourism Week at the Savannah Visitors Information Center's Georgia On My Mind Day on Friday, May 6 from 11 am to 2 pm. Events will also take place at the Plains Visitors Information Center on May 7 and at the Kingsland Visitors Information Center on May 13. For more information and tools that you can use to help celebrate National Tourism week in your community, visit www.marketgeorgia.org. We encourage you to post all of your National Tourism Week events on www.ExploreGeorgia.org.
........................................................................................................................................................................ GEORGIA TOURISM DIVISION HOSTS GENUINE GEORGIA EVENT AT SOUTHERN LIVING HEADQUARTERS
The Georgia Tourism Division partnered with the state's nine regional travel associations to host a Georgia Luncheon at the Southern Progress headquarters (the parent company of Southern Living, Coastal Living and Cooking Light) on Wednesday, April 20. "The event was a smashing success, and it was due in no small part to the active participation of our travel regions. The editors and staff were engaged, seemed sincere in their interest in learning about our great state (and in providing editorial coverage to them), and I they also had a lot of fun, said" said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. They require a certain level of advertising support in the magazines before they allow destinations the opportunity to do this type of event. The state's tourism ad buys increased significantly this year - largely because of our marketing grant and co-op programs. By combining our assets - it allows us new opportunities to market Georgia to consumers through special sections, multi-page spreads, special events, interactive opportunities and more.
........................................................................................................................................................................ CHERYL SMITH, REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS, RECEIVES "TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN" AWARD
Congratulations to Cheryl! A 22-year employee of Georgia's Department of Economic Development was recently honored by the Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association. Cheryl Smith, Regional Representative for the Northeast Georgia Mountains travel region, received the "Top of the Mountain" award for outstanding service to the travel and tourism industry. The Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association presents the award to a tourism industry professional that consistently performs at the highest level of excellence within the industry. For more information, click here.

............................................................................................................................................ PRESS RELEASE: GEORGIA'S 11 VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS 'GO ORANGE' FOR NATIONAL WORK ZONE SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
Georgia joined states throughout the Southeast from April 4-8, 2011 for National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. Georgia's 11 Visitor Information centers went "Go Orange" as part of a public awareness campaign to promote and encourage safe driving in and around highway construction work zones with a variety of planned events and activities. For the complete press release, click here.
............................................................................................................................................ LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY REACHES OUT TO VISITORS DURING 'MINI TRADE FAIR' AT I-95 WELCOME CENTER
More than a dozen local hotels, restaurants and attractions extended a warm welcome to area visitors during the second Catch the Coast mini trade fair, Friday, April 8 at the Golden Isles Welcome Center on I-95 south between Exits 49 and 38. The event was designed to encourage visitors to stay in the Golden Isles by providing information about accommodations, dining and local attractions and activities. Participating hotels, restaurants and attractions had their own tables at which they provided brochures, discount coupons and general information. "I and my colleagues that participate in these events really enjoy it," Crooks says. "It's a wonderful, inexpensive way to meet potential clients and to show off all the things to be seen and done in our beautiful Golden Isles." The Catch the Coast mini trade fair was sponsored by the Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official Destination Marketing Organization for the Golden Isles including St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and historic Brunswick. For more information, click here.
............................................................................................................................................ GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
INTERNATIONAL:
Kevin Langston, Joseph Walker, Pam Kruseck, Jonathan Boisjolie and Stefanie Paupeck will be attending International Pow Wow in San Francisco, CA from May 22 - 25, 2011. Pow Wow is the largest marketplace for international tour operators and media in the United States. GDEcD will be participating in pre-scheduled appointments with international tour operators, receptive operators and media representatives.
Stella Xu and Jonathan Boisjolie attended the Active America China conference in Las Vegas, NV from April 18-20, 2011. The Georgia Tourism team had 40 successful meetings with top Chinese tour and receptive operators. Stella Xu was one of five DMO representatives to present in a special conference kick-off session for the Chinese delegation.
DOMESTIC:

Pam Kruseck attended the OMCA/ABA Tour Operator Summit in Verona, NY from March 30 - 31, 2011. For the first time ever, the American Bus Association (ABA) and the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA) are hosted a joint tour operator summit. Pam met with 30 Tour Operators from throughout the Northeast.
Visitors Information Specialist's Pam Cain and Pat Pierson attended the Southern Women's Show in Nashville from April 14 - 17, 2011. 30,840 consumers attended during the 4-day show. The Georgia Tourism division had three brochure co-op participants. In addition, Atlanta, Savannah and Georgia's State Parks were the top destinations of interest by attending consumers.
Pam Kruseck and Jonathan Boisjolie conducted a site visit in Columbia County with Beda Johnson and Shelly Clark to see some of the new attractions, destinations and morein the area.
Joseph Walker and Pam Kruseck attended the Georgia Coast Travel Association (GCTA) Membership Meeting in Brunswick on Friday, April 15, 2011. Joseph spoke about the importance of the international market to Georgia's Coast reflecting on his recent visits to Brazil, China, France, Italy and Germany.
IAGTO North American Convention - International Association of Golf Tour Operators - Monterey, CA - May 18 - 21, 2011 More than 120 golf tour operators have signed up to attend the annual convention. Approximately 30 percent of the operators who will attend the 3rd IAGTO North America Golf Tourism Convention will be from the U.S. and Canada. The other operators are coming from more than 20 other countries. The convention is open to North American suppliers and tourist boards interested in meeting with domestic and international golf tour operators selling North America.
**Show schedule subject to change**
............................................................................................................................................ GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
Key Georgia Tourism Indicators are available under the Tourism Industry and Tourism Research section on Georgia.org. Information is updated monthly, so you have access to update-to-date information including data made available by Longwood. To access this information, click here. Please contact Nerissa Serrano if you need assistance via email at nserrano@georgia.org.
Georgia Hotel Data:
March 2011:
q Hotel/motel occupancy increased 7.9% statewide in March 2011 from March 2010 q March 2011 room rates (ADR) in Georgia were down -1.5% from last March q Statewide, RevPAR was up 6.2% q Georgia room revenues increased 6.6% q Room Demand increased 8.2% q Room Supply increased by 0.3% in the state
Year-to-date (YTD):
q Hotel/motel occupancy is up 5.6% statewide year-to date q YTD room rates (ADR) in Georgia are down -1% q Statewide, RevPAR is up 4.5% year-to-date

q Georgia room revenues are up 3.9% year-to date q Room Demand is up 6% q Room Supply is up 0.4% in the state year-to-date
............................................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: TRAVEL + LEISURE READERS NAMES SAVANNAH ONE OF THE BEST CITIES FOR PEOPLE WATCHING
The annual survey asks Travel + Leisure readers to rank 35 cities in 54 categories. According to the article, "Savannah's top 5 finish, on the other hand, is further proof of its southern charm: the city also landed in the top 5 for its locals' good looks, style, and friendliness." Click here for the full article.
............................................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: WILDLIFE WONDERS IN CLEVELAND, GA NAMED ONE OF 10 GREAT PLACES TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET DIRTY
Reindeer-farming. Mud-bogging. Camel-grooming. It's all in a day's work for Mike Rowe, who is the host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs With Mike Rowe. He shares the dirty details of some of his favorite filthy spots with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY. Click here for the full story.
............................................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: THE WESTIN SAVANNAH HARBOR GOLF RESORT & SPA PROVES TO BE ONE OF THE GREENEST HOTELS IN THE US
Washington, D.C. based non-profit Green Seal, the premier independent ecolabel in the United States, is excited to announce The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa has been awarded Green SealTM Silver level certification. With this certification The Westin Savannah Harbor has proven its dedication to environmental stewardship. A prestigious label, Green Seal has awarded only five hotels in Georgia, of which The Westin is the only one located in Savannah. In addition to Green Seal certification, the resort's Club at Savannah Harbor recently achieved Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Certification (ACSP), administered by Audubon International for success in environmental stewardship. For more information, click here.

............................................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP THREE PERCENT IN JANUARY 2011; SPENDING AT $11.7 BILLION FOR THE MONTH
The U.S. Department of Commerce on April 20 that 4.2 million international visitors traveled to the United States in January 2011, a three percent increase over January 2010. January 2011 registered the 16th straight month of increases in total U.S. visits. International visitors spent $11.7 billion in January 2011, 10 percent more than in January 2010. January 2011 marks the 13th consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports. For the full report from the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI), click here.
............................................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: TRAVEL LEADERS REVEALS: MAJORITY WOULD SPEND TAX REFUND ON TRAVEL
As United States taxpayers ready for "tax day," Travel Leaders' latest survey reveals that over 57% of those polled who are receiving a tax refund will use at least part of that money for leisure travel this year. Also, 83% of individuals polled in Travel Leaders' nationwide consumer travel survey indicated that they will spend the same or more on leisure trips in 2011 as compared to last year. This is the third consecutive year in which Travel Leaders has conducted an online consumer survey - which complements its long history of providing detailed travel trends based on bookings and data gathered from hundreds of its travel experts from across the country. This year's survey was conducted March 10 - April 10, 2011, and includes responses from 953 consumers throughout the U.S.
............................................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: EXAMINING CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS
As we approach another summer travel season, there is guarded optimism that the worst is truly over and that we might actually see solid travel performance in the months ahead. However, as has become all too common, some caution flags line our path, according to Dr. Suzanne Cook. For the full research review, 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
This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by peachbyte@georgia.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Economic Development | Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 5th Street, Suite 1200 | Atlanta | GA | 30308