Georgia tourism monthly e-newsletter, Aug. 2011

August 2011 Issue
In This Issue:
NEW DIRECTOR OF VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER PROGRAM NAMED GEORGIA TOURISM AND GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS COMBINE RESOURCES FOR TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS "CROSSROADS OF CONFLICT" WINS DOCUMENTING GEORGIA HISTORY AWARD HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE YET? AGRIBUSINESS WORKSHOP WEBSITE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY ANNOUNCES TOP 20 WINTER EVENTS GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE GDEcD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE GEORGIA NEWS: CIVIL WAR BRINGS MORE DOLLARS TO METRO ATLANTA GEORGIA NEWS: HISTORIC BANNING MILLS WINS TELLY AWARD GEORGIA NEWS: BEST WESTERN EVANS, GA HOTEL RECEIVES BEST WESTERN "DIRECTOR'S AWARD" FOR QUALITY GEORGIA NEWS: VISIT SAVANNAH NAMED TO LIST OF TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL TOURIST BOARDS AND DMOS ONLINE GEORGIA NEWS: SOUTHWEST SERVICE COMES TO ATLANTA IN FEBRUARY GEORGIA NEWS: AFTER LOSING IN COURTS, ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES TRY STATE LEGISLATURE INDUSTRY NEWS: NEW POLL SHOWS MOST AMERICANS PLAN TO GO ON VACATION THIS YEAR INDUSTRY NEWS: TOURISM OFFICE FUNDS UNDER KNIFE INDUSTRY NEWS: VISITATION IS BACK: TOURISM UP IN METRO ATLANTA INDUSTRY NEWS: NTA PREDICTS CONTINUED INCREASE IN CHINESE TRAVELERS TO THE U.S.

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...................................................................................................................................................................... NEW DIRECTOR OF VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER PROGRAM NAMED

Paul Selby will join the Georgia Department of Economic Development as Director of the Visitor Information Center Program on September 1. Paul brings more than 15 years of sales, customer service, hospitality and tourism experience to the Georgia Tourism division. He currently serves as Manager of Leisure Sales at the Georgia Aquarium. He also led the start-up of the Aquarium's call center, where he led a group of more than 25 operators handling consumer calls. Paul will attend the Governor's Tourism Conference, so be sure to say hello. Paul's email will be selby@georgia.org.

...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA TOURISM AND GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS COMBINE RESOURCES FOR TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

information.

Georgia Tourism and Georgia Council for the Arts, both divisions of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, have combined resources to offer the Tourism Product Development (TPD) Grants for the state's 2012 fiscal year. The TPD Grant, worth up to $20,000, is designed to financially support tourism development activities at the local level that sustain and create jobs within Georgia's hospitality industry. The grant program also supports the role of the arts in tourism by providing financial assistance to Georgia's Creative Economies with an emphasis on professional Georgia artists and the non-profit arts industry. Click here for more

...................................................................................................................................................................... "CROSSROADS OF CONFLICT" WINS DOCUMENTING GEORGIA HISTORY AWARD

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB) has selected Crossroads of Conflict for a 2011 "Documenting Georgia History Award." The GHRAB Awards ceremony will take place at the Georgia Archives in Morrow on Oct. 4. David Des Jardines of the UGA Press prepared the nomination. Congratulations to Georgia Tourism's own Barry Brown for co-authoring this book! Click here for more information about the Ga. Historical Records Advisory Board
and its awards program.

...................................................................................................................................................................... HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE YET?
Final countdown to register for Georgia's premiere tourism conference at the Marriott Macon City Center in Macon September 11 - 14. Build professional relationships, discover tools and practical solutions, analyze new trends, innovations and technologies, gain the necessary tools to manage today's challenges and learn from powerful Keynote and Breakout Speakers. Visit www.georgiagtc.
com or www.facebook.com/georgiagtc to learn more.
...................................................................................................................................................................... AGRIBUSINESS WORKSHOP WEBSITE
Check out the website for the 2011 Agribusiness Workshop at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro on September 21. Here you will find the full agenda, speakers, and online registration for participants and exhibitors. Click here.
...................................................................................................................................................................... SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY ANNOUNCES TOP 20 WINTER EVENTS
The Top Winter Events for 2012 have been announced by the Southeast Tourism Society. Congrats to the Augusta Futurity; St. Marys 18th Annual Mardi Gras Festival; & Parade, Rock, Roll & Run in Downtown Albany; and the Macon, Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival for being included. For the complete list, click here.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
Pam Kruseck attended the Alabama Motorcoach Association Annual Meeting and Marketplace August 7 - 10, 2011 in Montgomery, AL. She met with 19 tour operators. Appointment notes were sent to the Regional Tourism Representatives on August 16, 2011.
Pam Kruseck and Nija Torrence visited Albany, Ga on August 12 - 13, 2011. Liz Gray gave them a whirlwind tour of Albany spotlighting many of their local gems! They discussed future partnership ideas while learning about Albany and the surrounding region.
Pam Kruseck and Alphonso Murchison attended Atlanta Dream games as part of the tourism division's consumer outreach program to encourage locals to travel within Georgia. GDEcD partnered with Babyland General (and Dream Cabbage Patch Kid Erika Iziane), Medieval Times and Wildwater Adventure Centers during Dream home games.
Pam Kruseck and Jonathan Boisjolie will be attending the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Conference August 19 - 24, 2011 in New York, NY. The SYTA Conference is the premier event for the student and youth travel market and serves as the essential marketplace and networking event for the industry. GDEcD will participate in pre-scheduled appointments with tour operators who

specialize in the student market.
Nija Torrence will attend the Georgia Motorcoach Operators Association (GMOA)/Motorcoach Association of South Carolina (MCASA) Joint Annual Meeting August 21 - 24, 2011 in Savannah, GA. The Annual Meeting will include appointment sessions with members of each Association as well as educational seminars and networking opportunities.
GDEcD will once again be participating as sponsors for the National Tour Association (NTA) Annual Convention (December 5 - 9, 2011) and the American Bus Association (ABA) Annual Marketplace (January 6 - 10, 2012). As part of our sponsorships we will have a booth on the marketplace floor which will allow maximum exposure to all attendees and provide us a better opportunity to sell Georgia. We are changing our level of participation this year for ABA and will sponsor the bags distributed to attendees at the show. We will offer cosponsorship to our partners. Pam Kruseck and Nija Torrence will be attending. Co-sponsorship information for both NTA and ABA was sent out to the Regional Tourism Reps on August 16, 2011. For additional co-sponsorship information, please contact Pam Kruseck via email at pkruseck@georgia.org.
GDEcD will be participating in the AARP Life@50+ Expo September 22 - 24, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. AARP is expecting more than 25,000 members and others from all over the United States and abroad to attend the event. The AARP Life@50+ event is a great opportunity to collaborate with AARP and to reach the 50+ audience. It is an opportunity to increase Georgia's visibility among baby boomers; a demographic comprising 26 percent of the U.S. population and a driving force in the market place. GDEcD is offering a trade coop for this show - we will distribute your brochure to the attendees in exchange for you sending 300 lapel pins. Co-op information was distributed to the Regional Tourism Reps on July 18, 2011. For additional co-op information, please contact Pam Kruseck via email at pkruseck@georgia.org.
GDEcD will be attending the TEAMS Conference & Expo October 3 - 6, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV. This conference allows for educational opportunities, networking, and most importantly booth space at their trade show. Exhibitors meet with events rights holders via prescheduled appointment session, which typically last 12 minutes. Pam Kruseck will be attending. Co-op information for TEAMS will be available soon.
Georgia National Fair will take place in Perry, GA from October 6 - 16, 2011.The annual, state-sponsored Georgia National Fair is Georgia's celebration of its youth, agriculture, and heritage. The Fair has been designated as a 'Top 50 Fair in North America' by Amusement Business magazine. Fairgoers will be treated to one of the state's best family-oriented, entertainment values showcasing education and fun. Please contact Dot Davis via email at ddavis@georgia.org for co-op information.
GDEcD will be participating in the Rejuvenate Marketplace November 7 - 9, 2011 in San Jose, CA. Rejuvenate Marketplace is an educational conference designed specifically for meeting planners who organize meetings and conferences for faith-based organizations. The three-day event includes a reverse trade show with one-on-one appointments between planners and suppliers; an all-day planner boot camp for both novices and professional planners; several general sessions and two days of sessions covering basic planning topics, business skills and strategy, technology tools and social media, and program innovations. Pam Kruseck will be attending. Co-op information for Rejuvenate will be available soon.
Pam Kruseck will be attending AAA Carolinas Superbowl of Knowledge November 18 - 19, 2011 in Greensboro, NC. 'Superbowl of Knowledge' is an annual gathering of AAA Carolinas Travel Counselors and staff to learn about new offers and tourism products for their members. AAA Carolinas is expecting 300 employees including Travel Counselors and Drive Vacation Specialists. A lunchtime tradeshow allows Travel Counselors an opportunity to meet with us and gather information.
Joseph Walker and Jonathan Boisjolie will be participating in a mission to Brazil from August 29 - September 2. They will visit with the eight main Tour Operators, train 200 travel agents, and host two media events in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
**Show schedule subject to change.

...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
Have you visited the Industry Research section on MarketGeorgia.org recently? We know that some of you have had issues accessing some of the reports on the site. Please accept our sincere apologies for these system issues. The problem has not been rectified. If for any reason you get a pop-up asking you for a password - please email nserrano@georgia.org. Thank you for your patience as we work to make this site as user friendly and accessible as possible.
Please keep an eye out for the 2010 county level travel economic impact estimates. They will be posted on www. marketgeorgia.org the first week of September.
In addition, we anticipate the 2010 visitor volume and research reporst to be available prior to the Governor's Conference. It will be posted once the final report is reviewed and approved.
July 2011:
q Hotel/motel occupancy increased 1.6% statewide from July 2010 q Room rates (ADR) in Georgia were up 0.6% from July 2010 q Statewide, RevPAR was up 2.2% q Georgia room revenues increased 2.1%. q Room Demand increased 1.5% in the state q Room Supply down -0.1%
Year-to-date (YTD) 2011:
q Hotel/motel occupancy is up 5% statewide YTD through July 2011 q YTD room rates (ADR) in Georgia are up 0.5% q Statewide, RevPAR is up 5.5% year-to-date q Georgia room revenues are up 5.7% year-to date q Room Demand is up 5.1% in the state year-to-date q Room Supply is up 0.1% in the state year-to-date

...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
In July, Georgia's 11 Visitor Information Centers (VICs) had 1,349,985 visitors. They also hosted 251 partner promotions and made 1,684 room reservations totaling $127,694 in revenue. Partners are encouraged to go out to one or all of our 11 VICs to host a promotion and interact with travelers throughout the year. For more information on this and other ways you can get involved with the VIC program, please contact Tiffany Marlin tmarlin@georgia.org.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA NEWS: CIVIL WAR BRINGS MORE DOLLARS TO METRO ATLANTA
The 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War is shaping up to be a big tourism draw for metro Atlanta, one that could be worth millions in visitor revenue. Some of the area's biggest attractions that focus on the conflict --- which began April 12, 1861, and ended April 9, 1865 --- report higher visitation.
The National Park Service says visitation at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb County is up by 140,000 people, to 828,600 through June. Other sites reporting a boost include the Atlanta History Center, the Margaret Mitchell House and the Cyclorama. The Georgia Historical Society, with help from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, set up markers --- some new, some refurbished --- to commemorate important Civil War areas that have been paved over by metro Atlanta's growth or to be more inclusive of women and African-Americans. To read the complete Atlanta Journal Constitution article, click here.
................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: HISTORIC BANNING MILLS WINS TELLY AWARD
Historic Banning Mills and TV Town productions were recently awarded a bronze Telly for outstanding videography! Covering the largest, continuous Eco zip line canopy tour in the World, located 45 minutes from Atlanta, Ga., it shows some amazing views of the beautiful and historic Snake Creek Gorge at a bird's eye view! Click here to check out the winning video.
................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: BEST WESTERN EVANS, GA HOTEL RECEIVES BEST WESTERN "DIRECTOR'S AWARD" FOR QUALITY
Kanta K.R. Kondur, Owner and General Manager of the Best Western Evans Hotel, 452 Park West Drive, Grovetown, announced that her Best Western has received the "Best Western Director's Award for Outstanding Quality" for 2011. This is the third year in a row the hotel has achieved the Director's Award. This award recognizes Best Western International hotels which score in the top 20 percent of all the 2,400 North American properties in high customer service scores, cleanliness, and maintenance scores. Click here for more information on the Best Western Evans Hotel.

................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: VISIT SAVANNAH NAMED TO LIST OF TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL TOURIST BOARDS AND DMOS ONLINE
Congratulations to Visit Savannah for being named to InfluencersInTravel.com's list of the Top 25 most influential tourist boards and DMOs online! Click here to see the complete list.
................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: SOUTHWEST SERVICE COMES TO ATLANTA IN FEBRUARY
This coming Feb. 12 will be a red-letter day for travelers who've long pined for Southwest Airlines to come to Atlanta. The Dallas-based carrier will make its arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson International, launching 15 daily flights from Atlanta to five different cities. To read the complete Atlanta Journal Constitution article, click here.
................................................................................................................ GEORGIA NEWS: AFTER LOSING IN COURTS, ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES TRY STATE LEGISLATURE
Thwarted by Georgia's courts, online travel companies are now asking the General Assembly to exempt them from paying potentially millions of dollars more in hotel and occupancy taxes that local governments say are needed to promote tourism. To read the complete The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, click here.
................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: NEW POLL SHOWS MOST AMERICANS PLAN TO GO ON VACATION THIS YEAR
For the first time in three years, a majority of Americans plan on taking a vacation. A majority (51 percent) of Americans say they're confident (36 percent very confident/15 percent somewhat confident) that they will take a vacation in 2011, defined as leisure travel of at least a week to a destination at least 100 miles from their home. This proportion is up 13 percentage points from last year, according to a new Ipsos Public Affairs poll conducted on behalf of Mondial Assistance USA. One in ten (9 percent) Americans say they've already taken a vacation this year (down 2 percentage points). Just four in 10 (39 percent) are not confident (25 percent not at all/14 percent not very) that they'll take a vacation, which is down 4 points from last year. To read the complete Travel Pulse article, click here.
................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: TOURISM OFFICE FUNDS UNDER KNIFE
Fewer state and local governments are urging Americans to "come and visit us" -- just as more people say they're hitting the road or are ready to go. About 20 states have cut spending in the past year on advertising and other promotion and support to try to lure tourists and their vacation dollars, the U.S. Travel Association says. To read the complete USA Today article, click here.

................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: VISITATION IS BACK: TOURISM UP IN METRO ATLANTA
After pulling back during the recession, tourists are once again coming to metro Atlanta. About 37 million people visited the area in 2010, up 3 million visitors from the year before, according to newly released figures from D.K. Shifflet & Associates, which conducts visitation research for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. That pushed visitation spending to $10.9 billion, up from the $9.8 billion the year before, the report said. The increases are critical for metro Atlanta. The area has the fourth largest share of hotel rooms in the nation and employs more than 200,000 in the hospitality industry through restaurants, attractions, convention centers and retail shopping. To read the complete Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, click here.
................................................................................................................ INDUSTRY NEWS: NTA PREDICTS CONTINUED INCREASE IN CHINESE TRAVELERS TO THE U.S.
Chinese travelers are visiting the United States in increasingly large numbers and are predicted to continue to do so, according to two recent NTA (National Tour Association) studies. The majority of Chinese tour operators confirmed that bookings to the United States increased, by an average of 16 to 20 percent, in the second quarter of 2011, as reported in the China Travel Trade Barometer. None of the surveyed operators reported a decline. The Barometer, produced quarterly by NTA in partnership with Travel Market Insights and Ivy Alliance, captures input from top Chinese travel firms that promote and sell travel to the United States. To read the complete Travel Pulse article, click here.
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