Georgia tourism monthly e-newsletter, Mar. 2012

March 2012 Issue
In This Issue:
GEORGIA TOURISM TWIST ROAD TRIPS OFF TO A GREAT START
GEORGIA TOURISM LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST FEATURING LADY ANTEBELLUM
GEORGIA'S VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS TURN 50
THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE AUDIO TOUR AVAILABLE ON GACIVILWAR.ORG
TRAVEL SOUTH USA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE
GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL: TOURISM WITH A 'TWIST': OFFICIAL PRAISES MARIETTA, COBB FOR THEIR MANY ATTRACTIONS
BEST WESTERN EVANS HOTEL STAFF WINS AWARDS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RELEASES REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL VISITATION
U.S. TRAVEL URGES CONGRESS TO PREPARE FOR ONCOMING BOOM IN WORLDWIDE TRAVEL
TRAVEL EMPLOYMENT OUTPACES REST OF U.S. ECONOMY BY 34 PERCENT
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA TOURISM TWIST ROAD TRIPS OFF TO A GREAT START
Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, hit the road in early February to kick off the Twist Road Trip to Georgia's nine travel regions. The goal of the road trip is to demonstrate the economic impact of the tourism industry for the state, regions and local markets. It is also an opportunity to build awareness among Georgians of all the great travel destinations within our own state. Kevin has met with tourism industry partners and conducted media interviews with tv, print and radio stations in each region. Twist Road trips have been completed in Historic Heartland, Classic South, Atlanta Metro and Northeast Georgia Mountain travel regions. Kevin is currently "twisting" through the Presidential Pathways travel region through March 30. For more information, about upcoming Twist Road Trips please contact your Regional Tourism Representative.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA TOURISM LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST FEATURING LADY ANTEBELLUM
Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, launched a social media contest 'Stargazing with a Twist: 'Win a Getaway with Lady A!' in partnership with the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau. The contest was launched on March 19 and features Georgia's own Lady Antebellum. Explore Georgia Facebook fans can register for a weekend getaway to Atlanta, Georgia for the June 22 concert at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. The prize package includes a pair of VIP tickets and Lady Antebellum Lounge Passes including access to an acoustic set and photos with the band; $1,000 air travel gift certificate on a major airline carrier; two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Gwinnett Center; ground transportation, tickets for dinner and a show at Medieval Times and more. Enter daily through May 15, 2012 via www.facebook.com/exploregeorgia. http://georgia.org/about/georgia -recent -business -news/Pages/NewsItem.aspx ? newsid=755
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA'S VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS TURN 50
The Georgia Department of Economic Development invites you to join in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Georgia's Visitor Information Center program at the state's first Visitor Information Center in Sylvania. The celebration will be Friday, April 20 at 2:00pm at 8463 Burton's Ferry Highway, Sylvania. Please RSVP by April 6 to 912-829-3331 or sylvania@georgia.org. To learn more about how to work with our Visitor Information Centers, click here.
...................................................................................................................................................................... THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE AUDIO TOUR AVAILABLE ON GACIVILWAR.ORG
On April 12, 2012, northwest Georgia from Marietta to Ringgold will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the famous Great Locomotive Chase. The Georgia Tourism division worked with local tourism partners along the chase route to create an audio for locals and visitors. The audio tour is available on www.GACivilWar.org.
................................................................................................................ TRAVEL SOUTH USA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE
The International travel buyers and southern-based travel suppliers will come together in Atlanta for the launch of a world-class annual marketplace, Travel South's International Showcase & Super FAM. The first showcase will take place Nov. 26-29, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta and is part of Travel South USA's three-year international marketing plan to grow the region's share of international visitors. Registration will open in May 2012 and will be open to properly licensed international travel buyers and tourism suppliers in the Travel South USA member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Click here for more information.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
Kevin Langston, Stefanie Paupeck and Pam Kruseck attended Travel South Showcase March 4 - 7 in Louisville, KY. Georgia Tourism participated in pre-scheduled appointments during Showcase. Pam Kruseck met with 32 tour operators. In addition, Stefanie Paupeck has 32 appointments with credential media. Georgia was also spotlighted during the all delegate luncheon during the event. Kevin Langston also participated in a tour operator and media briefing focusing on what's new in Georgia. Appointment notes went out to the Regional Reps on March 21, 2012.
Jonathan Boisjolie attended the Receptive Services Association of America Summit from February 7 - 8. He met with several U.S. receptive operators who supply tourism products to international tour operators during the two day program. Visit www.rsana.com/Default.aspx? alias=www.rsana.com/summit to see some of the presentations that were taking place during the conference. For a list of receptive operators in attendance, please contact Jonathan at jboisjolie@georgia.org.
Kevin Langston and Jonathan Boisjolie attended ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel show, in conjunction with other southern states from March 6 - 8. Over the three-day period the group met with approximately 30 top tour operators to discuss Georgia tourism products and what's new in Georgia. In addition, on March 7 the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Delta Air Lines hosted a press conference announcing the new international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The event was attended by key travel trade and trade media. For more information, please contact Jonathan Boisjolie via at jboisjolie@georgia.org.
Georgia Tourism will be represented at this year's International Pow Wow in Los Angeles, CA hosted by the U.S. Travel Association from April

23 - 26. We will have scheduled appointments with tour operators and travel industry professionals from around the world. Georgia Tourism will also participate in the Media Marketplace event. This year we are expecting a very successful schedule to include meetings with tour operators from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, China, Italy, France, Canada, Mexico, and many more international destinations. For more information, please contact Jonathan Boisjolie via at jboisjolie@georgia.org.
ABA Top 100 Events Nominations are officially open for the 2013. ABA's Top 100 Events in North America is an annual compilation of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the Top 100 Events for the subsequent year; the list is unveiled in September. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events, and more that have been nominated by ABA members. Now in its 31st year, the Top 100 Events receive worldwide attention via media - television, radio, and print - such as USA Today and CNN. ABA distributes 10,000 copies of the Top 100 Events in North American magazine, featuring the winners, to all its members and to thousands of travelers worldwide.
As the official tourism office for Georgia, GDEcD can submit a maximum of seven (7) nominations to be considered for this prestigious distinction. Please note that all ABA members of all membership categories are eligible to submit three (3) nominations. For the 2013 Top 100, ABA non-members can submit one (1) nomination for a fee which is then refunded if they join the association in 2012. If you are interested in submitting an event, please contact Pam Kruseck at pkruseck@georgia.org by April 10, 2012 for more information on the nomination process. The deadline for FINAL submission is APRIL 20, 2012. This information was sent to the Regional Tourism Reps to share on February 29, 2012.
Please the list of Judging Criteria below:
1. Is the event motorcoach friendly? 2. Does the event have a history of drawing a lot of bus groups? How many? 3. How does the event treat bus drivers and group escorts - free admission? A dedicated driver area or hospitality lounge? 4. Is the event worthy of media coverage and is it the finest that area has to offer groups? 5. Does the event have dedicated parking for motorcoaches? Are they free? 6. Are disembark/embark points close to the event entrance? 7. Can nearby hotels accommodate a motorcoach group? 8. Many bus groups are seniors - how does the event appeal to or accommodate seniors? 9. Can the event handle passengers being dropped off 55 at a time?
...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
Have you visited www.marketgeorgia.org recently? You can find a wealth of valuable data and tools under the industry research section. Information that has been recently updated includes:
County Level Data Sheets - The information is available to download for all 159 counties in Georgia. Dynamic County Database - This tool allows you to view your county level data for 2006 - 2010. It gives you the yearly comparison on your expenditures, payroll, employment and employment share. Event Impact Calculator (EIC) - The EIC measures the economic benefits of a proposed event and compares them to its costs.
Contact Nerissa Serrano for additional information at nserrano@georgia.org.
Georgia Hotel Trending Data:
February 2012 (statewide):
Hotel/motel occupancy increased 5.8 percent Room rates (ADR) were up slightly 0.2 percent Statewide, RevPAR was up 0.7 percent Room revenues increased 3.8 percent Room demand increased 4.9 percent from February 2011 Room supply was down -0.9 percent
Year-to-date (YTD):
Hotel/motel occupancy is up 4.3 percent Room rates (ADR) are up 3 percent RevPAR is up 7.4 percent Room revenues are up 6.4 percent Room demand is up 3.3 percent Room supply is down -1 percent
...................................................................................................................................................................... MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL: TOURISM WITH A 'TWIST': OFFICIAL PRAISES MARIETTA, COBB FOR THEIR MANY ATTRACTIONS
As part of his "twist" through Georgia, Georgia Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Kevin Langston visited Marietta on Tuesday to spread the word about the state's new tourism marketing campaign."Marietta has a fantastic tourism product," Langston said. "You're sitting on a gold mine, really. It offers so many historic homes, the quintessential historic American Square, fantastic restaurants, great attractions, great arts, White Water, Six Flags - it's really a terrific place to visit." Langston and others in the Georgia Department of Economic Development rolled out a campaign about six weeks ago called "The South with a Twist" to promote Georgia as a tourism destination for both nonresidents and those seeking "staycation" experiences. For the full Marietta Daily Journal article, click here.
...................................................................................................................................................................... BEST WESTERN EVANS HOTEL STAFF WINS AWARDS
Best Western Evans Hotel staff members Tiffany Forrister and Pooja Kondur received "Stars of the Lodging Industry" awards (Division 1) during the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association's event at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. Tiffany Forrister received her "Stars" award for "Outstanding Food & Beverage Employee." Pooja Kondur received her "Stars" award in "Stevan Porter's Emerging Hospitality Leaders" category, Division 1. The hotel also received a "Stars" award for their Kibble for Kritters community service program which benefits CSRA Happy Tails Rescue. For more information on the hotel - click here.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA REPRESENTED AT SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY SPRING MEETING 2012
Breakfast Georgia was well-represented at the Southeast Tourism Society Spring Meeting 2012 in Mississippi last week! The Convention & Visitors Bureau Directors from Dalton, Dahlonega/Lumpkin, Macon, Helen, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs and Albany were all in attendance. Photo Caption: L to R: Bill Hardman, Jr. (President STS); Jay Markwalter (Dahlonega-Lumpkin); Dotty Etris (Roswell); Janet Rodgers (Alpharetta), Rashelle Beasley (Albany); Jerry Brown (Helen); Monica Smith (Macon); Kym Hughes (Sandy Springs)Not in picture: Brett Huske (Dalton).
...................................................................................................................................................................... U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RELEASES REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL VISITATION
The U.S. Department of Commerce just released its 2011 report on International Visitation to the United States, which is now available on the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries website. Highlights from the 2011 International Visitation to the United States report include: 2011 international visitation set a new record to support the National Export Initiative; the United States welcomed 62 million international visitors in 2011, 2.5 million more than the year before and in 2011, the top inbound markets continued to be Canada and Mexico. To view or download a PDF version of the report, click here.

...................................................................................................................................................................... U.S. TRAVEL URGES CONGRESS TO PREPARE FOR ONCOMING BOOM IN WORLDWIDE TRAVEL
With air passenger travel predicted to double over the next 20 years and international tourist arrivals projected to grow 36 percent between 2010 and 2020 worldwide, Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association today urged Congress to take important steps to reduce unnecessary hassles and barriers to travel while maintaining necessary security requirements. Dow testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in a hearing titled: "Balancing Prosperity and Security: Challenges for U.S. Air Travel in a 21st Century Global Economy." For the complete U.S. Travel Association press release, click here.
.................................................................................................................. TRAVEL EMPLOYMENT OUTPACES REST OF U.S. ECONOMY BY 34 PERCENT
David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on today's Labor Department report on February 2012 employment numbers. "This February, the number of workers employed directly in the travel industry increased by 8,000 to 7.6 million. The major increases in travel jobs were in restaurants, lodging, and amusements / gambling / recreation industries. Last month's employment rise marked the eleventh increase in the past 12 months for the travel industry. "Since February 2011, travel employment has increased by 129,000. And since the employment recovery began, the travel industry has created more than 250,000 new jobs, accounting for more than seven percent of overall job growth since early 2010. This is primarily due to the fact that the pace of job creation in the travel industry has exceeded that of the rest of the economy by 34 percent. For the complete U.S. Travel Association press release, click here.
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