Georgia tourism monthly e-newsletter, Jan. 2013

January 2013 Issue
In This Issue:
2013 TOURISM & HOSPITALITY DAY AT THE CAPITOL - TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG PARTNER ADMIN TRAINING SESSIONS - JANUARY 28 & 29 GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE GDEcD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER (VIC) UPDATE ARTS SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE AVAILABLE GEORGIA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY WELL-REPRESENTED AT STS FALL FORUM REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER CHAUTAUQUA 2013 - MARCH 3 - 4 - ROME, GEORGIA HISTORIC HEARTLAND TRAVEL ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES INDUSTRY PARTNERS 2013 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2013 NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR URBAN RIVERS MACON-BIBB COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ACHIEVES DESTINATION MARKETING ACCREDITATION LUCILLE'S MOUNTAIN TOP INN & SPA JOINS PRESTIGIOUS INNKEEPING ASSOCIATION GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: TOO MANY TOURISTS? SAVANNAH, GA., DEBATES WHETHER TO MAKE ROOM FOR DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: OFFICIALS BEGIN PROCESS OF INCREASING HOTEL/MOTEL TAX (CORDELE) GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: GEORGIA MICRODISTILLERIES GROWING IN NUMBER INDUSTRY NEWS: TNOOZ IS TALKING TRAVEL TECH - TRIPADVISOR INDUSTRY NEWS: VISUAL STORYTELLING - A CORE PART OF DIGITAL MARKETING FOR HOTELS INDUSTRY NEWS: BAD ONLINE REVIEW: HOW SHOULD YOU RESPOND? INDUSTRY NEWS: NEW TRAVEL WEBSITE PAIRS SOCIAL MEDIA, TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS INDUSTRY NEWS: USA TODAY LAUNCHES TRIPADVISOR ALTERNATIVE SHARE THE PEACH BYTE FEEDBACK WELCOME
...................................................................................................................................................................... 2013 TOURISM & HOSPITALITY DAY AT THE CAPITOL - TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
The 2013 Tourism & Hospitality Day at the Capitol is set for Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. We all know what a difference an investment in travel and tourism can do to improve the quality of life for all Georgia residents. Our industry is the 5th largest employer in Georgia with a total economic impact of $49 billion, supporting more than 400,000 jobs in Georgia. It is more important than ever that we build strong advocacy programs in order to showcase the important role of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in our statewide economy. We are asking everyone in the industry at large, including representatives from CVBs, attractions, hotels, restaurants, cultural tourism venues, business people, artists and musicians from all over the state to support and participate in this important event.
This year's event is a collaboration of several hospitality industry partners including:
Georgia AgriTourism Association
Georgia Arts Network
Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Georgia Chamber of Commerce (Tourism and Entertainment Committee)
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association
Georgia Restaurant Association
Please RSVP for this event to nserrano@georgia.org.
...................................................................................................................................................................... EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG PARTNER ADMIN TRAINING SESSIONS - JANUARY 28 & 29
Site enhancements are currently being made to www.ExploreGeorgia.org to provide the user with a better overall experience. In addition, Georgia Tourism will be rolling out a new Partner Admin system to support the site. The new system will ensure that Partner listings are detailed and informative to enhance the user experience. Partners are encouraged to participate in an ExploreGeorgia.org Partner Admin Training Sessions on Monday, January 28 (1:00pm - 3:00pm) or Tuesday, January 29 (3:00pm - 5:00pm) at the Georgia Department of Economic Development's in Atlanta. We will also be offering Webinars during these times. Learn how to make the most of this free marketing tool including site enhancements and Partner Admin updates. For Partners that can attend in person, space is limited (limit 50 per session), so please confirm your participation ASAP. Email your information to exploregatraining@georgia.org to register and please specify the day, or receive instructions on how to participate on the Webinar. For Partners that are unable to attend in person or log onto these scheduled Webinars, there will be an online Tutorial that will walk you through the new Partner Admin system. In addition, we will add additional training Webinars in the event they are needed.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
Visit the Industry Research page on www.MarketGeorgia.org for a comprehensive look at the latest facts and figures as they relate to tourism in Georgia. Just about everything you would want to know about the industry and how the business is measured can be found on this page. November 2012: Smith Travel Report for Georgia:
November 2012:
Hotel/motel occupancy increased 3.1% statewide 2012 room rates (ADR) in Georgia were up 3.5% Statewide, RevPAR was up 6.6% Georgia room revenues increased 6.2% Room Demand increased 2.6% from November 2011 Room Supply was down -0.4%
Year-to-date (YTD):
Hotel/motel occupancy is up 1.9% YTD room rates (ADR) in Georgia are up 2.8% Statewide, RevPAR is up 4.18 Georgia room revenues are up 3.9% Room Demand is up 1.2% in the state Room Supply is down -0.8% in the state
...................................................................................................................................................................... GDEcD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER (VIC) UPDATE
Congratulations to Lavonia Visitor Information Center Specialist Shawnta Beasley for her participation in the Gwinnett Tourism Awareness Program (GTAP). After completing the six-week awareness program, Shawnta received a certificate of achievement and was named a Gwinnett Certified Tourism Specialist (GCTS).
The Columbus Visitor Information Center (VIC) attended Ft. Benning's weekly Newcomers briefing from January November 2012. During this time, they welcomed more than 4,000 soldiers and family members to the Columbus/Ft. Benning area. In addition, the Columbus VIC also participates in Ft. Benning's mandatory weekly briefing for all stationed soldiers.
...................................................................................................................................................................... ARTS SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE AVAILABLE
Georgia Council for the Arts invites all state vehicle owners to support the arts by reserving an arts license plate designed by Georgia artist Steve Penley. Ten dollars from each sale will support arts programs statewide. More arts programs means more jobs, more tourists, and more opportunities for growth. Click here to learn more.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY WELL-REPRESENTED AT STS FALL FORUM
Congratulations to the Lake Lanier and Albany CVB's on being awarded Shining Example Awards at the annual Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Fall Forum in Virginia Beach. This group photo represents the Georgia Tourism attendees. Click here to learn more about the annual event.

...................................................................................................................................................................... REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER CHAUTAUQUA 2013 - MARCH 3 - 4 - ROME, GEORGIA
Save the date! Winter Chautauqua 2013 will take place March 3 - 4 in Rome, Georgia on the beautiful campus of Berry College, the world's largest college campus. A full schedule and list of keynote speakers is available on www.winterchautauqua.com or become a fan www.Facebook.com/WinterChautauqua.
...................................................................................................................................................................... HISTORIC HEARTLAND TRAVEL ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES INDUSTRY PARTNERS
The Historic Heartland Travel Association announced their 2012 Award Recipients at their annual holiday luncheon in Madison on December 12. Award recipients included: Lifetime Achievement Award: Marsha Buzzell of Warner Robins; Best New Marketing Campaign: Milledgeville Convention & Visitors Bureau for their new, interactive smartphone tour; Industry Leader of the Year: Stefanie Paupeck of GDEcD; Member of the Year: Bonnie Simmons of Eatonton; and Special Recognition Award: Mandy Barnhart of GDEcD.
...................................................................................................................................................................... 2013 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
The FFY 2013 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant applications are available. Applications must be postmarked on or before February 1, 2013. These grants are available to Certified Local Governments (CLGs) for Survey & Planning, Predevelopment, or Development projects. The HPF grant program is appropriated annually from Congress through the National Park Service to the states. HPD reserves 10 percent of each year's appropriation for grants to CLGs. The 60/40 matching grants enable cities, towns, and rural areas to undertake projects that aid in the preservation of historic properties. Grant awards will be announced by April 2013. Projects may begin in April/May 2013, and must be completed by September 30, 2014. If you have questions about the grant program or application process, please contact Tax Incentives & Grants Coordinator Carole Moore at 404-651-5566 or at carole.moore@dnr.state.ga.us. Click here to download the applications and for full details on available grants program.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2013
Farms hold a central role in the heritage of our state, having formed the economic, cultural, and family foundation for generations of Georgians. Some farms have been continuously operating for over 100 years and deserve recognition for their historical importance. This year the Georgia Centennial Farm Program celebrates its 20th year of honoring the contributions of farm families throughout Georgia. The Georgia Centennial Farm Program was created to draw attention to historic farms and to encourage their preservation. Since 1993, the program has recognized 426 farms around the state. Nominees must be a working farm with a minimum of 10 acres of the original purchase actively involved in agricultural production and must generate at least $1,000 in annual farm-generated income. In addition, farms must have been continuously farmed by members of the same family for at least 100 years. Qualifying Georgia Centennial Farms are honored each October at an awards ceremony at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. The Georgia Centennial Farm Program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; Georgia Department of Agriculture; Georgia Forestry Commission; and the Georgia National Fair and Agricenter. The postmark deadline for applications is May 1 of each year. Click here to access the application.
...................................................................................................................................................................... NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR URBAN RIVERS
Approximately $1,500,000 is available from USFS, EPA, and NOAA through the Federal Urban Waters Partnership, along with funding from NFWF, WHC, EPA, USFS, NOAA, Southern Company, FedEx, among others to improve water quality, increase access, and restore riparian and forest habitat in urban watersheds throughout the United States. Competitive projects will include a focus on one of more of the following priorities: Urban Forest Restoration, Education and Training, Stormwater management, Monitoring, and Outdoor Recreation. All projects submitted for consideration for Urban Waters funding must include a minimum 1:1 match of non-federal funds. Funding is not limited to the designated Urban Waters rivers but they will receive priority. More information on the Federal Urban Waters Partnership is available at www.urbanwaters.gov. Click here to access the application. Deadline Feb. 7th, 2013.
...................................................................................................................................................................... MACON-BIBB COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ACHIEVES DESTINATION MARKETING ACCREDITATION
The Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MBCCVB) has been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). DMAP is an international accreditation program developed by the Washington, DC based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). In earning the DMAP accreditation, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their community, buyers and potential visitors that their DMO has attained a significant measure of excellence. Click here for additional information about DMAP.
...................................................................................................................................................................... LUCILLE'S MOUNTAIN TOP INN & SPA JOINS PRESTIGIOUS INNKEEPING ASSOCIATION
Lucille's Mountain Top Inn & Spa, located in White County, GA, was recently honored by admittance into Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of North America, the premier innkeeping association in the United States and Canada. Out of the thousands of inns in North America, only an elite few will be invited to join Select Registry this year. Lucille's Mountain Top Inn & Spa joins more than 335 other exceptional properties that are already members of the Association. To find out more about Lucille's Mountain Top Inn & Spa, visit www.lucillesmountaintopinn.com.

...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: TOO MANY TOURISTS? SAVANNAH, GA., DEBATES WHETHER TO MAKE ROOM FOR DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES
A proposal to put double-decker tour buses on the streets of Savannah's historic district has residents rallying to bring the plans to a screeching halt, with critics fearing the buses would hit ancient oak limbs and give sightseers a peeping Tom's view into Victorian homes. Two Boston businessmen are lobbying Savannah City Hall to end a 17-year prohibition on double-decker buses in the coastal city's downtown historic district, which draws 12 million visitors a year. Savannah's Downtown Neighborhood Association is urging officials to deny the request. Click here to read the Washington Post article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: OFFICIALS BEGIN PROCESS OF INCREASING HOTEL/MOTEL TAX (CORDELE)
Officials in Cordele, GA approved a 1% increase in the hotel/motel tax. This extra money will be used to pay for bonds needed to fund the Quiet Community project. Specifically, railway crossings will be upgraded to accommodate trains not using horns as warning devices at the intersections. Now that city officials have approved the increase, state legislators also must give their approval. Click here to read the Cordele Dispatch article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... GEORGIA INDUSTRY NEWS: GEORGIA MICRODISTILLERIES GROWING IN NUMBER
"It won't be too long until there's a coffee roaster, brew pub, distillery and maybe a cacao artisan in every town," said Bill Owens, president of the American Distilling Institute. That prediction is about to come true for metro Atlanta. The region has Batdorf & Bronson roasting coffee, several microbreweries and Cacao Atlanta making bean-to-bar chocolate. Soon, it will have two microdistilleries. Craft distilleries, much like craft breweries, are on the rise. According to the ADI, there are about 240 small distilleries in the U.S. and Canada. By 2015, estimates say the number will likely jump to 400 to 450. In Georgia, the number has more than doubled in a year. There are currently five operating craft producers with three more in the works, two of them inside the Perimeter. Click here to read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... INDUSTRY NEWS: TNOOZ IS TALKING TRAVEL TECH - TRIPADVISOR
More than half of TripAdvisor users say they won't book a hotel if it has no reviews according to research carried out for the company. The PhoCusWright study reveals TripAdvisor users (87%) feel more confident in their decision when they read the reviews and 98% say they find them 'accurate of the actual experience'. Additional findings show 59% of users ignore extreme comments and only 5% say they focus on negative reviews. Travellers also say an appropriate response from hotel management is more likely to make them book (57%), improves their overall impression (84%) and makes them feel the hotel cares (78%). However, 64% say an aggressive response from the hotel makes them less likely to book. Click here to read the TNOOZ.com article and infographic.
...................................................................................................................................................................... INDUSTRY NEWS: VISUAL STORYTELLING - A CORE PART OF DIGITAL MARKETING FOR HOTELS
Simply having visual content available to travelers online is not going to help you differentiate your hotel and compel hotel shoppers to book. They're not looking for content - per se; they're looking for meaningful stories that help them better understand if your hotel will contribute to the success of their trip. Storytelling is captivating and the most effective form of communication, because "good story telling makes people sit up and listen," as stated by Correy Torrence from iMedia Connection. Click here to read the article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... INDUSTRY NEWS: BAD ONLINE REVIEW: HOW SHOULD YOU RESPOND?
When you've got a big, ugly customer review sitting near the top of your business' Google results, it can be a real thorn in your side. Moreover, a Harvard Business School study found that garnering an extra star in a Yelp review average leads to 5 to 9 percent more revenue for a restaurant. Perhaps that's why the owner of Deitz Development in Washington, D.C., was so incensed about negative reviews of his business on Yelp and Angie's List-a client said he stole from her home and billed her improperly-he sued her for $750,000. Communicators and business owners shouldn't just sit on their laurels when they see bad online reviews of their brands or businesses, reputation experts say. But there are other ways to go about it. "Right or wrong, that makes Dietz Development look bad," says Tripp Frohlichstein of MediaMasters Training. "Not the kind of organization I would want to do business with." So what does work? Making a connection and creating content. Click here to read the PR Daily article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... INDUSTRY NEWS: NEW TRAVEL WEBSITE PAIRS SOCIAL MEDIA, TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
A new travel website based in Atlanta aims to give travel recommendations based on a user's interests, their social media activity and their friends' travel choices. The website, called Mr. Arlo, launched in November at mrarlo.com as a booking engine for hotels, restaurants and activities which can also link to social media accounts, give recommendations and allow users to share their travel plans with friends on social media. The site has partnerships with OpenTable and TripAdvisor for restaurant reservations and hotel reviews. Click here to read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
...................................................................................................................................................................... INDUSTRY NEWS: USA TODAY LAUNCHES TRIPADVISOR ALTERNATIVE
USA Today Travel Media Group has announced the beta launch of HotelMe, an authenticated hotel review site. HotelMe, a joint venture of USA TODAY Travel Media Group and District Hospitality Partners, will offer authenticated hotel reviews checked against hotel records, through a patent pending process that will show verified reviews from guests who paid and stayed at the reviewed hotel. Fake reviews are a bane of the industry and have been the source of past controversy at sites like TripAdvisor and others. Hotel brands - including Hyatt, Best Western, La Quinta, Trump, Preferred Hotels, Omni, and Radisson - have already signed on to verify whether review writers actually stayed at their properties, regardless of how or where they booked the room. Click here to read the Travel Mole article.
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