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| Get Outdoors in GA! |
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Georgia's public libraries and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites are making it easier than ever for patrons to "Get Out. Get Dirty. Get Fit." in the state's great outdoors. A valid library card now allows any patron to borrow a Georgia State Park "ParkPass" and Historic Site pass from their local libraries. The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks and historic sites statewide.
Any Georgian who holds a valid library card from a participating public library system (including PINES) can check out a ParkPass folder for up to seven days. Folder includes an annual ParkPass that exempts visitors from paying the daily parking fee at any Georgia state park, an annual Historic Site pass good for free admission for one visitor to any of Georgia's 18 state historic sites. It also includes a copy of the "Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites" featuring descriptions, photos, directions and a map of all 63 state parks and historic sites. A joint initiative of the Georgia Public Library Service and Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites Division (PRHSD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org
The CVB has GA State Park maps at City Hall! |
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Greetings!
In a community the size of Richmond Hill, we all need to work together to help promote local businesses and attractions. Visitors to Richmond Hill may not always go through the local Visitors Bureau for information, but they will have contact with shop owners, restaurants and hoteliers. The CVB would like to use this newsletter as a way to help connect with business and civic leaders who have contact with visitors. We want to share what we have learned about what our area has to offer and ways that we, as a community, can economically market Richmond Hill to those outside of our area.
Some of the topics for future newsletters will include:
- Low/no cost marketing ideas
- How to use referrals as a community marketing tool
- Area activities, events and attractions that you may not be aware of
Please look the newsletter over, and let me know your comments. Feel free to pass it on to anyone who might be interested. Thanks! |
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Hotel/Motel Tax 101
Do you know how the taxes are calculated on the bill when you stay the night at a hotel? Well, in Richmond Hill, we all know that we currently pay a sales tax of 7%. In addition to this, visitors staying at a hotel pay a 7% Hotel/Motel Tax. 3% is used for city administration, 2% is used by the CVB for the marketing of Richmond Hill, and 2% is used for the City Center project. It is tax that is collected primarily from visitors to our area, but benefits us locally.
There are some exceptions for payment of this tax. These can include:
- Those staying more than 30 consecutive days don't pay the tax after the first 30 days
- Those who certify that they are staying as a result of destruction of their home or residence by fire or other casualty
- Those government employees who are traveling on official business and who can provide official documentation and payment provided by the government agency.
These are some of the rules governing the collection of the hotel/motel tax in Richmond Hill. These laws change often, so if you have questions, it is best to check with your local hotelier to make sure you are aware of the latest rules. |
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What is a CVB?
Ever wonder what a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is and why it exits? A CVB is what is called a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). The basic reason it exits is to market the local area to visitor and to get them to come to Richmond Hill to stay. Since we live in a small community, it is also the job of the CVB to bring the community together to work in partnership to find new ways to make our community a place that people will want to come to, whether it is to live, work, or visit.
The roots of present-day Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), oftentimes known as Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), were planted in 1896, when journalist Milton Carmichael suggested in The Detroit Journal that local businessmen should band together to promote the city as a convention destination. Read More....
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Be sure to watch for the next CVB Business Forum Lunch coming in August. The Business Forum is designed to bring together the CVB, hoteliers, restaurants, local business, and civic group leaders who are interested in promoting their organization and the local community to visitors. Watch this newsletter for information on dates and speaker topics.
Sincerely,
Chris Sheppard
Richmond Hill CVB |
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