CONVENING IN ATHENS:
GOVERNOR'S TOURISM CONFERENCE
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2010
Athens, Georgia- August 3, 2010- The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is pleased to welcome the Governor's Tourism Conference to Athens August 30 - September 1. The Conference will be held at The Classic Center, where 400 - 500 of Georgia's tourism industry professionals will hear from keynote speakers such as Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association and Horst Schulze, founding president and COO of Ritz-Carlton. Governor Sonny Perdue will address the conference at Wednesday's closing luncheon.
Industry professionals have been asking to return to Athens for the Governor's Tourism Conference for years, and after 22 years they finally have the opportunity. "I had a great time in Athens when I attended my second Governor's Tourism Conference; I am looking forward to serving as a host and showing my industry peers all the exciting changes that have taken place here," remarks Chuck Jones, Director of the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"I know they will have a wonderful time in our city and be eager to tell others about what an exciting and invigorating destination Athens is," continues Jones.
Year after year, the Governor's Tourism Conference is recognized as a must attend event for the tourism industry in Georgia. Professionals from destination marketing organizations, hotels, attractions, tour & travel and supplier companies will attend the conference to build professional relationships, discover tools and practical solutions and analyze new trends, innovations and technologies.
The conference welcomes Keynote Speaker Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Travel Association, the national umbrella organization representing all segments of the $770 billion U.S. travel and tourism industry. Horst Schulze, founding president and COO of Ritz-Carlton, and other professionals from across the Tourism and Marketing industry will speak about various topics pertaining to tourism, and the Athens CVB's Communication Manager, Hannah Smith, will join other professionals on a "Best Practices" panel during Monday's Techno-Tourism Workshop. Governor Sonny Perdue will give the closing address at the Governor's Luncheon & Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.
Throughout the Conference, attendees will experience local flavor including events and live music at Terrapin Brewery, The Melting Point and nightly entertainment in the Rialto Room at Hotel Indigo. Other host hotels are the Foundry Park Inn & Spa, Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
"The conference provides numerous benefits along with the immediate economic impact of the event. Athens, as a destination, is enriched by the opportunity for local tourism partners to participate in continuing education sessions with top-level speakers from around the nation. Furthermore, the evening events and entertainment enable Athens to showcase its most recent tourism development," remarks Amy Clark, Leisure Travel Marketing Director of the Athens CVB.
The Athens CVB estimates the economic impact of the Governor's Tourism Conference to be at least $500,800 in direct spending, based a projected attendance of 400. |
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About the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is a proactive sales and marketing organization whose primary goal is to increase the economic impact of the hospitality and visitor industry by attracting individual visitors, group tours, and meetings and conventions to Athens. Tourism WORKS for Athens, contributing $218.98 million in spending, 2,500 jobs, $46.23 million in wages earned, $8.09 million in state tax revenues and $6.58 million in local tax revenues in 2008.
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CONTACT:
Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau
706.357.4430
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