We're NOT Retreating!

It's retreat season for the CVB and other divisions of The Classic Center. The  retreats provide an opportunity for study, reflection, and discussion of strategies to move Athens' hospitality industry forward. This year's CVB retreat theme, "Getting Our Piece of the Pie," emphasized strategies to capitalize on our competitive edge and gain maximum ROI from CVB activities. Our plan of work for FY 12 will be crafted, in large part, based upon outcomes of the retreat.  CVB Director Chuck Jones will present the FY 12 plan of work highlights at the June 17 CVB Advisory Board meeting. 

Athens was again highly profiled during the state's premier travel media event.  CVB Communications Manager Hannah Smith represented Athens and the Historic Heartland travel region at Georgia's Travel Media Marketplace May 14 - 16.  She had appointments on Saturday in Ellijay with almost 30 journalists interested in Georgia story ideas, then hosted four journalists and two state tourism representatives in Athens Sunday and Monday as part of the Marketplace's culinary/agritourism familiarization tour. Local stops on the whirlwind tour included:

• Terrapin Brewery
• Beer tasting at Trappeze Pub
• Roots Farm
• Five & Ten
• Hotel Indigo
• Local products breakfast with Ike & Jane, Luna Baking Corp., Jittery Joe's coffee, & local fruit and produce.

A huge THANKS to all who provided their products, time, & talent for this press visit.

Amy Clark will attend the U.S. Travel Association's International Pow Wow in late May.  Each year, Athens partners with the GA Tourism Division team for this trade show focused on international inbound travel.  The event consists of approximately 40 pre-scheduled appointments with operators who are seeking both individual and group travel options in Georgia.  Pow Wow is also a media marketplace where press tour ideas are born.  As the GA Tourism Division team works to maintain the German and U.K. markets for our state, new markets have been opened in the past year.  Brazil is leading the pack in new program development, with France and Italy soon to come.  Receptive operator contracting in Athens is up.  Our community welcomes visitors from around the globe who appreciate our music heritage and southern charm.

Hospitality Newsmakers 

• The CVB extends a warm welcome to Jayne Tannenbaum, our new Convention Sales Coordinator.  Jayne has extensive, relevant experience in sales and in the hospitality indistry and has already hit the ground running with both clients and our local partners.  Stop by and say "hello!"
   
• Athens-Clarke County recently received a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) designation from the League of American Bicyclists. The bronze designation makes ACC one of only three  Bicycle Friendly Communities in Georgia. Read more.

The Athens CVB was pleased to participate again in a hospitality industry  tour of downtown Athens for the current class of Bread for Life students.   Students visited the Welcome Center, NONA, Lyndon House Arts Center, and Foundry Park Inn & Spa to become better acquainted with the range of hospitality industry careers.  Bread for Life provides hands-on training, instruction by industry professionals, and community support for men and women with the will to improve their lives and the desire to begin successful careers in the hospitality industry.