| Athens Now:
The monthly newsletter of the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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CVB Holiday Luncheon is Dec. 15
 | George's Lowcountry Table
2095 S. Milledge Ave.
Milledge Plaza
December 15, noon |
" It's the most wonderful time, of the year."
The CVB Advisory Board's Annual Holiday Luncheon will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15 at noon. George's Lowcountry Table owner Reggie DiSante has graciously offered to host us. What a great opportunity to gather together and check out this relatively-new Athens dining spot for those who haven't previously dined at George's Lowcountry!
Please RSVP no later than Monday, December 12 to Venessa Banks, 706.357.4432 or vbanks@VisitAthensGA.com.
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Meetings & Conventions News
The CVB's quarterly sales meeting Oct. 26 focused on attracting sporting events to the area. Representatives from Jackson, Clarke, and Oconee counties attended, along with 11 area hoteliers. There was widespread agreement that a regional approach to attract youth sports tournaments offers the best route to success for all counties. The group will meet quarterly to review progress and explore new opportunities.
The CVB sales team exhibited Oct. 12 at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. Athens' presence not only showed support for Family, Career ,and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Health Occupation Students of America's (HOSA) upcoming spring meetings in Athens, but also raised awareness among other Department of Education groups, including in-person meetings with state directors of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Technology Students of America (TSA), and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).
October, by the numbers: The CVB booked 3,356 future room nights and 14,400 delegate days in October. The CVB added 61 new accounts, serviced 21 groups, and held 3 site visits for meeting planners. In addition, six site visits were held for brides and reunion planners.
Upcoming:
- The Classic Center and CVB will exhibit at the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) trade show and luncheon on November 16. The trade show will be attended by over 100 association executives and meeting planners.
- The CVB and Classic Center will host a tailgate Nov. 19 for 8-10 meeting planners before the Kentucky game. The tailgate will allow planners to see the Classic Center expansion and see how their groups will benefit in the future.
- Three site visits for November are confirmed, with more expected.
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Opportunities - Don't Miss Out  - Hannah Smith and April Skelton will promote Athens at the state Visitor Information Center in Lavonia during the busy Thanksgiving week travel period. Please deliver any rack cards, fliers, promotions, or goodies you'd like them to take with them no later than Friday, Nov. 18.
- The CVB is coordinating a familiarization tour of Athens for both local hospitality employees and tourism representatives from the area. On Monday, Dec. 12, CVB and Welcome Center reps from communities along the Antebellum Trail (Athens to Macon) will be in Athens to visit several of our attractions. A group of local hospitality employees will have the opportunity to accompany the tour and discover more of what's in their own backyard. This first-hand experience will give these front-line workers from in and around Athens the ability to promote Athens with greater knowledge and enthusiasm. If you'd like to be a part of this tour, please contact Danielle Evans, 706.357.4433 to reserve your spot. Space is very limited, so call early!
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Athens in the Media 
Keep an eye out for Athens on many of your favorite shows! - Not one, but TWO local chefs are featured on the current season of Top Chef: Texas. Hugh Acheson returns as a judge and joins cheftestant Whitney Otawka, an Acheson protegee recently returned to Athens from Cumberland Island's Greystone Inn to take the helm of the Farm 255 kitchen. Top Chef: Texas airs on Bravo at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays.
- American Pickers, one of the History Channel's most popular series, is currently scouting for upcoming shows to be filmed in Georgia, and the CVB has been working with producers on several local leads. Filming is expected to take place in January 2012.
- Georgia Traveler was in Athens recently filming a performance of Leap Flying Trapeze for an upcoming episode of the PBS series.
In addition to these television shows, the CVB's Chuck Jones was interviewed on the Oct. 24 episode of NPR's Marketplace radio program, broadcast from Athens to approximately nine million listeners. |
Out & About with the CVB 
- The most recent class of the Bread for Life program were honored at a graduation luncheon - produced by the graduates themselves - on Thursday, Nov. 10, at The Classic Center. The CVB remains happy to support this important workforce development program. Thank you to the CVB's Danielle Evans, who put in extra hours assisting with the event's coordination.
- Venessa Banks and former CVB employee Sekita Carter visited with a sixth grade class at Hilsman Middle School on Oct. 27 as as part of the Adopt-A-Class program. Topics of discussion included college, current and past jobs, and character. Students enjoyed participating in a a fictitious fashion event that encouraged teamwork and leadership skills.
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 SAVE THE DATE: | |
Dec. 15, 2011
CVB Advisory Board
Holiday Luncheon
George's Lowcountry Table
12 noon
RSVP: Venessa Banks
706.357.4432
Jan. 13 - Feb. 10, 2012
SBDC GrowSmart
Develop a strategic business plan with a vision and growth in mind.
Scholarships available
Contact: SBDC, 706.542.7436
Jan. 24, 2012
Tourism Day at the Georgia Capitol
Tourism partners promote the economic impact of the industry to state legislators.
Contact: Chuck Jones
706.357.4430
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| LINKS & RESOURCES | |
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| WHO'S COMING TO TOWN? | |
Upcoming M&C calendars are available from
Mark Adams
or
Jayne Tannenbaum
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IN THE NEWS | |
"Four Coursemen"
Oct. 2011
"The South's Best College Towns"
"Travel Short List: College Towns"
Everyday
with Rachael Ray Sept. 2011
more |
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