| Athens Now:
The monthly newsletter of the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau
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 FY 13 Planning
Thanks to all who came out on March 29 for our CVB Advisory Board meeting. At this interactive session, attendees had the opportunity to weigh in on a number of current industry trends and opportunities. The CVB received a great deal of valuable feedback that we will take into consideration as we plan for FY 13, which begins July 1, 2012.
Look for a survey invitation from us soon, to provide another opportunity for input from the local hospitality industry. |
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Media & Marketing Updates
- The CVB's spring advertising campaign is now running in the Atlanta market. The "DRIVE A LITTLE. LIVE A LOT." campaign encourages Atlantans to experience world-class dining and entertainment, just about an hour away. The campaign includes:
- It is also a busy time of year for regional co-op promotional efforts. Cities along the Antebellum Trail are featured in a full-page article in April's Southern Living. The article appears in the full national circulation, making the advertising equivalency value of this coverage $198,800! In addition to the article, the Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage is advertised in this issue.
- The Historic Heartland Travel Association utilized state co-op dollars to purchase a travel video package with CBS Atlanta. Athens will be featured in a two-minute travel video on Better Mornings Atlanta in early May, and will also have access and rights to the finished video as well as B-roll for future projects. Thanks to Terrapin Brewery and Heirloom Cafe for graciously spending time with the video crew. Athens is also the featured community for a contest running in conjunction with a full-page Historic Heartland ad in the May edition of Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, and Family Circle. The Georgia circulation of these magazines reaches a readership of almost 2 million.
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Meeting & Convention News
 - CVB Sales Director Mark Adams attended a networking event for six area chambers of commerce on March 22.
- New Sales Manager Kelli McCain has really hit the ground running in her first month! She participated in the March of Dimes Dinner Theater and has attended a Chamber of Commerce NetWORK Lunch and Create Athens meeting. She's also active in several networking groups and attended events with Classic City Professionals, Young Professionals Network, Business Networking International, and the Chamber Ambassador's Lunch at Hilltop Grill. Kelli reports that she feels very positive about the contacts she's made, relationships she's building, and business leads she's gathering.
- The CVB sales team has made multiple sales calls in Atlanta over the past month, as they continue to focus on planners in that market. Sales Manager Danielle Evans reports that site inspections and visits have been strong recently and have represented a variety of business, from conventions to bridal to group tour.
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 Visitors Guide 2012
Grab your piece of the visitor spending pie! Visitors spend on average more per transaction than residents, and account for over $220 million in local spending every year.
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Hospitality Newsmakers 
The Classic Center is pleased to welcome Sara Call as Outside Sales Account Executive. Sara's outstanding job performance during her internship period led to the permanent job offer. Sara will graduate from UGA in May with a degree in recreation & leisure studies.
Two CVB employees are celebrating work anniversaries. Executive Assistant Venessa Banks marked three years of outstanding performance on March 31, and Information Coordinator April Skelton has been one of Athens' best resources for three years as of April 21.
The Hotel Indigo chain has been named a recipient of the 2012 Customer Service Champion Award by J.D. Powers. Among Hotel Indigo properties, the Athens hotel has attained the #1 ranking for two consecutive months in the brand's HeartBeat scores, also based on customer surveys. Athens is proud to have a top performing property of this stellar brand among our local accommodations options for visitors!
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 SAVE THE DATE: | |
June 21
CVB Advisory Board
8:45 networking
9:00 meeting
Location TBA
RSVP:
Jul. 29 - Aug. 3
Southeast Tourism
Marketing College
Dahlonega
More info:
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| LINKS & RESOURCES | |
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| WHO'S COMING TO TOWN? | |
Upcoming M&C calendars are available from the
CVB Sales Team:
Mark Adams
Danielle Evans
Kelli McCain
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IN THE NEWS |
"Embrace Georgia's Antebellum Charm"
Southern Living
April 2012
Chef Peter Dale
Winner,
"People's Best New Chef" Southeast
Food & Wine magazine
"Athens Originals"
Three-day group itinerary
magazine
Spring 2012
"That's Entertainment"
Small Market Meetings
February 2012
"Country Music Helps Boost Tourism in the Peach State"
FoxNews.com
Feb. 8, 2012
Georgia Traveler:"The Four Coursemen" "Hugh Acheson" "LEAP Trapeze"
"Four Coursemen"
Oct. 2011
"The South's Best College Towns"
Sept. 2011
"Travel Short List: College Towns"
Everyday with Rachael Ray Sept. 2011
"Tastemakers:
Athens GA"
Aug./Sept. 2011
more |
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