Reynolds Plantation's Lake Club Tennis Center was named a "Top 50 Tennis Resort" by Tennis Resorts Online for the second year in a row.  This award is judged by players who visit facilities and rate them in an online survey. The 2008 survey asked players to assess resorts and camps in 20 categories, including all aspects of the tennis experience and such diverse characteristics as the quality of lodging, restaurants, children's programs, and value for the dollar.
 
The Lake Club Tennis Center was also named a Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center by the Tennis Industry Association and the U. S. Tennis Association this year. For more information, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

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Katie Baasen, Stefanie Paupeck, Anne Young, Wolfgang Streitbörger, and Carey Ferrara attended TIA's International Pow Wow in Las Vegas June 1-5.  It is the 40th anniversary of the tradeshow that is considered the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of Visit USA travel. GDEcD participated in pre-scheduled appointment sessions with international tour operators. Stefanie Paupeck participated in the media marketplace and met with international media. 
 
Katie Baasen is attending TAP Dance (Travel Alliance Partners) marketplace in Girdwood, Alaska June 9-13.  Travel Alliance Partners, LLC is a partner-owned organization of the 34 premiere tour operators in the United States and Canada.  They develop joint marketing opportunities and share best business practices in an environment of mutual trust and is a key component to the success of each partner. Currently GDEcD is participating in the marketing program through TAP into Southern Treasures highlighting the southern states and itineraries. For more information, go to www.tapintosoutherntreasures.com.    
 
Katie Baasen will also be attending the North American Journeys (NAJ) Tour Operator Summit East in New York, NY June 16-17.  The marketplace and conference brings together west coast and east coast tour operators with destinations and suppliers. For more information, go to www.najsummit.com. 

 
Registration for the 2008 NTA Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, to be held November 15-19, 2008, is available on www.ntaonline.com. Early registration is very important for all members, but especially tour suppliers and DMOs. It is important to note that you are much more likely to be able to participate in the appointment scheduling process if you register early. And, appointments are matched based upon registration number, so having a lower registration number (which is assigned to early registrants) will help ensure a greater result from your appointment requests and will help you to avoid the waitlist.
 
ABA members will receive Marketplace registration and housing materials on July 11, 2008 for the 2009 ABA Annual Convention in Charlotte, January 7-12, 2009. On-line registration will begin on July 14, 2008. Housing will be open to ALL delegates on July 14 at noon.
 
The Cobb County Convention & Visitors Bureau will be host an "Introduction to the Student and Youth Travel Market", Wednesday, June 18, 2008 from 9:30am until noon at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, 2450 Galleria Pkwy. Atlanta, GA 30339.  John Krish with Travel Adventures and incoming SYTA president will be speak about the student and youth travel market.  Contact Judy Renfroe at the Cobb CVB for more information via email at Renfroe@cobbcvb.com.    
 
GDEcD will host a Group Tour Boot Camp at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame from June 19 - 20, 2008.  Sessions will include: Group Tour 101, Student Market Basics, ROI for Today; Tracking 2008, FAM Execution, The Art of the Sales Mission, and GA Group Tour Strategy (this is a tentative listing).  Please join us to brush up your skills, learn a few things and discuss the motorcoach market.  For more information, please email Katie Baasen at kbaasen@georgia.org. 

Georgia's public libraries and Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites are making it easier than ever for patrons to "Get Out. Get Dirty. Get Fit." in the state's great outdoors. In advance of the June launch of the "Get Outdoors Georgia" (GO Georgia) campaign, 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 five days. Folders include 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 and Historic Sites Division (PRHSD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the public library ParkPass Program will begin on Monday, June 2.
 
For more information about GO Georgia visit www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

 Ballots are now open for the 2008 Southern Living Readers Choice Awards. People can go to the magazine's Web site, register and then vote for their favorite city, small town, family destination, weekend getaway, hotel, beach, festival/fair, scenic view, and public garden, plus preferred restaurants for breakfast/brunch, splurging and southern favorites. Deadline for entries is July 21. Results will be published in the January 2009 issue of Southern Living. To register and vote, visit www.timeinc.net/southern/secure/sweeps/readerschoice08/entry.html?iid=readerschoice|ballot|2008.

Georgia's own Cumberland Island and Jekyll Island have been included in the "Top 20 Island Getaways for Summertime" by Sherman's Travel Magazine. The list includes classic destinations and little-known treasures in the continental U.S., Canada and Europe.  The complete list of "Top 20 Island Getaways for Summertime" is available in the June 2008 issue of Sherman's Travel magazine. www.shermanstravel.com/magazine 

At the Preserve America Presidential Awards ceremony on May 12, 2008 at the White House, First Lady Laura Bush announced the start of a new initiative called Preserve America Stewards. This volunteer-driven program will recognize programs at the state, tribal, local, or regional level that have demonstrated a successful use of volunteer time and commitment in order to help care for our cultural heritage.  Once recognized, the organizations and agencies will also be listed in an online directory, with links to their own Web sites, contact information and information for potentially interested volunteers about getting involved. To learn more, visit http://www.preserveamerica.gov/stewards.html.

The pillow menu - a variety of different types of pillows such as anti-snore, aromatherapy and even buckwheat hull pillows - is just one way lodgings are helping guests get their zzz's. Counting sheep is so yesterday: In this restless age, sleep aids and enhancement programs are hot amenities at a growing number of hotels, resorts and spas. Some hotels and spas take a more medical approach to sleep problems, working with local physicians or sleep disorder programs. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates sleep problems affect as many as 70 million people in the USA. To find out more, visit http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2008-05-22-sleep-hotels_N.htm. 

As Americans put the brakes on their summer travel plans, state tourism offices are trying to lure vacationers from nearby with regional ads that promote destinations that can be reached on one tank of gas. A recent USA Today/Gallup Poll shows that one-third of Americans are rethinking vacation plans because of gas prices. Record high gas prices that average $4 a gallon nationwide as well as air travel hassles and higher prices are prompting some people to pack in their vacation plans. States increasingly are trying to sell their attractions to residents and regional neighbors. When gas prices surge, consumers "want to travel closer to home, take shorter trips and travel in their state or neighboring state," AAA's Mike Pina says. To find out more, visit http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/adtrack/2008-06-01-tourism-state-vacation-offers_N.htm.

Whenever there's an economic downturn, corporations slash their travel budgets. The International Air Transport Association. is already reporting that business and first-class travel have experienced the biggest plunge in five years. Typically, when the economy snaps back, so do the business trips. This time, though, certain types of corporate jaunts may be dead for good. That's not to say all business travel is going extinct. Globalization has expanded workplace networks exponentially. We all need to collaborate with - and stay connected to - more people than ever. Still, a growing number of managers are thinking twice before jumping on a plane. To find out more, visit http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_22/b4086065667204.htm?chan=search.

Consumers chose not to take 41 million trips over the last 12 months because flying is too much of a hassle, according to a new Travel Industry Association study. The more than 100,000 trips a day that don't happen because of the hassle factor costs the U.S. economy an estimated $26.5 billion in foregone travel spending, said TIA president Roger Dow last week. To find out more, visit http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-05-29-air-travel-survey_N.htm.