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GEORGIA TOURISM DIVISION LAUNCHES GACIVILWAR.ORG
 The Tourism Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) launched the state's official Civil War website on Thursday, October 21 in commemoration of the upcoming Sesquicentennial. The event took place at a book signing for Crossroads of Conflict: A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia at the Gordon Lee Mansion in Chickamauga. Click here for the full press release. GaCivilWar.org is one of the state's key marketing initiatives encouraging locals and visitors to explore and experience all facets of Georgia's Civil War history. Features of the site include an interactive map of museums, battlefields, landmarks, historic homes and other significant locations; calendar of events; a timeline of events that took place in Georgia between 1861 and 1865; a news section; links to educational resources and related Civil War sites, and more. |
............................................................................................................................................ SAVE THE DATE: 2011 TOURISM DAY AT THE CAPITOL
 | | 2010 Tourism Day at the Capitol |
Preparations for the 2011 Tourism Day at the Capitol are underway! Join the Georgia Tourism Industry at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on January 25, 2011 from 8:00am - 1:30pm. It is more important than ever that we build strong advocacy programs in order to showcase the important role of tourism across the state. Chairman Chip Pearson challenged the industry at the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Athens in August to have 500 new faces in attendance this year to demonstrate the size and importance of the tourism industry. We encourage Georgia's tourism industry to gather at the capitol to show our support for the industry. For more information, please contact GDEcD's Nerissa Serrano at [email protected]; GACVB's Beda Johnson at [email protected]; or TDAG's Joy Walstrum at [email protected]. |
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2011 GEORGIA TRAVEL GUIDE ADVERTISING DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING
 The Georgia Travel Guide is the most-requested and highest circulated fulfillment tool for the Georgia Tourism division. Circulation is 750,000 with the total readership at 2,325,000. The extended online readership is one million. Be sure to ask about the Enhanced Listings and Enhanced Accommodation ads. Contact Jill Teter, Travel Sales Director, for the 2011 rate card at 877-554-0780 or [email protected].
2010 Georgia Travel Guide Cover |
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THE GEORGIA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ANNOUNCES 2011 LIST OF STATE'S 10 'PLACES IN PERIL'
 The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 2011 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state on October 13. Sites on the list include: Zion Church in Talbotton; Rex Village in Clayton County; Craigie House (DAR Building) in Atlanta; John Ross House in Rossville; Harrington School in St. Simons Island; Medical Arts Building in Atlanta; Fairview Colored School in Cave Spring; Martin House in Columbus; historic buildings of Sparta in Hancock County; and, Berrien County Courthouse in Nashville. Places in Peril is designed to raise awareness about Georgia's significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources, including buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes that are threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. Updates on these sites and others can be found at www.georgiatrust.org. |
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TRAVEL SOUTH SHOWCASE 2011: REGISTER NOW
 Register now for the 29th Annual Travel South Showcase in Atlanta from February 22 - 24, 2011. Showcase is the only regional tourism marketplace for the southern USA and the state of Georgia along with hundreds of tourism partners have begun planning to host over 600 tour operators, journalists and southern suppliers. For more information, click here or contact Rob Nolen at 404-231-1790. |
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ONE-DAY SEMINAR FOR FESTIVAL & EVENT PROFESSIONALS
 The Southeast Festivals and Events Association in partnership with Southeast Tourism Society will host the 2nd of 2 One-Day Seminars in Augusta, GA on November 9, 2010. If you produce a festival or special event, then plan to attend. The seminars are open to everyone, including festival managers and event planners, parks and recreations professionals, government agencies, chambers and CVBs, amusement attractions, arts organizations and students interested in special events planning. Click here to register for the seminar.
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GDEcD SALES TEAM UPDATE
International:
Kevin Langston and Joseph Walker met with the major tour operators in France as part of a Travel South Mission from October 16 - 25, 2010. The Travel South delegation also participated in the largest B2B travel trade show in Italy called TTG Rimini.
GDEcD's International Tourism Training Seminar: How to Break in to or Expand Your Destination or Business in the International Marketplace was a huge success! 72 attendees participated in the free seminar that took place at the High Museum of Art on October 12. Joseph Walker, Director of Tourism Business Development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, invited Georgia's travel industry to learn how to reach or increase the number of international visitors to their destination or business in the global marketplace. A special thanks to GDEcD's Pam Kruseck, Nija Torrence, Stella Xu, Brittney Gray and Nerissa Serrano for helping with the event. Keep an eye out for updates on future seminars.
Domestic:
Southeast ASTA Tradeshow - Atlanta, GA - November 4, 2010 - Last year more than 195 Travel Professionals participated in the Southeast ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) Tradeshow looking for information to promote to their clients. This event is an opportunity to share information with travel agents and other tourism professionals about what is in their own backyard. Please contact Pam Kruseck via [email protected] for more information.
AAA Great Vacations Expo - Columbus, OH - January 21 - 23, 2011 - Georgia will participate at the popular Expo that as attended by 12,900 travelers in 2010. Did you know that Ohioans spend more than $1.5 billion on vacation travel and accommodations annually? GDEcD is offering tourism partners an opportunity to co-op for this event. Please contact Pam Kruseck via [email protected] for co-op information.
**Show schedule subject to change**
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GDEcD RESEARCH UPDATE
SMITH TRAVEL REPORT:
September 2010:
- Hotel/motel occupancy increased 8.7% statewide in September 2010 from September 2009 ahead on the national increase of 6.7%
- September 2010 room rates (ADR) in Georgia were down -1.9% from last September
- Statewide, RevPAR was up 6.7%.
- Georgia room revenues increased 8%
- Room Demand increased 10.1%
- Room Supply increased by 1.2% in the state from September 2009 to September 2010.
Year-to-date:
- Hotel/motel occupancy is up 6.8% statewide YTD
- YTD room rates (ADR) in Georgia are down -3.7%.
- Statewide, RevPAR is up 2.8% year-to-date.
- Georgia room revenues are up 5.1% year-to date.
- Room Demand is up 9.2%
- Room Supply is up 2.3% in the state year-to-date.
TRAVEL INDUSTRY RESEARCH - GEORGIA TOURISM STATISTICS
Be sure to check out the Georgia Tourism division's research section for the state's most recent data on MarketGeorgia.org.
U.S. TRAVEL OUTLOOK: EXAMINING CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS
Click here to read the U.S. Travel Association's Research and Trends from Dr. Suzanne Cook for October 2010.
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PRESS RELEASE: 16 GEORGIA COUNTIES NAMED CAMERA READY COMMUNITIES
 The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), launched the state's Camera Ready Community Program on October 7 as a part of the state's ongoing efforts to bolster Georgia's growing film and television industry. The first 16 Georgia counties were designated Camera Ready at a special ceremony at one of Georgia's newest production facilities, EUE/Screen Gems Studio in Atlanta. Camera Ready is a designation put in place by the state to offer film and television production companies easier, faster and better access to local resources and information. A Camera Ready Community must designate a liaison who can assist film and television production companies on a local level. For the full press release, click here.
Photo: (L-R) Heidi Green, GDEcD Commissioner, Ryan Watterson, Savannah Film Office representing Chatham County |
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PRESS RELEASE: GEORGIA TO COMMEMORATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR
 On Saturday, October 9, the Tourism Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) introduced Crossroads of Conflict: A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War at the Atlanta History Center. GDEcD partnered with the Georgia Civil War Commission, Georgia Humanities Council and UGA Press on the book that features more than 350 Civil War historic sites in Georgia. For the full press release, click here.
Photo: Carol Danford, GPB, at the Atlanta History Center's Book Signing
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GEORGIA NEWS: CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS PUSHED BACK A YEAR
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights planned for downtown Atlanta has been delayed by a year, even as Delta Air lines announced a $1 million pledge to the project. The $100 million center is now expected to break ground in late 2011 and open in 2013, instead of breaking ground late this year and opening in 2012. The center is planned for Pemberton Place, next to Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. For the full Atlanta Journal Constitution article, click here. |
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GEORGIA NEWS: SAVANNAH TOURISM JOBS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES
 With more than 20,000 workers, tourism is arguably among the top five industries in the region. However, unlike the ports, health care, manufacturing or the military, it often gets the Rodney Dangerfield treatment - no respect. There's a misconception, industry leaders say, that most jobs are dead-end, entry-level positions with little room for advancement. For the full Savannah Morning News article, click here.
Photo: Jameel Riley, Operations Manager Holiday Inn Express on Abercorn. Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
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INDUSTRY NEWS: BUSINESS TRAVEL IS UP, BUT FRUGALITY STILL RULES
Businesses will send more people out on the road next year, making up for lost time during the recession, when travel budgets were slashed and corporate trekkers mostly stayed put, corporate travel managers say. But the frugality that took hold in the economic downturn will continue, they say. Companies will opt for coach over more expensive first-class airline tickets. For the full USA Today article, click here. |
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INDUSTRY NEWS: U.S. INBOUND TRAVEL REACHES PRIORITY STATUS
With millions of jobs possibly on the line, it's time for the U.S. to get serious about attracting visitors from other countries. And while the Travel Promotion Act that was passed earlier this year is a big step forward, panelists at the International Society of Hospitality Consultants' annual convention said there's still much to be done. For the full HotelNewsNow.com story, click here. |
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INDUSTRY NEWS: CITIES, STATES IN HOTEL TAX WAR WITH ORBITZ, EXPEDIA, OTHERS
 | | By Anne Ryan, USA TODAY |
The last time you went on vacation or hit the road for work, chances are you scanned the hotel bill but barely gave the taxes that were tacked on a thought. Yet those taxes, paid for occupying a hotel room, are at the root of battles being waged in courts across the U.S. between online travel booking sites and cities and states that say they're not getting their fair share. For the full USA Today article, click here. |
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INDUSTRY NEWS: ATLANTA CEO APPOINTED TO U.S. TRAVEL AND TOURISM BOARD
The U.S. Commerce Department has appointed 11 travel and tourism industry leaders to serve on a new non-profit corporation that is to promote travel to the United States and to improve the entry process so that visitors will want to return. Daniel Halpern, president and CEO, of Jackmont Hospitality Inc. of Atlanta, is one of the appointees. Mr. Halpern founded the foodservice company in 1994 with the late former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson Jr. For the full Atlanta Business Chronicle article, Click here.
Photo: Daniel Halpern, President and CEO, Jackmont Hospitality Inc. |
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