March 2016                                                                               Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter   
Is there a more beautiful place than Georgia in springtime? No way! I was able to visit Gibbs Gardens this past weekend to see some of their 20 million daffodils. What a spectacular sight! From Callaway Gardens and Augusta's azaleas to Conyers and Macon's cherry blossoms, to many, many other beautiful places in between, Georgia is awash in spring blooms, making this a terrific time to get out and explore our beautiful state - and to share the state with our visitors. Spring will also see the launch of our first television campaign in nearly 10 years. Thanks to the Georgia legislature and Governor Deal, viewers in Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, Birmingham and Jacksonville will be treated to beautiful new ads that tell our story well and entice them to pay us a visit. Let's make them feel at home when they arrive!

Kevin

Top News Items from Georgia Tourism

  1. Apply for a scholarship to attend Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College 
    Send in your application by March 22 for a full scholarship to STS Marketing College! Any tourism marketing professional working in the state of Georgia can apply for the scholarship to attend the three-year educational program, held on the campus of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega. This year, classes will be held May 15-20. Read more about the scholarship, and complete the application today!

  2. Follow up on these leads from Travel South Domestic Showcase
    Georgia Tourism met with tour operators and media representatives at Travel South Domestic Showcase March 6-9, 2016, in Winston-Salem, N.C., sharing updates about the Year of Georgia Music and what's new around the state. Review the sales leads from Lacey Cameron on MarketGeorgia.org to follow up with tour operators who are interested in bringing groups to Georgia. Emily Murray will post media requests from journalists who were at the trade show on the Georgia Tourism Public Relations Google Group. Use Lacey's and Emily's leads to plug into new business this spring!

  3. Georgia Visitor Center Construction Updates
    In time to welcome visitors to town for the Masters, the Augusta Visitor Information Center (VIC) will reopen Tuesday, March 15. Five more visitor centers are due to reopen in the next few months. For more details and a reminder to join the VICs for Georgia on My Mind Days, starting in April, visit MarketGeorgia.org.

  4. Make sure your events and deals are in front of Georgia travelers on ExploreGeorgia.org
    Are you offering Easter, Spring Break and Mother's Day specials? Do you have a festival on the horizon? Have you recently opened a new attraction or added services? Is your information up to date on ExploreGeorgia.org? If not, post it today! Only events and deals posted on ExploreGeorgia.org are promoted in the bimonthly newsletters and on social media, and only attractions and accommodations listed on ExploreGeorgia.org can be considered for the 2017 Georgia Travel Guide. Take advantage of the FREE promotion power of ExploreGeorgia.org!

  5. Follow the Great Locomotive Chase through North Georgia
    On April 12, 2012, Georgia commemorated the 150th anniversary of one of the most iconic incidents in American Civil War history, the Great Locomotive Chase, with the release of an audio tour and brochure. Now, the correlating signage is being placed along the route to tell the stories in the locations where the dramatic action occurred. Read more about the project and how visitors can experience the historic story in a whole new way.

  6. Georgia Tourism staff spotlight: Darlis Monroe
    If you've visited the Tallapoosa Visitor Information Center, chances are you've been greeted by Darlis Monroe's friendly face! Darlis joined the Georgia Tourism team in 2010 and is manager of the Tallapoosa VIC. If she isn't welcoming thousands of race enthusiasts or telling Georgia's story to high school field trips, you'll find her spoiling her adorable grandchildren. Darlis has a passion for Georgia, and her Southern hospitality shows each and every day. Thank Darlis for all she does at dmonroe@georgia.org.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming tourism events
  1. March 28-30:  2016 RVIC Workshop at Lanier Islands Resort.
  3. April 14-16: Georgia Trails Summit, Carrollton
  4. April 18-24: 2016 Travel Media Marketplace, Columbia County
  5. May 15-20: STS Marketing College, Dahlonega
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