June 2016                                                                                 Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter   
Summer is here! As we head into the busy summer vacation season, we will start to see the benefits of the advertising campaign we launched this year with additional funds from the Governor and Georgia General Assembly. The new funding was enough to air in three markets, which should give us a significant boost. We have research tools in place to track these results so we can fine-tune the campaign for next year - and we have an additional bump in the budget to add a few more markets for next year, which is very good news! If you hear reports from visitors about being influenced by the campaign, please send those comments along to us. Anecdotal stories from tourists are a very powerful tool to use when we go back to the legislature for support of our next budget request. Enjoy the weather and get out and Explore Georgia this summer!

Kevin
 

Top News Items from Georgia Tourism

  1. Georgia Tourism releases 2016 culinary guide, Georgia Eats 
    Last week, Georgia Tourism announced the release of the 2016 state culinary guide, Georgia Eats. The second annual culinary guide features the wildly popular "100 Plates Locals Love," 10 flavor tours, inspiring feature stories, exclusive recipes from local chefs, popular food festivals and much more. Read more about it, and order your copy today!

  2. Submit nominations for the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities
    The Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities honor outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia's civic and cultural vitality through service to the humanities or excellence in the arts. The Governor's Awards pay tribute to the most distinguished citizens and organizations that have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to work in these fields. Nominations are due July 11, 2016, and awardees will be notified in early September. Nominate a deserving recipient today!

  3. Register for the 2016 Georgia RTA Leadership Conference, July 18-19 in Calhoun
    Join your Regional Travel Association colleagues from around the state July 18-19 in Calhoun, Ga., for a unique opportunity to share and discover best practices in RTA leadership. Find more details and register today on marketgeorgia.org.

  4. Register for the Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference, Sept. 11-14 in College Park
    Registration is open for Georgia's largest tourism conference! Plan to spend September 11-14 at the Georgia International Convention Center and the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway. Register before July 15th and save $30!

  5. Enter a bid to host Travel Media Marketplace in 2017
    We are currently working to identify the host city for the 2017 Georgia Travel Media Marketplace event. If your community or regional partnership is interested in being considered as the host destination, please review the online form and submit your bid by Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.

  6. Make your content stand out on social media with these photo tips
    Make an impression on Georgia travelers during the height of the summer travel season with Georgia Tourism's tips for photography for social media. Review these tips and tricks for grabbing travelers' attention while they're deciding where to go on vacation!

  7. Georgia Tourism staff spotlight: Tracy Vaughan
    Tracy Vaughan is the Director of Tourism Business Development and the International Accounts Manager. She is responsible for both domestic and international group travel connections. She joined the staff in 2014 after working as the Director, International Sales & Marketing for Visit Florida. We are so fortunate to have her on our staff. She and her husband live in the Grant Park section of Atlanta. Keep in touch with Tracy at tvaughan@georgia.org!  

Mark your calendar for these upcoming tourism events
  1. June 25: Kingsland/St. Marys VIC Georgia On My Mind Day
  2. July 8: Augusta VIC Georgia On My Mind Day

  3. July 15: Ringgold VIC Georgia On My Mind Day

  4. July 15: STS Top 20 Festivals & Events Deadline for Nominations (for events in January, February, March 2017)

  5. July 18-19: 2016 GA RTA Leadership Conference in Calhoun

  7. September 11-14: Governor's Conference on Tourism , College Park
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