NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS Cheryl Smith Regional Tourism Representative TRAVEL REGION GA Dept of Economic Development Office: 770-535-5757 ~ Cell: 678-640-4355 September 2012 Tourism Update [email protected] I send a weekly email tourism update. If you would like to get these updates, contact me. The following are the weekly updates for the month of September. September 24-28 September 17-21 September 10-14 September 3-7 September 24-28 Tourism Division News o Tourism Product Development Agreement Workshops, Education, etc. o How are your guests/visitors planning a visit to you? o Request for potential conference facilities o Did you know what motivates people to visit wine regions? Regional News Articles/Videos Tourism Division News Tourism Product Development Agreement: Attached the 2013 TPD Agreement Guidelines and a Georgia tier map. The actual applications will be loaded online hopefully by tomorrow, but attached is everything they need to start now. Also, feed free to share with anyone you know that is considering the development of a tourism project. Contact Bruce Green with questions. 404-962-4092 & [email protected] Workshops, Education, etc. How are your guests/visitors planning a visit to you? Would you ask how your guests/visitors are finding out about your site…Ad, article, brochure, website, Georgia Travel Guide, etc.? Can you begin in October and end in December and then give me a recap in early January? Request for potential conference facilities: Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference March 22 - 24, 2013 Girls rock camp organizers all over the world to come together to exchange ideas and experiences. Here is a list of general requirements for our conference site: + Located within 2.5 hours of Atlanta + Available March 22, 23, 24th, 2013. + At least 100 person capacity + 1 person per bed, shared rooms ok (try to avoid big giant cabins with lots of people per room) + Ideally, private or semi-private bathrooms + Option of private room for attendees who want to pay out of pocket + Ideally, GRCA is the only group there (i.e. we pay a flat fee for the whole camp vs. estimating per head/bed) + At least 6 indoor spaces for workshops w/ seating for 20-40 + 1 large group meeting space, large enough to hold 100+ (preferably with a sound system/PA) + Linen rental available (either included or at additional cost) + All meals, plates, cutlery, etc. provided + No clean up duty required (shift in the kitchen, etc.) + Vegan/vegetarian/wheat free options + A/V access (tv, digital projector) + Friday lunch arrival, after Sunday lunch departure + Noise ok, or late curfew + Alcohol ok + Level walking ground, wheelchair accessible + Recreation on site And some info about the Girls Rock Camp Alliance: www.girlsrockcampalliance.org/. Mission: The Girls Rock Camp Alliance is an international coalition of organizations whose shared mission is to empower girls and women using the tools of music education to foster self-esteem and confidence. To this end, the GRCA promotes, strengthens, and expands services provided by its affiliated camps. Statement of Purpose: GRCA provides resources and networking opportunities for its member camps, and promotes the establishment of like-minded institutions worldwide. Core Values • We value the power of music as a means to create personal and social change; • We value efforts that actively expand opportunities for girls and women; • We value positive approaches to fighting sexism; • We value integrity, honesty and respect; • We value appropriate sharing of resources, cooperation, and collaboration; • We value using our collective voice to further our mission; • We value diversity. Statement of diversity/Non-discrimination policy: The Girls Rock Camp Alliance values diversity of age, race, economic status, gender expression, size, physical ability, developmental ability, musical interests, learning styles, nationality, religion, thought, citizenship status, and sexual orientation. We promote respect and do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, or other discriminatory behavior or expression. Send suggestions and info on your facility to Stacey Singer, Executive Director - Girls Rock Camp ATL (404.964.5976) [email protected] - www.girlsrockcampatl.org Did you know? Liz Thatch writes for Wine Business Monthly – She asked and found what motivates people to visit wine regions. 1 Taste Wine 2 Gain Knowledge 3 Experience Wine Setting 4 Be in a rural Setting 5 Match Food & Wine 6 To have Fun 7 To enjoy wine Culture, Weddings, Elegance, Romance 8 Appreciate architectural features and art 9 Learn about green aspects and eco tourism 10 Enjoy the health aspects of wine Regional News Private contractor to take over operation of Unicoi & Amicalola parks - State natural resources officials have approved a proposal to put two of Georgia's most popular state parks under the operation of a private contractor. Morris News Service reports the state Board of Natural Resources on Wednesday approved plans for Coral Hospitality to take control of Unicoi State Park near Helen and Amicalola Falls State Park near Dawsonville. The move is part of the board's strategy to make state parks generate enough money to cover their own costs. Officials hope maximizing the potential of the two popular parks might help subsidize some of the state's 64 parks and historic sites. Coral Hospitality is based in Naples, Fla. It manages upscale resorts, hotels and country clubs in Florida. It has managed the board's Brasstown Valley and Lake Blackshear resorts since 2005. Articles 9 tips for being seen and heard through the noise of Facebook Facebook tips for travel marketers (via STS) How successful people start the day (via STS) September 17-21 Tourism Division News o New Staff Members o Smith Travel Figures for August & YTD o Online Brochure Room Download Reports – July & August Workshops, Education, etc. o Georgia Grown Symposium o State, Homeland Security assess progress on visa processing, foreign visitor procedures Regional News Articles/Videos Tourism Division News New Staff Members at the Georgia Tourism Division (Note from Kevin Langston) Lindsay Isaacs joins us from Penton Media here in Atlanta, where she was Managing Editor for three of their magazines and coordinated content for both print and online outlets. Lindsay will manage the content for Tourism’s three websites, three e-newsletters and multiple print publications – a very important role as we reposition our consumer site to be more conversational and editorial-driven, and institute a complete overhaul of our partner database. A UGA grad with a Masters in Mass Communications and a BA in English, she’s also a serious runner, so I expect she’ll be taking the stairs up in the morning – and beating those of us in the elevator. Lauren Cleland, another UGA Bulldog, will join us as our first Communications Specialist – New Media. Lauren has been working as the Marketing Manager for the Hotel Indigo-Athens, where she developed a reputation as a worldwide expert for the InterContinental Hotels Group in the effective use of social media for marketing. You’ll see us going far beyond Facebook and Twitter under Lauren’s leadership! As more and more of the tourism industry’s business is done (and buying decisions are influenced) online and via social networks, Lauren’s expertise will be invaluable. A creative, high energy dynamo, I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her. Both of these ladies will be located with the rest of the Tourism Team up in the Penthouse, near Stefanie Paupeck and Jhai James. Please come up and give them your usual warm GDEcD welcome. News Staff Member at the Georgia Tourism Division (Note from Beda Johnson) Please join me in welcoming Rebekah Cline as the new Historic Heartland Regional Tourism Project Manager! Rebekah has most recently been the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Clayton County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and started her career as the Director of Marketing for Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade. She is a graduate of Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, with a double major in History and Mass Communications (with focus on public relations). She has completed the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College, and has achieved the designation of Travel Marketing Professional. Folks from the Atlanta Metro Travel Association will miss her willingness to dive head first into hard work, as she was cast in the role of Public Relations Chair. Rebekah is moving from Fayetteville to Milledgeville at the end of the month. As a result, the Historic Heartland Travel Region office will now reside in Milledgeville instead of Eatonton. This change also means that Mandy McCullough Barnhart will now solely act as the Tourism Project Manager for the Classic South Travel Region and her office (as of October 1) will be located in Greene County. We will send out contact information for both of them when these moves have been completed. Smith Data for August • Hotel/motel occupancy increased 4.2% statewide in August 2012 • 2012 room rates (ADR) in Georgia were up 3.1% • Statewide, RevPAR was up 7.5% • Georgia room revenues increased 6.8% in August 2012 • Room Demand increased 3.6% in the state from August 2011 • Room Supply was down-0.6% YTD • Hotel/motel occupancy is up 1.9% YTD • YTD room rates (ADR) in Georgia are up 2.9% • Statewide, RevPAR is up 4.9% year-to-date. • Georgia room revenues are up 3.9% • Room Demand is up 1% in the state • Room Supply is down -0.9% in the state Online Brochure Room Download