February 2017                                                                          Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter   
Just a quick note to say thank you to the several hundred of you who joined us a couple of weeks ago for Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Capitol. The partnership with the Georgia Travel Association brought a new energy to the day. We saw more legislators participating in the events than ever before - thanks in part to many of you who helped convince them of the value of our industry and their investment of time. Many issues that impact our industry are being debated at the Capitol this session - make sure your voices continue to be heard!
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Top News Items from Georgia Tourism

  1. Governor Deal highlights Georgia tourism, unveils 2017 Travel Guide
    On Jan. 24, 2017, Gov. Nathan Deal was joined by leaders from Georgia's tourism industry for the annual Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Capitol to recognize the $59 billion impact of tourism on Georgia's economy. Representatives from the tourism industry presented Deal with a check representing the $3 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expenditures. Deal also unveiled the cover of the official 2017 state travel guide, which celebrates the Year of Georgia Film and the local communities that have served as backdrops for movies and television programs for more than 40 years. Read more about the event and view photos from the day on MarketGeorgia.org.

  2.  Presentation: How Tourism Product Development Can Boost Your Economy
    As part of the 2017 Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Capitol, the Georgia Tourism Product Development Team conducted a workshop on how tourism benefits the economy, and what resources are available to identify and market tourism assets. Designed to help attendees build community capacity through tourism, the workshop included presentations by Meriwether County's Carolyn McKinley, Dublin's Rebecca McWilliam and Historic Heartland's Rebekah Snider. Review the materials shared at the workshop on MarketGeorgia.org.

  3. Year of Georgia Film Resources
    Join the Year of Georgia Film initiative by promoting your film and TV tourism destinations and events! Download the Year of Georgia Film logo, and follow the guide to incorporating it on your marketing materials. Create listings on ExploreGeorgia.org to promote your film events and destinations on the new Exploregeorgia.org/film page. Also, refer to the Year of Georgia Film Social Media Strategy to see what to expect in the months ahead. Find these resources and more on MarketGeorgia.org.

  4. Georgia Tourism awards funding to 13 projects
    Georgia Tourism announced last month that it has awarded more than $57,525 in product development grants to 13 new and expanding tourism projects across the state. The Tourism Product Development Resource Team Community Funding Program is designed to spur tourism development activities at the local level that maintain and create jobs, attract tourists, and enhance the visitor experience. See the full list of recipients and projects on MarketGeorgia.org.

  5. Now open: RVIC Conference Registration
    The Regional Visitor Information Center (RVIC) Conference will be held in Woodstock April 26-28, 2017. Registration is only $125 through Feb. 28, 2017. Visit georgiarvic.com to register and for the latest information on the conference.

  6. Georgia Tourism staff spotlight: Cindy Eidson
    As the Director for the Office of Tourism Product Development, Cindy travels Georgia helping communities discover and mine their tourism gold. With previous roles in the Department of Community Affairs, the City of Gainesville and Newnan Main Street Programs, Cindy has 25 years of downtown planning experience. In all of her travels, she has met a few celebrities, most notably Willie Nelson, who kissed her on the cheek, and Oprah Winfrey, who gave her a hug. She lives in an 1894 historic home in Newnan with her husband, son, two dogs and two cats. Invite Cindy to uncover hidden treasure in your community at ceidson@georgia.org.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming tourism events
  1. Feb. 15-17:  GACVB Winter Meeting, Carrollton
  2. Feb. 27-28: Georgia Agritourism Conference, Tifton
  3. March 5-6: Winter Chautauqua, Dalton
  4. April 20-23: Travel Media Marketplace, Cartersville
  5. April 26-28: RVIC Conference, Woodstock

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