Chris Cannon posted on September 02, 2010 11:12
Athens -
Tourism representatives from Rome gathered in Athens this week with industry leaders and state officials to discuss the state of the tourism trade in Georgia.
The joint tourism industry conference was hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia (TDAG) in Athens from August 30 to September 1. More than 400 tourism industry professionals from Georgia’s convention and visitor bureaus, attractions, hotels and others in the hospitality industry attended the annual conference.
Attendees from the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau included Lisa Smith, Executive Director; Chris Cannon, Director of Communication; and Ann Hortman, Sports Marketing and Events Coordinator. Patrice Shannon, Interim Director of Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum rounded out the Rome delegation.
Delegates met with several key leaders in the state government including the Georgia House / Senate Joint Committee on Economic Development to discuss furthering tourism in Georgia. The Rome delegation also met with State Representative Katie Dempsey (R-13) from Rome to discuss key issues facing tourism in Floyd County.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue delivered the keynote address for the final luncheon on Wednesday and touted the industry as one of the most important in Georgia.
“Our state’s tourism economy ranks 8th in the nation and 2nd in the Southeast,” said Governor Perdue. “This conference epitomizes what Georgia tourism is about -- everyone moving in the same direction to grow this industry and make Georgia a premier travel destination.”
In addition to learning about issues currently facing the industry, the conference also served to educate attendees on emerging trends and future initiatives. Speakers included Horst Schulze, founder of Ritz-Carlton, and Roger Dow of the U.S. Travel Association.
Additionally, Smith presided over the conference in her final term as GACVB President. In this role, she has led the association for two years providing educational training and enriched content to help further the economic development of tourism. She served on the founding committee of the Benchmark of Excellence Certification for Destination Marketing Organizations in Georgia to create professional standards for the tourism industry.
The 2011 Governor’s Conference on Tourism will take place September 11-14, 2011 in Macon, Georgia.
About the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) is the Destination Marketing Organization serving Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. Founded in 1975, the GRCVB’s mission is to strengthen the economic fabric of the community through tourism development. The GRCVB operates the Rome / Floyd County Visitor Center and Last Stop Gift Shop located at 402 Civic Center Drive. The center and gift shop is open Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Georgia’s Rome features many attractions of interest including Berry College, Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum, Chieftains Museum, the Rome Area History Museum, Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Rome Braves baseball, numerous Civil War sites and a charming Victorian downtown. Rome is also the site of the NAIA Football National Championship as well as numerous tournaments and annual events.
For information on Georgia’s Rome and Floyd County, contact the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-295-5576 or 800-444-1834. Or visit online at www.romegeorgia.org.