Tourism bill could fuel economic development

The travel and tourism industry supports more than 1,200 jobs in Rome and Floyd County and generates more than $4 million in tax revenue for Rome and Floyd County. The figure is based on data provided in the most recent United States Travel Association’s Economic Impact Report. Its total economic impact has exceeded $100 million annually for the last several years. “Obviously I appreciate the fact that Gov. (Nathan) Deal understands that we’ve got to stimulate our economy, and tourism industry is the way to do the stimulus,” Smith said. “It is new money, it is new sales tax, and there’s no infrastructure to have these folks here — schools, water, the kind of infrastructure that you need to support other industries.” “We believe that the tourism bill will be a very important economic development tool for the state of Georgia, but at this time, until the final implementation language is established, it is impossible to assess (even within a broad range) exactly what the financial benefit might be to LakePoint,” said Judy Sparks, a partner in the LakePoint Sporting Community and Town Center project. The law requires that projects be valued in excess of $1 million, be open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year and for each year after the third year of operation attract a minimum of 25 percent of its visitors from non-residents of the state of Georgia. The “open to the public” language could conceivably be problematic for Dream Parks, while the “25 percent” language could be thorny for the tennis center. For Rome’s tennis center project, Smith said supporters are definitely counting on people outside the state. “We are going after much larger tournaments than we’ve ever hosted, we’re going after tournaments that are a much larger, southeastern perspective,” Smith said. “Especially in the United States Tennis Association Southern Region. We are geographically centered between all of the these states.

Photo Contest Seeks Summer Smiles

The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) launched its popular summer photo contest on Friday. The 2011 theme is 100 Days of Summer Smiles.

The contest begins today and will run through August 21, exactly 100 days. As with past contests, voting will take place on the Georgia’s Rome Facebook fan page. Photos receiving the most “Likes” will win the top prizes. Voting will end on August 31.

The 2011 contest also has a new twist. All photos must include a person or pet, preferably smiling.

“We added this requirement because we want to focus on the county’s best asset – it’s people,” said Chris Cannon, GRCVB director of communication. “Our visitors constantly talk about how warm and welcoming our citizens are, and it’s time to show that off in our photos.”

The GRCVB encourages candid photos in interesting locations such as downtown, attractions and the many outdoor activities throughout the county. All photos must be taken in Rome and Floyd County during the contest period.

Over $500 in prizes will be given away to winners. The top three photos will receive photo printing packages from CVS Photo Center on Martha Berry Blvd., gas gift cards and prize packages from the Last Stop Gift Shop. Five runners up will receive gift baskets.

The 2010 summer contest themed Rediscover Rome had over 2,000 entries during a two month period.

“We’ve used over 50 of the photos from our photo contests in major ads and publications; there’s a chance you could see your photo in Southern Living or Atlanta Magazine,” said Cannon.

Photos must be submitted electronically at www.RomeGeorgia.org or www.Facebook.com/RomeGeorgia.

Visit www.RomeGeorgia.org or call 706.295.5576 for more information.

###

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 are open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Georgia’s Rome features many attractions of interest including Berry College, Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum, Chieftains 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.

Fodor's the Carolinas & Georgia

Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau R 402 Civic Center Dr., Rome tri 706 /295-5576 or 800/444-1834 Q www.romegeorgia.org. Helen Welcome Center ! ...

Trade show & convention guide

33103 (04) 671645 FACILITIES: JERUSALEM Convention Center Binyanel Ha'ooma ... OF COMMERCE/ CONVENTION BUREAU GUADALAJARA Conventions & Visitors Bureau of ...

State of Center City 2010

... www.phillyapartmentco.com Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, ... Kimmel Center, Inc. Barbara Potts, Esq., Blank Rome LLP Ronald Rubin, ...

Toll-free phone book USA, a directory of toll-free telephone numbers for business and organizations nationwide

Oak Ridge Bureau 110 Newport Center Dr Suite 120 Newport Beach Newport News ... Rama Convention A Visitors Bureau 402 Civics Center Or PO Box 5823 Rome ...

FaxUSA 2002, a directory of facsimile numbers for businesses and organizations nationwide / edited by Jennifer C. Perkins

Gilford NH Web: www.gltabus.org Greater Lafayette Convention & Visitors Bureau ... www.rockfordairport.com Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau PO Box ...