TRAVEL SOUTH USA GIVES BACK TO ATLANTA

The organization awards a $5,000 grant in conjunction with Tourism Cares to the Georgia Aquarium

Canton, MA (March 23, 2011)- Tourism Cares, the travel industry charity dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations, is proud to award an $5,000 grant in conjunction with Travel South USA to the Georgia Aquarium and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for their Save the Sea Turtles initiative.

Funds were raised during the 2011 Travel South Showcase by selling plush turtles and “Tourism Cares” wristbands on site. Sales were matched by both Tourism Cares and Travel South USA.

“Travel South is pleased to partner with Tourism Cares to support the Save the Sea Turtles Project,” said Kevin Langston, Chairman of Travel South USA and Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Sea Turtle conservation and rehabilitation is important for not only Georgia, but the entire region. Travel South is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tourism Cares to support this important initiative. ”

The Save the Sea Turtles Project, a partnership of the Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Sea Turtle Center, will put the grant money raised during the Showcase toward sea turtle conservation and a hospital for ill or injured sea turtles on Jekyll Island, GA. Along the southeastern Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast, sea turtles and their habitats are threatened and endangered. Last year, the Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Sea Turtle Center assisted southern states by working to save sea turtles, eggs and hatchlings following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Through sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education programs, these two organizations work together to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment.

“Tourism Cares’ mission encompasses the preservation of the natural treasures that make up our world. Collaborating with the Georgia Aquarium and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and Travel South USA is a perfect example of how we can help”, said Bruce Beckham, Executive Director of Tourism Cares.

Tourism Cares is a non-profit public charity whose mission is to preserve the travel experience for future generations. It accomplishes this by mobilizing the travel and tourism industry and travelers to give back to society through grants to natural, cultural and historical sites throughout the world; through academic and professional development scholarships for students of hospitality, travel and tourism; and through the organization of volunteer efforts to clean up and restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. For more information about Tourism Cares, please visit www.tourismcares.org.

Travel South USA is America’s oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965 by resolution presented at the Southern Governor’s Conference. As the Official Destination Regional Marketing Organization for the South, its mission is to promote, foster and encourage travel to and within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, visit www.TravelSouthUSA.com for consumer information and for travel industry information, www.TravelSouthUSA.org

SHOWCASE 2011 RECAP

The votes are in, the ballots passed and the people have spoken: Showcase 2011 was a great success!

Operators, suppliers and media personnel from around the world came together in Atlanta, GA for the 29th annual Travel South USA Showcase. Over 650 delegates experienced the sights, the sounds, the food, and the fun of Atlanta, GA while keeping over 7000 appointments and generating close to $15 million in future tourism sales for the region. Delegates had the opportunity to visit local Atlanta attractions as well as numerous fam-tours around the state and region. Operators were whisked away to the beautiful Northeast Georgia mountains, carried to Middle Georgia for southern music and culture, and toured the museums and history of Northwest Georgia. While in Atlanta, attendees visited the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coca-Cola, Hard-Rock Café, the Georgia World Congress Center and abundant restaurants and attractions while staying at the beautiful Omni Hotel at CNN Center in the heart of downtown!

But who are we to tell you how great it was, let the people speak for themselves!

“[Showcase is] my favorite and only travel show I go to each year now. I love the south and do a lot of traveling in that direction. I get a lot of good information for my next planning year.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed Travel South Showcase. I have been to other shows but I got more good quality information at Showcase.”

“The best experience and most informative three days spent in a Destination City. Lots of contacts made and even met some friends. I am eager to bring my groups to Georgia and the other Travel South states. Thank you again! I look forward to Kentucky next year as I have a lot of horse addicts as clients. Baby Boomers are interested in traveling and seeing new sights, tasting new foods, and drinking lots of wine.”

“[Showcase] is a great event for moving business forward and enabling new products to be introduced to my clients.”

“Travel South is a great way for me to meet and network with others in the travel industry.”

“Travel South USA was an organized, class act - the right amount of professionalism with the right amount of fun.”

“A must attend show for any tour operator selling or contemplating selling the South.”

“The Showcase is a great experience to make new and promising contacts with sellers and service providers. Being a first timer I was very grateful for all the new things I learned.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, but we’ll give it a try: If you are looking for the only regional tourism show focused solely on the southern United States where you can meet with representatives from unique Southern destinations and attractions that are happy, friendly and ready to help increase your business, then Travel South USA Showcase is where you need to be!

We would like to thank our hosts, Georgia Tourism, Atlanta CVB, Olympic Sponsors, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Aquarium, Savannah CVB, Dream Sponsors, Atlanta City Pass, DeKalb CVB, Dunwoody CVB, Hard Rock Café, Inside CNN, Sandy Springs CVB, Marietta CVB, The World of Coca-Cola, and the hundreds of volunteers for all their help and support.

Come catch that Unbridled Spirit in Louisville, Kentucky March 4-7, 2012 for Travel South Showcase 30th anniversary! Visit www.travelsouthusa.org/showcase.html for more information

ACTIVE AMERICA JAPAN

We hosted 40 Japanese tour operators and journalists onNovember 3rd for a luncheon.  Mike Cooper represented the Board.  Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, &South Carolina participated along with representatives from Atlanta CVB, New Orleans CVB, Memphis CVB, and Elvis Presley Enterprises.  The program was very well received and a very high interest in educational study tours,  MBL & NBA cities, destination weddings (beyond Hawaii & Vegas), hot springs &  spas etc., MICE travel (meetings, incentives, conventions & exhibitions).

TSUSA RETURNS FROM ITALY, FRANCE

Our inaugural mission to France & Italy was an overwhelming success. Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina participated.  We have already scheduled three site visits and confirmed new destinations in one operators’ program since returning!   The media event in Paris also has produced immediate results.  During the visit, we met with Delta Air Lines, who agreed to provide 6-8 tickets for French operators/journalists to Atlanta for Showcase. 

Our meetings with US Air were also very productive and we hope to have programming featuring Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Cincinnati/Northern KY and Dulles gateways.  We had a very encouraging meeting with the US Commercial Service in Italy, and will be submitting a proposal for Platinum Key Services to provide in-country project based support thru June, 2011.  This would give us some assistance in Italy, until we have federal grant monies available for full scale representation.

2011 STRATEGIC PLAN RELEASED

Travel South USA has released its 2011 Marketing Plan. BRIEF: The Travel South USA partnership provides a foundation for collaboration by state tourism offices to position tourism as a vital and dynamic element in the region’s economic development.

Click here to download the Strategic plan as a PDF.

TRAVEL SOUTH SHOWCASE 2010 EARNS HIGH MARKS

Partners from Across Alabama entertained and earned high marks from Travel South delegates!

Over 550 people experienced the hospitality and energy of Birmingham at the recent Travel South Showcase, April 10-14, 2010. Buyers from the USA, Canada, Japan and the UK along with southern suppliers from the 12 state region worked hard and enjoyed evening social networking at the 27th annual showcase, scoring overall satisfaction 4.32 on a 5.0 scale. Delegates were offered city excursions on Saturday and Sunday, and then got down to business at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center on Monday and Tuesday, holding 13, 566 scheduled appointment to discuss increasing tourism in the south. 

"Attendance was strong, our city tours were sold out and the weather was perfect for the Birmingham Street Party in the Lakeview District," shared Sara Hamlin, VP Tourism, Greater Birmingham CVB. "We are thrilled Birmingham scored so high in overall satisfaction, because we know that translates into many return trips. Our community of tourism professionals really enjoyed hosting all the delegates and we invite them to come back and visit soon!"

TRAVEL SOUTH GIVES BACK

Tourism Cares, the travel industry charity dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations, is proud to award an $8,500 grant in conjunction with Travel South USA and The Group Travel Leader to the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail in Birmingham, Alabama.CONTINUE

INSIGHTS ON INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO THE SOUTH

Travel South USA recently commissioned research on international visitor volume and spending. The research report, presented at the January 2010 Travel South Board meeting in Atlanta, collected and analyzed information on 11 of the southern states including AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA and WV. The data excluded Florida and Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport because these areas constitute unique international travel patterns outside of the norm for the region. Key findings from this empirical (rather than survey-based) report include the following:
 

• In 2008 the region hosted 2.13 million international visitors
• These visitors spent $1.4 billion during the time period analyzed
• The top ten origin countries accounted for 59% of the total estimated volume
• The top ten countries in order of visitation are: 
  
   • U.K. • Japan • Germany • France • South Korea • Mexico • Australia  • Brazil • China • Spain

2009 data will be available in mid-March. For more information, please contact Liz Bittner, Executive Director.

WILKERSON ASSUMES POSITION OF MDA TOURISM DIVISION DIRECTOR

Mary Beth Wilkerson has assumed the role of director of MDA's Tourism Division, succeeding Craig Ray who resigned from the position at the close of 2009. In her new position, Wilkerson is responsible for the overall management of the division as well as the development and implementation of short-and long-range plans and activities that will create economic growth and opportunity through the promotion and development of Mississippi as a tourism destination. The division also houses the Office of Film and Culture and the Welcome Centers/Visitors Services Bureau.

Wilkerson joined the MDA team in 1991, coordinating Mississippi's domestic and international travel trade sales efforts. In 2000, she became the manager of the division's Sales and Marketing Bureau where she worked to create industry cooperative marketing and promotional endeavors. In 2002, she was appointed deputy director of the division, and for the past seven years, she has managed the daily operations of the division and provided extensive tourism development and marketing experience to the state's tourism industry. She also has had operational oversight of the division's Sales and Marketing, Outdoor and Leisure Industries Development, Golf Marketing/Sports Development, Hometown Mississippi Retirement, Research, Grants and Heritage Trails programs.

NYC SALES MISSION RECEIVES AWESOME ACCOLADES

During the first week in December, representatives from 10 state tourism offices travelled to "The Big Apple" to make sales calls & presentations on receptive tour operators.For three days, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia delivered sales presenations to over 50 companies in the New York metro area. Operators raved about the creative presentations, interactive client activities and team approach to sales calls. Invitations for operators and their clients to "Come Discover Southern Big Cities and Small Towns" were very well received - and we hope to see many of our new friends at Showcase in Birmingham, Alabama this April. While it has been some time since the region has collectively been to NYC, the opportunities for new business and stealing market share are sure to make this an annual program.

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