04-15-07 Member Memo

Date: April 15, 2007

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Renewal: There is still time to renew before the upcoming meeting. Those not renewed by April 30 will be removed from the website and future emails and will not be included in the 2007 AMTA Visitor Guide. We have an exciting slate of meetings for 2007. Don't miss the networking and educational opportunities we have planned. Contact Diane Stone at mailto:projectsplus@bellsouth.net if you are unsure of your renewal status.

• Attached is a 2009 AMTA Membership Application [pdf] that can be used to renew your current membership.
• Please print the application and check "RENEWAL" before returning with a check.
• If you need an actual INVOICE, contact Jon or Collin.

A Message from Great Southern Publishers, Inc.

GET NOTICED IN THE AMTA 2007 OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE!

Read by thousands of monthly and annual visitors, the 2007 official Visitors Guide will highlight everything a visitor needs to experience the best of Atlanta, including the best businesses, like yours! The new Guide will be accurate and up-to-date, and feature professionally designed, four-color advertisements. To get your business in front of the hundreds of thousands of new prospects this year, advertise in the official Visitors Guide produced by AMTA!

The guide will contain:

1. Compelling, full-color advertisements for area businesses – secure your best position NOW!
2. Beautiful, full-color photography of our city
3. Maps and visitors information
4. Lists of attractions, shopping, dining and accommodation options

INCREASE YOUR MARKETING REACH! The Guide will be distributed at all State of Georgia Welcome Centers, local hotels and shopping malls, as well as area businesses. Thousands more are mailed to those inquiring about our city through advertising and the AMTA website.

Great Southern Publishers, Inc. will design, produce and coordinate advertising sales for the Visitors Guide this year. Space is limited! Call Linda Mosely NOW at 1-800-697-5568 to reserve your prime ad position in the official AMTA Visitors Guide!

For more information, contact Linda Mosely at 1-800-697-5568 or email linda@greatsouthernpublishers.com.

AMTA Days at the Georgia Visitor Information Centers

From our AMTA Sales Committee… Comes an opportunity to promote at various Georgia Visitor Information Centers !!

Please join us at one or more of the AMTA Days that we have scheduled at the State Visitor Information Centers. We will have a table with AMTA Guides and give-a-ways in order to promote the Atlanta Metro area. We invite you to bring your brochures and promotional items to encourage visitation to your attraction and/or overnight stays at your properties. This is a free event and all AMTA members are invited to join us! (Only current, paid members will be allowed to participate.)

We will have the booth manned from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

If you will be attending, please contact Candice Coco with the Alpharetta CVB at 678-297-2811 or via email at Candice@awesomealpharetta.com

1. Valdosta Visitor Center
   Friday May 4, 2007
   I-75 (Lowndes County)
   5584 Mill Store Road
   Lake Park, GA 31636
   229/559-5828
2. Ringgold Visitor Center Friday
   May 25, 2007
   2726 I-75 South (Catoosa County)
   Ringgold, GA 30736
   706/937-4211
3. Tallapoosa Visitor Center
   Friday June 8, 2007
   I-20 East, GA/AL Line (Haralson County)
   Tallapoosa, GA 30176
   770/574-2478
4. Lavonia Visitor Center
   Friday June 22, 2007
   938 County Road 84 (Franklin County)
   Lavonia, GA 30553
   706/356-4019

Anyone who is interesting in attending to send me an email letting me know which AMTA Day they would like to attend. Thank you for your help.

Candice Cocco
Group Sales Market Manager
Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau
3060 Royal Blvd. South ,Ste 145
Alpharetta, GA 30004

Direct # 678.297.2811
Toll Free # 877.202.5961

Georgia On My Mind Days:

Here are the dates for the "Georgia On My Mind" Days at the Visitor Information Centers. You can go for the day, set up a booth on your destination or attractions and talk to all the visitors and the Visitor Center Staff.

• Sylvania Visitor Center April 21, 2007
• Kingsland Visitor Center May 18, 2007
• Lavonia Visitor Center May 25, 2007
• Savannah Visitor Center May 25, 2007
• Columbus Visitor Center June 1, 2007
• Plains Visitor Center June 2, 2007
• Tallapoosa Visitor Center June 7, 2007
• Ringgold Visitor Center June 8, 2007
• West Point Visitor Center June 29, 2007
• Augusta Visitor Center July 6, 2007

Brittney Warnock
mailto:bwarnock@georgia.org
Atlanta Metro Regional Tourism Rep
Georgia Department of Economic Development

Sales Committee Update and Opportunities

Motorcoach Sales Blitz

A long standing tradition for AMTA is the Motorcoach Sales Blitz. Once again we will offer this opportunity to the first 15 members who secure their spot with payment! Because of the popularity of this sales effort we cannot hold spots and must guarantee only when payment has been received.

For our new members who may not be familiar with the Sales Blitz…each year we choose a location or area in which promote the Atlanta Metro area and the attendees’ specific property, attraction or county. We depart from a centralized location (usually Cobb Galleria area) on Sunday to arrive at our destination ready to work on Monday morning. Our sales committee made suggestions for markets that would be of interest and then our Blitz committee members researched the market for feasibility and concentration of tour operators. Our blitz committee which is comprised of Jonathan Boisjolie (High Museum of Art), Barbara Mullin (North Point Hospitality) and Dick Flint (American Coachlines) has chosen the Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina market for this spring blitz. Major cities included: Nashville, Knoxville, and Asheville.

Each participant will ride our motorcoach bus and be allowed individual appointment times with each of the operators. Because this is a “pay to play” opportunity we will not release the complete list of operators except to those who are confirmed participants. Tentative appointments have been set with Art Henry’s Tour & Receptive, Carefree Tours of Tennessee, Steve Ellis Tours and Educational Travel Consultants. Again, this is only a brief list to assist you in your decision making process. We have a great mix of operators who cater to students, seniors and adults. With this year’s itinerary we are also able to meet the needs of those who are on I-75 and I-85.

FAQ - Answers

• Each participant will provide a profile sheet for the AMTA sales binder and may also donate gifts for the operator gift bags.
• On average we make calls on 50 tour operators.
• Will return late on the evening of May 10th.
• Hotel rates are being negotiated and confirmed. We book as a group with each participant holding with their own credit card.

AMTA Motorcoach Sales Blitz
May 6 – 10, 2007
$500 registration fee (covers transportation, driver costs, profile notebook and operator gifts)
Hotel rooms, meals and all other expenses are on your own!

Questions or ready to sign up? Contact Barbara Mullin with Northpoint Hospitality at 770-817-0385 or via email at mullinb@mindspring.com