Member Memo April 1, 2008

AMTA General Meeting!

The next AMTA General Meeting will be  Wednesday, April 9th at 10:00am (networking begins at 9:30am). The meeting will be held at Zoo Atlanta in the Ford Conference Room. We will be receiving an update on the current legislative session from a speaker.

Members can park in the parking lot on Cherokee Avenue and proceed to the C-5 gate which is located to the far right in the Cherokee parking lot. There will be a security guard at the gate who can direct them to the ARC, which is the building where the Ford Conference Room is located.

2008 Membership Drive

The April 9th AMTA General Membership meeting will be held at Zoo Atlanta.  This is an excellent opportunity for you to bring a guest.  Guests may attend one meeting at no charge, so why not treat another tourism industry professional to some great networking and educational opportunities at one of Atlanta’s most exciting attractions?  Call and invite someone today! 

If you have potential members you are “working on,” get them signed up before April 9th so that your name will be entered in the drawing for $100 cash!  The lucky name  drawn on April 9th  could be yours! 

See the attached flyer and 2008 AMTA Membership Application - [pdf] - for all the details. If you have questions, call Diane Stone, Membership Committee Chair, at 770-552-2628 or Brandi Warnock, Membership Committee Co-Chair, at 404-814-4032.  Good luck!

GDEcD Update

GDEcD had a representative attending two recent tradeshows, Bank Travel and Travel South. Please contact Brittney Warnock Gray (bgray@georgia.org) to receive a copy of leads and trade show notes.

Tennessee Motor Coach Convention

In a couple of weeks, Deborah Neese of Tennessee Motor Coach Association will be sending out bid packages for the 2010 Tennessee Motor Coach Association Convention. If any member is interested in getting their city or property interested in placing a bid for this meeting please let Deborah know as soon as possible and she will get you on the list to be sent the bid package. The bids will be due back by June 1. You can call her or email her with whom the package needs to be sent to and how she should send the package.

Deborah Neese
Tennessee Motor Coach Association
P.O. Box 5191
Kingsport, TN 37663
423-288-8622, Fax 423-288-9633

If you plan on bidding for the 2010 Tennessee Motor Coach Association Convention, please notify Katie Baasen (kbaasen@georgia.org). The state will offer support with your efforts.

2008 Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism Update

• We are pleased to announce that the 2008 Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be hosted jointly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia (TDAG). The meeting is scheduled for September 10-12, 2008, in Albany, Georgia. Details to follow.

AMTA Press Room

• Getaway Giveaways for Girlfriends and Guy Pals
• Green Day Fest at Underground Atlanta

AMTA members:   Feel free to send press releases to Victoria Jones to be included in the AMTA Press Room.

AMTA Sales Opportunity

 Mark your calendars for June 8-12, 2008!   The cost to participate will be $500 plus your own expenses including accommodations and meals.  We will begin our blitz in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky.  The blitz will continue through West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  This is a great way to make sales calls on tour operators and AAA offices in these markets.

More details to follow soon.  If you have questions or if you are already ready to commit, please contact Barbara Mullin at 770-817-1414 or via email at mullinb@bellsouth.net

Upcoming Events:

MARCH Events

 March 1- May 18, 2008 
Atlanta History Center Traveling Exhibit: Tradition/Innovation:  American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art

This exhibit celebrates the contributions of master craftspeople and traditional artists in the South.  Featuring more than 130 works by 58 master traditional art and contemporary craft artists, this exhibit pairs art with a rich array of artists interviews, and stories.  This exhibit is a striking complement to the History Center's permanent exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South.

April Events

 April 5, 2008 
Cool Car Festival at Stone Mountain Park

Get ready for the biggest and baddest Cool Car Festival ever.  YearOne is back with their collection of TV star cars from shows like Overhaulin', plus a surprise project car or two.  A Bike Show, open to all makes and models, has been added. Fun for the whole family continues with an entire afternoon of bands, the Kids' Play Village, plus amazing displays of gearhead glory at Highest Horsepower dyno contest as well as the Burnout Blast grand finale.

Tickets are only $11 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-11, under 3 are free. Discount spectator tickets ($10 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-11) can be purchased at Atlanta area O’Reilly Auto Parts stores.

 April 5-13, 2008 
Spring Fun Break at Stone Mountain Park
Say good-bye to winter and a big hello to spring at Stone Mountain Park’s nine-day kids festival, Spring FUN Break. Children will enjoy a week filled with fun activities including Monster Trucks, crafts, a Veggie Tales Meet and Greet, and more! www.stonemountainpark.com
10am-7pm daily

 April 18-20, 2008 
Simply Southern Jubilee Bluegrass & Bar-B-Que Festival
Live in the present, walk in the past and enjoy all things Southern!  The event features a Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned cook-off, bluegrass music, arts & crafts, children's area, good food and much more!  Country music singer Daryle Singletary will perform Saturday night following the BBQ cook-off awards presentation. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 children 6-12 and free for 5 and under. www.simplysouthernjubilee.com
April 18th 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
April 19th 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
April 20th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Nash Farm, Hampton (I-75/Exit 221)  (770) 957-5786

 April 19-20, 2008 
Barefoot in the Park
Gwinnett’s festival of fine arts, performance and flavors. This is the fourth year for the juried fine arts festival which includes a free children’s art park, live grassroots performances, beer garden, food and more! Free. Downtown Duluth. 678.475.3506 Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday Noon-5pm.

 April 26, 2008 - 8am - 4pm 
Highway 78 Yard Sale - Search for treasures Along Highway 78, Temple - Bremen - Tallapoosa.
www.villaricatourism.com

JUNE Events

 Friday-Saturday, June 6-7 
Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival
This all new annual festival will be held in downtown Douglasville. The event will include a formal ball, outdoor activities, garden tours, hat parade, home and garden expo, book signings and more! The event is named for the late Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society and frequent visitor to Douglasville and Douglas County. Stay tuned for more details or visit www.pennymchydrangeafestival.com.

AMTA Member Specials

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament- Attention Spring Breakers!

Kids Are Free for Spring Break Week! Valid April 4 -13
*Children (12 & under) are FREE when accompanied by a full paying adult. Expires 4/13/08.

Limit 1 free child per full paidadult. Limit 6 people per coupon. Must mention code KFSBGV at time of purchase to receivediscount and must present coupon upon entrance. Not valid for gift certificates.Not valid for on-line or prior purchases. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Valid at Georgia Castle only.

NEW! SCOUT SUNDAYS at Medieval Times!

$35.95 for Adults*, $31.00 for Children (12 & under) *Tax and gratuity additional. Rate applies to Scout family members as well. Scout must attend performance in uniform. Expires 11/16/08.

Includes:

• Event Patch (Must wear Scout uniform)
• Two-Hour Live Action Show
• Medieval Banquet

*Offer valid for Sunday performances only. Must mention code SS at time of purchase to receive discount. Scout must attend performance in uniform. Limit six people per offer. Not valid for gift certificates, online, or prior purchases. Not valid for special or holiday shows. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Valid at Georgia castle only.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY!  1-888-WE-JOUST