Member Memo June 1, 2008

Upcoming AMTA Meeting

FREE PARKING !!!

Mark your calendars! The program for the June 4th AMTA meeting will be presented by Julian Cox, High Museum of Art Curator of Photography.  He will present a program about their upcoming exhibitions Road to Freedom: Photography of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968 and After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy.  The meeting will be followed by special access and a preview of the exhibitions.  The exhibits do not open until June 7 and AMTA be walking through on June 4.

Exhibition Description:

• Road to Freedom
  Nearly 200 unforgettable images by professional photojournalists, social activists, and bystanders.  These moving photographs helped change a nation, increasing the momentum of the non-violent movement by dramatically raising awareness of injustices and the struggle of progressive social change. 
• After 1968
  An exhibition of newly commissioned works of art that honor the legacy of the civil rights movement and explore the continuing relevance of progressive social change.

AMTA website launches new “Member Only” section

We are featuring a new area just for AMTA members. This area is password protected and requires a login and password. This section will not be viewable to the public and contains important resources from AMTA such as Employment Opportunities, Logos, Leads, and Meeting Minutes. We will continue to build out this section as your needs arise. If you have suggestions, please contact Victoria Jones at vjones@gcvb.org

To enter the area,
http://www.visitmetroatlanta.com/manager/membership.html 

Click on the green image:

LOGIN: provided in your AMTA email notification 
PASSWORD: provided in your AMTA email notification 

If you have any technical problems with the website, please email karen@bluebonnetdesigns.com (AMTA webmaster).

What is GeorgiaTouristGuide.com?

GeorgiaTouristGuide.com (GTG) is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, online tourist guide for planning a trip to the state of Georgia.  GTG’s objective is to encourage in-state and out-of-state tourism by communicating many of the wonderful things our great state has to offer visitors.  GTG provides tourists with a tool that will help them identify the exciting Things to Do, Places to Eat, and Places to Stay in Georgia.  Tourists can search for specific information at the state, travel region, or local level. 

The true value of the website is that it marries the needs of the tourist with the promotional needs of those businesses and organizations engaged in Georgia tourism.  GTG is continuing its rapid growth (over 20% per month) and is tracking on over 22,000 unique visits in May. 

GDEcD Update

Free Group Tour Boot Camp

Calling all Group Tour partners!! Georgia Group Tour Boot Camp is taking recruits now!

Sessions will include:  Group Tour 101, Student Market Basics, ROI for Today; Tracking 2008, FAM Execution, The Art of the Sales Mission, and GA Group Tour Strategy (this is a tentative listing)

Snacks will be provided – but all meals are on your own – please have lunch prior to arrival on Thursday and have breakfast prior to arrival on Friday. 

Overnight accommodations – you may make reservations at the:
Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University
1220 Stadium Drive, Macon, GA  31204
478-741-5527 (phone)   478-741-8527 (fax)
http://www.maconmerceruniversity.hgi.com/
Put GDED in the group/convention code.  The room rate is $109.

Cost per person - $0 – just your time and brain power

Any questions should be directed to Katie Baasen 404-962-4080 or via email kbaasen@georgia.org.  Registration may be faxed in at 404-962-4093.   Deadline Friday, June 13th . Once your registration is received you will receive a confirmation notice regarding your attendance. 

CLICK HERE FOR BOOT CAMP REGISTRATION FORM !!!

2008 Southern Living Readers Choice Awards

Ballots are now open for the 2008 Southern Living Readers Choice Awards.  People can go to the magazine’s Web site, register and then vote for their favorite city, small town, family destination, weekend getaway, hotel, beach, festival/fair, scenic view, and public garden, plus preferred restaurants for breakfast/brunch, splurging and southern favorites.  Deadline for entries is  July 21 .  Results will be published in the January 2009 issue of Southern Living. 

Visit here to REGISTER & VOTE

Thanks!
Brittney Warnock Gray

AMTA Sales Opportunity

2nd Annual Hard Rock Café FAM Tour and Mini-Marketplace

 Mon. June 16 at 1:30 pm  

• Vendors set-up / we provide 6 foot table / linen and skirted. Cost $100.00 per table for AMTA members only!) - Cost also includes dinner on June 14.
• Vendors can hand out sales information, decorate table as they wish.
• Tour Operators will have time to network with the vendors

Also, looking for goodies (approx. 35) for their welcome bags - if you're interested, please mail items to me at Hard Rock. Click here to read the full itinerary.

Jodi O'Gara
Sales & Marketing Manager
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta
P: 404.688.7625 ext. 25

2008 MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL

For the first time ever, the AMTA Board of Directors has approved prorated membership dues for the remainder of the year!  Starting June 4, dues for the primary representative for new members will be only $100.  That's a savings of $95.  So bring a guest to the June 4 meeting  at the High Museum and sign them up for only $100.  And, remember, each time you bring in a new member, your name goes into the hat for a drawing for $100!  Will you be the next to win? 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!

Upcoming Events:

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 http://www.pennymchydrangeafestival.com/.

 Sunday, June 8

Atlanta Puppet's Peter Hart

Performing at locations such as Walt Disney World, Six Flags and the Sandy Springs Festival, professional puppeteer Peter Hart will present an exciting puppet show followed by a hands-on workshop.

Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn, 2:00-4:00 PM, 404-851-9111, http://www.heritagesandysprings.org/

AMTA Special Offers

Offer #1
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Kids Are Free! Starting May 23 children 12 & under are FREE when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Limit 1 free child per full-paid adult. Limit six people per coupon. Not valid for gift certificates or prior purchases. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Code KFMDO. Expiration 7/6/08.

Offer #2
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Starting June 1, please add: Dad is FREE June 14 and June 15 in honor of Father’s Day. Dad is free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Limit two free dads per two full-paid adults. Not valid for gift certificates or prior purchases. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Code – DFOM. Expiration 6/15/08.

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