GDEcD News
CONTACT:
Bert Brantley
GDEcD
(404) 962-4830
bbrantley@georgia.org
Dan Rowe named Deputy Commissioner for Tourism
ATLANTA, July 6, 2005 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that Dan Rowe has been hired as the Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, starting July 16.
“We have reached into the heart of Georgia tourism and found a great ambassador for our state’s second-largest industry,” said GDEcD Commissioner Craig Lesser. “His leadership and tourism knowledge come to our department at a time when we have some incredible opportunities to market this state as a premier travel destination.”
Rowe’s extensive experience includes nearly two decades in resort management, marketing and tourism consulting. He most recently served as the Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia, the state’s leading tourism policy and advocacy organization. He also co-founded Banyan Tree Consulting Group, a public affairs and marketing company that specializes in working with tourism clients. In previous years, Rowe served successful stints at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Brasstown Valley Resort and Aspen Skiing Company. In 2003, he received the Larry Allen Award for Tourism Excellence at the annual Governor’s Tourism Conference in recognition of outstanding support and leadership in Georgia tourism.
In his new role, Rowe will oversee the activities of the Department’s Tourism Division, which works to promote Georgia as a first-rate travel, meetings and convention destination, thereby enhancing the state’s economic climate and improving the quality of life for Georgia citizens. Tourism representatives are located throughout the state, plus Germany and the United Kingdom. In 2004, the tourism industry generated over $26 billion in travel spending in Georgia.
“The timing of Dan’s hiring could not be better, as the New Georgia Tourism Foundation is just beginning its important work,” Lesser added. “The Foundation was created to pool the state’s tourism marketing resources and leverage the private sector to support the growth of tourism in Georgia. Dan will be a great asset to the Foundation as it moves forward.”
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, promoting the state as a location for film and video projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.
###