Georgia Tourism Foundation Advisory Members Announced

ATLANTA, Dec. 22, 2006 – Fifteen new advisory members have been selected to join the Georgia Tourism Foundation. The Advisory members were chosen from various industries to support the Georgia Tourism Foundation in its effort to market Georgia as a tourist and business destination. Created from SB 125 under the leadership of Senator Jeff Mullis, the Georgia Tourism Foundation promotes tourism in Georgia through public/private partnerships. The Foundation also helps consolidate and maximize Georgia's tourism and marketing efforts by developing public-private advertising campaigns; soliciting private donations for tourism; offering strategic planning and support for Georgia's state facilities through tourism product development; aligning the state's five halls of fame for promotion and better coordination of marketing, advertising, customer service and telling the story of Georgia's tourism heritage. Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Craig Lesser serves as the Foundation chair. 'By enhancing public/private partnerships, the Georgia Tourism Foundation plays an integral role in making Georgia a preferred destination,' said Dan Rowe GDEcD Deputy Commissioner for Tourism. 'The members' input from the various industry sectors continues to develop and grow the tourism industry in Georgia.' The Advisory members represent following categories: hotel/resort; destination marketing organizations; industry organizations; higher education and tourism attractions. They include Doug Lambert of Southeastern Hospitality; Rod Musselman of Hilton DeSoto Savannah; Andrew Ward of Cuscowilla; Chuck Jones of Athens CVB; Sara Underdown of Albany CVB; Bill Hardman, Jr. of SE Tourism Society; Barry White of Augusta CVB; Judy Renfroe of Cobb CVB; Joy Walstrum of TDAG; Jim Sprouse of GA Hotel and Lodging Association; Ron Wolf of GA Restaurant Association; Dennis Kelly of Zoo Atlanta; Debby Cannon of GA State University; Frieda Hill of GA DTAE; and Jeff Swanagan of Georgia Aquarium. Current Tourism Foundation members include Joseph Bankoff of King & Spalding; Kent Buescher of Adventure Parks Group; Ed Clark of Atlanta Motor Speedway; Paul Clements of AirTran Airways; Paula Deen of The Lady and Sons Restaurant; Christopher Herschend of Ride the Ducks; Philip Hickey of RARE Hospitality International, Inc.; David Lane of Lane Packing Company; James Loftin of Locos Franchise Company, Inc.; Beverly Olsen of Starcadia Entertainment Park; Mitesh Shah of Noble Investments and Mark Smith of Mulberry Inn and South Atlantic Utilities. 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 and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.