Georgias Tourism Professionals Honored for Leadership and Dedication
ATLANTA, September 21, 2006 – More than 300 members of Georgia's tourism industry descended on Columbus, GA last week for the 2007 Governor's Conference on Tourism. The conference is designed to further educate members of the tourism industry about travel and tourism related issues on a national and statewide level, reinforce existing tourism development efforts and plan for future initiatives. This annual event provides educational workshops, receptions, panel discussions and the presentation of the Georgia Tourism Awards. Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Craig Lesser and Dan Rowe, GDEcD deputy commissioner of tourism honored several members of Georgia's tourism industry for their leadership and dedication at a luncheon on the final day of the conference. Bill Tipton was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding lifetime commitment to tourism. Tipton has served as the executive director of the Brunswick & the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau for more than 15 years. Bill and his staff were the first in Georgia to produce an area video translated into eight languages; they developed a promotional website which can be translated into 140 languages; and were the first in the nation to have an 80-page virtual visitor's guide. He worked for 18 years as public relations director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, membership director for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has served as president of the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus and is currently serving on Governor Perdue's Coastal Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. Jane Sowell, executive director of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, accepted the Larry Allen Award for Excellence in Tourism award, given in memory of the late Larry Allen, general manager of Stone Mountain. This award recognizes excellence in leadership skills and abilities. Jane began her career at Brasstown Valley Resort in the North Georgia mountains more than 20 years ago. She has served as president of the Historic Heartland Travel Association, Antebellum Trail Association and the 441 Heritage Highway Association. The Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives for their Cowboys and Indians in Georgia campaign. This campaign brings together one of Georgia's premier cultural institutions - the Booth Museum of Western Art and the region's rich heritage as the home of the Cherokee nation in Georgia. The Dekalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau accepted the Award for Creative Expression for their creative outlets used to sell Dekalb County to visitors. They received national press in trade publications for having a wrapped mini-van on trade show floors of the nation's premier tour operator shows. Their on-going partnership with Georgia's Visitor Information Centers has been exceptional. Every weekend they provide free hot dogs at one of Georgia's Visitor Information Centers during key travel times. They are industry leaders in creative expression. 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. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST For more information, visit www.georgia.org or call (404) 962-4075