Reward yourself this summer with the new Georgia Dream Pass

ATLANTA, June 6, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is proud to unveil the Georgia Dream Pass, a new marketing initiative that is designed to pique the traveler's interest. The Georgia Dream Pass is a free consumer 'membership rewards' affinity program that gives members access to special offers and benefits that are exclusive to cardholders.

'The goal of the program is to increase the number of visitors to Georgia, while encouraging residents to discover what is in their own backyard,' said GDEcD's Deputy Commissioner for Tourism and Marketing, Charlie Gatlin. 'We are the first state to develop a membership rewards program of this scope that will in turn provide us measurable results.'

The program has already seen success beginning with the launch of its first phase, 'Georgia is Big on Golf,' in March 2007. The wallet-sized card is currently offering rewards and incentives at more than 35 participating golf courses and resorts, including Cuscowilla, Barnsley Gardens and Callaway Gardens, to name just a few. To date, more than 5,000 members are taking advantage of rewards that include special member rates on green fees, additional nights at golf resorts, priority tee times and many other exceptional offers.

As a state that is home to the Masters tournament, golf legend Bobby Jones, and more than 300 public and semi-private golf courses and resorts, Georgia has launched the Dream Pass program as an opportunity to showcase the history and heritage of the great game of golf. The program will expand later this year to include rewards and special offers the state's most popular tourist attractions and accommodations.

With an array of golf courses, attractions, historical landmarks and accommodations, GDEcD designed the Georgia Dream Pass to increase visibility, tourism spending and offer measurable results for Georgia's tourism industry. The Georgia Dream Pass encourages visitors to stay an extra day, play an extra round, spend the extra dollar and to come back for another visit.

To learn more about the Georgia Dream Pass program, become a member or participating partner, visit www.GAdreampass.com.

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.

For more information, visit www.georgia.org or call (404) 962-4075