Member Memo February 15, 2008

Welcome!

New Member Spotlight- Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour

The Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour has been offering visitors an exciting view into the working studios of the global headquarters of CNN, the world’s news leader, since 1987.  Through audience participation, interactive high-tech displays and exclusive views of the newsrooms of CNN/U.S., CNN En Español, Headline News and CNN International, guests explore how a live broadcast is produced and sent out to air.  Consistently ranked among Atlanta’s most popular destinations, Inside CNN Atlanta’s 55-minute guided walking tour provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of newsgathering and broadcasting from the Atlanta-born network that invented 24-hour news.   

Marketing Manager, Jennifer Cruce, promotes the Inside CNN Studio Tour and The Turner Store, coordinating events and appearances by CNN anchors and personalities from other Turner Broadcasting Networks, including Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and TruTV.  An Atlanta native who comes to Inside CNN from within Turner Broadcasting, Jennifer was formerly the Project Manager for the Georgia Film, Videotape and Music Office, a division of the Georgia Department for Economic Development.

Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour

AMTA General Membership Meeting Follow-Up

Thank you to everyone that was in attendance for the February 6th ATMA General Meeting. Our 2008 Program of Work was presented. There was a great turnout and members learned about plans for AMTA Sales, Membership, Governmental Affairs, Business Development, Public Relations, and the AMTA Visitors Guide. Gary Smith, of Wells-Smith Partners, spoke about AMTA’s website optimization, which was recently completed by his company. Thanks to Atlanta Botanical Gardens for hosting and co-sponsoring the meeting along with the ACVB.

Out next general meeting will be April 9th (location: TBA) at 9:30am

2008 Winter Chautauqua

March 9th & 10th in Gainesville, Georgia

• Don't miss this incredible educational opportunity being offered by the Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Region and hosted by the Gainesville/Hall County CVB.
• Attached are two flyers for Winter Chautauqua--one is a registration brochure that outlines the event and the other is for anyone wanting to be a vendor at the conference.
• Visit the website - www.winterchautauqua.com - to learn more and to register and pay online. See you there!

QUESTIONS
Contact: Contact AMTA Member, Stacey Dickson
Gainesville/Hall County CVB
770-536-5209, ext. 4
sdickson@gainesvillehallcvb.org

2008 Membership Drive

The 2008 Membership Drive is well under way! Every time you sign up a new member, your name goes into the hat for a drawing for $100 cash! Our first drawing was held on February 6 at our general membership meeting at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Congratulations to Brandi Warnock with the Atlanta History Center for winning $100 cash! Brandi recruited Jennifer Cruce with Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour to join AMTA. Welcome, Jennifer! You, too, can win $100 cash. So get on board now and take flight. 

See the attached flyer and 2012 AMTA Membership Application To Print & Mail With Check [pdf]- for all the details. The next drawing will be held at our general membership meeting on April 9. So get on board now and take flight!

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!

Jon Brasher, Diane Stone, and Judy Renfroe of the Membership Committee prepare for a sunny getaway as they introduce the 2008 Membership Drive, “Take Flight in ’08.”

Historic Marietta Trolley

Take A Ride Through History
on the Historic Marietta Trolley

Marietta, GA – Clang, Clang, Clang went the Trolley!  That’s what Marietta residents will hear when the Historic Marietta Trolley rolls out in April.  The trolley, the only regularly scheduled tour trolley in the Atlanta Metro area, will explore this historic city from the vibrant downtown square, past grand antebellum homes to the battlefield at Kennesaw Mountain.  The tour, which takes approximately one hour, will highlight the Marietta Square, the Confederate & National Cemeteries, historic homes on Cherokee Street, Church Street & Kennesaw Avenue, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, historic homes on Whitlock Avenue and St. James Episcopal Cemetery.  Knowledgeable tour guides will narrate your “time travel” into the past.

The trolley, which is named the Uncle Ruban in honor of the first streetcar to run between Marietta & Atlanta, will offer tours on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  Tickets may be purchased at the Historic Marietta Trolley Company, 107 Church Street or at the Marietta Welcome Center, 4 Depot Street.  The trolley will pick up passengers at both locations.  Private charters are available for group tours, weddings, birthdays, corporate outings and special events. 

For more information or to book your trip to the past, call 770-425-1006 or visit www.mariettatrolley.com. 

Tour Hours:
Thursday – Friday, 11:00am & 1:00pm
Saturday, 11:00am, 12:30pm & 2:00pm
Sunday, 1:00pm, 2:30pm & 4:00pm

Tour Prices:
Adult:  $20.00
Senior: $18.00
Student:  $18.00
Children (4-12):  $12.00
Children under 3: Free
Groups (10 or more) $15.00
           

Contact:
Theresa Jenkins
770-429-1115
tjenkins@mariettaga.gov

Cassandra Buckalew
770-425-0006
cassshelby@aol.com
####

Peach Byte (by GDEcD)

Below is an excerpt from the latest Peach Byte Newsletter (February 7, 2008) produced by the GDEcD. To sign up to receive this newsletter monthly please e-mail peachbyte@georgia.org.

SAVE THE DATE - 2008 TECHNO TOURISM CONFERENCE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Techno Tourism Conference is back by popular demand, April 14 and 15 in Athens at the Classic Center. Participants will learn how to implement effective technologies to lure tourists to their destination or attraction; meet the Hospitality Highway Team and experience the varied technologies they now have at their disposal to get people off Georgia 400 and on the back roads; experience two "hands on" classes on the basics of enhanced audio podcasting conducted at the UGA campus and taught by New Media Institute instructors; and join in the 2008 Marketing Intern Fair to hire talented,  well-trained UGA Journalism School students capable of creating and enhancing websites, developing marketing proposals and other technology marketing projects. We look forward to seeing you at the 2008 Techno Tourism Conference - Discovering New Technologies to Enhance Tourism Marketing. Stay tuned for more detailed information coming your way.

February Events

Roswell Roots- A celebration of Black History & Culture.  Various venues and performances, events and activities.  Some events are free of charge – others will have a nominal fee associated with them.  Some activities include storytelling, the art of African drumming (Chattahoochee Nature Center), African dancing and art exhibits. For full listing of events go to:  www.roswellgov.com

Saturday, February 16
“My Special Day” Bridal Expo-Visit with wedding vendors, suppliers and planners in one convenient setting! There will be raffle prizes and refreshments. Expo will be 12-5pm at the Comfort Suites-Morrow. For information, please call 678.674.1300.

Saturday, February 16
Backyard Bird Count at Chattahoochee Nature Center from 1 P.M. – 4 P.M. All ages.
www.chattnaturecenter.com or 770-992-2055

Monday, February 18
Explore an Exploration Station at Chattahoochee Nature Center
2:00 – 3:00 PM. All Ages. General Admission.
Come explore these hands-on stations using all of your senses!  Create animal tracks, compare animal skin coverings, classify objects and more!

Don’t see YOUR events listed here? Please forward events/specials to Victoria Jones (vjones@gcvb.org) to be included in the AMTA Member Memo.

February Specials

Medieval Times
KIDS ARE FREE*

A Savings of $35.95!
February 1 – February 29

*Children (12 & Under) are FREE when accompanied by a full paying adult. Limit six free children per six full-paid adults. Must mention code KFMTW at time of purchase to receive discount. Not valid for gift certificates. Not valid for prior purchases. May not be combined with any other discount offer. Valid at Georgia castle only. Tax and gratuity additional. Expires 2/29/08.