Gainesville-Hall County CVB goals for 2004

GAINESVILLE - The new business plan for the Gainesville/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau includes several new marketing opportunities for Gainesville and Hall County.

They include:

*Increased marketing and use of City of Gainesville and Hall County parks and facilities, including Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center for sporting events.

*New and expanded programs and services for the reunions and weddings markets.

*Development of a state-wide marketing program, "The Great Lakes of Georgia," funded by a grant from the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

*Working with the City of Gainesville to develop a feasibility study for the Georgia Mountains Center to create economic development for the City.

"Our goals for 2004 area are aimed at increasing visitation and room nights in Hall County," said Helen Fincher, president of the Gainesville/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We've had great success with our theme >From Shorelines to Finish Lines, and we'll continue to build on this for the coming year."

At the CVB's recent strategic planning session, members identified the Georgia Mountains Center and area parks/facilities as excellent resources for increasing visitation and room nights. The bureau will work with the City of Gainesville and Hall County to examine ways to increase usage of various facilities in the area, particularly the Georgia Mountains Center and Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center.

Group marketing for sports activities, reunions and weddings will also be expanded.

In addition, the bureau was recently awarded a grant from the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, to develop a brochure and marketing campaign for the "Great Lakes of Georgia." The project will include the development of a full-color brochure and an interactive website to promote nine lakes in the state.

"We'll be working with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and many businesses on these lakes to develop comprehensive marketing materials," Ms. Fincher said. "The project will involve interfacing with lakes throughout the state and with various chambers of commerce."

The wedding program will include targeted advertising to brides and their families, plus the addition of services that the CVB will provide, including assistance with locations for parties and help with booking room nights.

The reunion program will focus on church groups, families, schools and other organizations.

The Gainesville/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau was founded in 1992 and serves the hospitality and travel industry. With more than 1,700 room nights, Hall is a major destination for travelers to Northeast Georgia.

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