The Gainesville-Hall County Convention and Visitor's Bureau says the total projected revenue from the four-day event is more than three million dollars.
That includes $65,000 in local option sales tax revenues and $24,000 from the hotel/motel tax.
The report shows $521,000 spent on lodging; $345,000 for meals; $314,000 spent shopping; and, another $462,000 listed as "other revenue."
Helen Fincher, CVB executive director, says groups booked 670 rooms in 16 hotels in Hall County, including Brenau and Montara Farms. She said only three hotels were not affected by the event and the reports does not show state sales tax that the event generated.
"These figures do not represent groups who stayed in private homes or who stayed in hotels outside Hall County," Fincher added. "Those figures are not available."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/9/172341