May 2010
10 Questions
Read about Lynn Minges and her expanded role in North Carolina’s Department of Commerce. She’s gone global.Accountability
Leaders in tourism aren’t debating whether the recovery has begun. They’re taking action. See what economists and industry observers at the STS and SETTRA Spring meetings had to say.WhoWhatWhere?
News about STS members and organizations.New Jobs
Find an open position on the STS Web site.Top 20 Events
> Spring '10 Events> Summer '10 Events
> NEW: Fall '10 Events
> Nominate an event Deadline for Winter 2011 events: Friday, July 9
Clipping Service
STS is talking with a firm to provide a clipping service to our members. It will track 60,000 sources — from newspapers to social media. The price is determined by how many members we sign up initially. The Society realizes this service can be expensive so we are aiming to make this as affordable as possible. Please contact us if you are interested (404.364.9847 or sts@southeasttourism.org).Contact STS
404.364.9847sts@southeasttourism.org
www.southeasttourism.org
Spotlight Your Organization
John Hudak, Madden Media
The STS Shining Example awards program is a way for you to verify that your organization does exceptional work. There are nine categories, and the first step to receiving a Shining Example award is completing a nomination for your efforts during the last year.
Note that there’s a new category — State Tourism Department Tourism Office of the Year.
Having a Shining Example award in your office is a great conversation starter. It lets others know that your work is among the best in the Southeast, the region of the country where tourism truly shines bright.
> Deadline to submit a nomination: July 1, 2010> View the rules
> View last year's winners
The time period examined is June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010.
| 2010 Shining Example Categories |
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|---|---|
| > Travel Attraction > CVB/DMO (budget under $100,000) > CVB/DMO (budget over $100,000) > Top 20 Event (attendance > 100,000) > Top 20 Event (attendance < 100,000) > Governmental Tourism Leadership |
> State Tourism Office > Internet Excellence > Visual Excellence > Tourism for Tomorrow > Rising Star Award |
STS Marketing College
Gwen Granderson, Columbus (Miss.) CVB with Bill Hardman, STS
Take the time to do something good for yourself... and your organization. Enroll in STS Marketing College and watch your expertise in all-things-tourism rise to unexpected heights. We encourage you to be a part of the Travel and Tourism Education Bunch.
For one week each year, tourism industry professionals from all over the Southeast meet at North Georgia College and State University for the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College. During the week, students experience a broad-based curriculum of courses designed to teach marketing techniques from all facets of the tourism industry. From the time you arrive on Sunday until you depart on Friday, you will enjoy classes, lectures, discussion groups and one-of-a-kind networking opportunities in an academic environment conducive to learning.
Students who attend three years of Marketing College earn a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification.
The courses, the experiences and the friendships built all add up to STS Marketing College.
Title: STS Marketing CollegeDates: July 25-30
City: Dahlonega, Ga.
Location: North Georgia College and State University
| > Registration Form > Alumni Registration > Festivals/Events Registration |
> Driving Directions > Dahlonega, Ga. info > More info |
|---|
New: Festivals and Events Track
STS recognizes the growing importance that festivals and events have in a community. In fact, festivals are the lifeblood of some communities' tourism outreach.
Southeast Tourism Society, in conjunction with Southeast Festivals and Events Association, realizes the importance of this field and will offer courses that speak to those who work closely with festivals and events.
You now have the opportunity to delve deeper into this burgeoning field. Marketing College will offer a "Festivals and Events" track in addition to the traditional "Travel and Tourism" track. Initial course offerings include event management, sponsorship dollars and revenue generation.
At the end of three years, a Travel Marketing Professional certification with official recognition given as a Festivals and Events Specialist will be bestowed.
Note: All current students and alumni may attend the additional festivals and events classes in addition to the regular tourism track. These special courses will be on Wednesday afternoon.
Alumni Class
You've asked STS to expand the alumni offerings. You now have the choice of two alumni classes. Attend one or both!
Class I: Social Media 102 - Jennifer Barbee of Jennifer Barbee Inc. will examine this emerging discipline. The course is designed for all levels of proficiency. July 26 - 27
Class II: TBA. July 29 - 30
Escape to the Southeast Travel Guide
Advertising in the Escape to the Southeast Travel Guide will be one of your most affordable and effective media buys, providing excellent value and response to your message for as little as $1,700 (¼ page) for year-long presence to a valuable audience. The Escape to the Southeast Travel Guide reaches more that 125,000 in print and many more electronically. Learn more.
> View a special offer from Madden Media.Help Provide a Scholarship
Each year, the STS Marketing College senior class raises funds for scholarships for the next incoming freshman class. Lend this year's class a hand in its efforts to raise a record $20,000. Please give $20,000. Or $1 Or anything in between. We thank you in advance for your support. Donating through the STS Web site is fast, simple and secure.
Tweets of Note
- E.U. declares travel a human right. Wants to subsidize vacations for those not able to afford travel http://bit.ly/aO35W5
- U.S. hotel occupancy levels better than expected, industry may be bouncing back more quickly than thought! http://bit.ly/cYoGwj
- Hard times - Hotel industry in survival mode? http://bit.ly/dmX6Pv Tangible effects the recession has had on the hotel industry.
- Follow STS at http://twitter.com/southeasttouris
New Members
> *Tad Hutcheson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, tad.hutcheson@airtran.com - AirTran Airways Atlanta, GA;> *Greg Ward, VP/Account Group Director, gward@boomyourbrand.com - BCF Virginia Beach, VA;
> Chris Jennings, Executive Director, cjennings@visitspartanburg.com - Spartanburg CVB Spartanburg, SC;
> *Matt Bolas, Executive Director, mbolas@bristolchamber.org - Bristol TN/VA CVB Bristol, VA;
> *Sutton Bacon, President & CEO, sutton.bacon@noc.com; Ben Edson, Sales Manager, sales@noc.com - Nantahala Outdoor Center Bryson City, NC;
> Chuck Holifield, HolifieldC@aol.com; Frank Janotta, janottaf@bellsouth.net - The Trail of Honor Jackson, MS;
> Richard Geiger, President, Richard@visitwinstonsalem.com; Casey Hough, Marketing & Media Manager, Casey@visitwinstonsalem.com - Visit Winston Salem Winston-Salem, NC;
> *Linda Mosely, Publisher, linda@greatsouthernpublishers.com - Great Southern Publishers, Inc. / Southwinds Technologies St. Simons Island, GA;
> Stacy Hamilton, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, shamilton@mobile.org - Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau Mobile, AL;
> Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism, jdoss@yesmartinsville.com - Martinsville-Henry County Division of Tourism Martinsville, VA;
> *Katie Brenckle, Deputy Director, kbrenckle@discoverdunwoody.com - CVB of Dunwoody Dunwoody, GA;
> *Traci Cunningham, Director, director@visitoakgroveky.com - Oak Grove Tourism Oak Grove, KY;
> *Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Director, sonia.clark@westtnheritage.com - West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center Brownsville, TN;
> *Tracy Whitmire, Convention & Facilities Sales Manager, twhitmire@gainesville.org - Gainesville Communications & Tourism Gainesville, GA;
> Richard Goldman, Executive Director, RGoldman@Getaway4Florida.com - St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB St. Augustine, FL
*New member organizations
Southeast Tourism Society Corporate Partners
