Rome, Berry College to host regional conference on tourism

Thursday, February 21, 2013

GRCVB Contact:
Chris Cannon, director of communications
706.295.5576
Chris@RomeGeorgia.org
www.RomeGeorgia.org

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rome, Berry College to host regional conference on tourism

 ROME, GA. — The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB), Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum and Berry College have partnered together to host the 2013 Winter Chautauqua on Tourism in March.

The two-day conference on March 3-4 is in its 23rd year and will feature speakers from across Georgia as well as many of Rome’s leaders in tourism and downtown development.

On Sunday evening, attendees will explore Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum and learn how the museum was developed into one of the top tourism attractions in North Georgia. Attendees will then tour Rome’s downtown businesses and residences to learn about the revitalization of the Victorian Downtown.

Monday’s sessions will be held on the campus of Berry College, the largest college campus in the world at 26,000 acres. Experts in tourism, economic development and marketing will present fresh and relevant ideas to over 100 attendees.

Beda Johnson, Director of Outreach of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, will present the morning keynote. Johnson is recognized as a longtime expert in tourism product development and marketing. She will present an update on the current state of tourism throughout Georgia. Currently, tourism is the second most influential industry in Georgia behind agriculture.

The luncheon will feature a light-hearted keynote address from Southern author Hollis Gillespie. Author of several books and a regular columnist for Atlanta Magazine, Gillespie is known for her wit of growing up in the south. The luncheon is sponsored by Atlanta Magazine.

“We are looking forward to hosting this conference and showcasing Rome and Berry College to our tourism partners from around Georgia,” said Chris Cannon, GRCVB director of communications and Winter Chautauqua planning committee member. “We’ve also lined up an incredible list of speakers, so any locals with a stake in tourism and hospitality will certainly benefit from this very affordable conference.”

Registration for both days of the conference is only $90. Individuals can attend the Monday portion of the conference for only $70.

More information and registration information are available on www.WinterChautauqua.com. Registration is open until Monday, February 25.

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The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) is the official destination and sports marketing organization of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. The GRCVB’s mission is to strengthen the economic fabric of the community through tourism development by attracting leisure travelers, conventions, meetings, sports and events.

About the Author

Our Georgia's Rome tourism team works hard to curate content to help you discover and explore our beautiful town! We want to ensure our content is up-to-date and accurate; so please let us know if we ever overlook an important detail! This post was originally written by Kristi Kent and is updated by staff.