1 Henry County Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau
2 What is Bed Tax? The Bed Tax is a tax that may be levied by cities and counties on leasing of rooms for overnight or longer stays. The tax varies by jurisdiction but can be levied to a maximum of 8% of the daily rental rate. The tax is divided between unrestricted and restricted funds. Restricted funds are for tourism and tourism product development. The split is as follows: First 3% - Unrestricted and retained by city/county Next 2% - Restricted to tourism activities Next 3% - 50% for tourism and 50% tourism product dev.
3 Eligible & Non-Eligible Activities for TCT Restricted Funds Activity Eligible Not Eligible Brochure highlighting local attractions Map of local accommodations and restaurants July 4 Concert and Fireworks Show Radio/television advertising for July 4 Concert and Fireworks Show Police overtime for July 4 Concert and Fireworks Show Building rent for Visitors Center Visitors Center staff salaries Generic decorative banners for street lights Decorative banners for street lights that advertise a specific recurring event General operating expenses of a Chamber of Commerce Fees for a website that advertises attractions, accommodations and restaurant Visitors maps and packets Postage for mailing visitors packets Welcome signs at city/county borders Downtown sidewalk rehabilitation Decorative light posts for downtown
4 HCCC/CVB Organizational Structure Chamber BOD CVB BOD Chamber Executive Committee President & CEO Financial Accounting Admin Services Director of Tourism Chamber Programs Cooperative Effort Tourism Programs
5 CVB Decision Makers City & County Reps CVB BOD HCCC Retail City/County Reps BOD Dining Attractions Hotels Director of Tourism
6 2016 CVB Board of Directors Board Member Organization Position Jeff Mills N/A Chairman Melissa Robinson Henry County BOC County Appt. Anna Ogg Locust Grove Main Street Locust Grove Appt. Denise Sharpe City of Hampton Hampton Appt. Kira Harris-Braggs City of Stockbridge Stockbridge Appt. David Gill HCCC HCCC President Ted Austad Atlanta Motor Speedway HCCC BOD Appt. Michelle Lassiter La Quinta Locust Grove HCCC BOD Appt. Ansley Glenn Season s Peak Marketing HCCC BOD Appt. Patrick McHugh 15 th Street Pizza HCCC BOD Appt. Carolea Campbell Courtyard by Marriott HCCC BOD Appt. Kyla Tammaro Shane s Rib Shack HCCC BOD Appt. Holly Duffey Tanger Outlets Advisory Member
7 Economic Impact of Tourism $253 million - Tourists Expenditures Equates to approximately $693,000 per day $54.75 million in resident wages 2,390 tourism related jobs created $7.29 million in local sales tax $10.72 million in state tax revenue Henry County 2015 * Source: US Travel Association report for GDEcD
8 Program of Work
9 Marketing Efforts Print Advertising Digital Advertising Outdoor Advertising Online/Digital Marketing Social Media Blogging Collateral/Resources Brand Awareness Onsite Marketing Trade Shows Event Promotion
10 Website Promote restaurants, hotels, attractions and events
11 Website: Blog Blogs promoted on social media via organic and promoted posts Blogs boost SEO value of site
12 Wedding Microsite Features wedding & event venues Features wedding vendors (florists, caterers, formal wear, etc)
13 Billboards Three digital billboard Faces southbound traffic on I-75 Locations in Morrow, north of Exit 224 and north of Exit 222 Promote Henry County events Three traditional/static boards Faces southbound traffic on I-75 Locations just outside Macon, Forsyth & Jackson Promote Henry County & create brand awareness
14 Media & PR Hired Laurie Rowe Communications, a travel & tourism PR firm to write and distribute blogs and story ideas to travel writers Laurie Rowe established a Travel Media Press Room for Henry County with story ideas, blogs and photos and writers have 24/7 access
15 Work with bloggers & influencers Worked extensively with travel bloggers and State tourism on organic and paid blogs, experiences & posts about Henry County locations
16 Georgia Tourism Blogs
17 History Has a Name Campaign Professionally produced a series of eight videos featuring local attractions/restaurants Added section on new website featuring full interviews with each featured partner In first month, content was viewed 2,800 times Average time spent on these pages 3:12 Plans underway for three additional videos and interviews
18 Social Media August 2016 - Hired Digital Marketing Assistant to develop and manage social and web content 6 Month Growth Facebook likes increased by 12.8% Twitter followers increased by 36.8% Instagram followers increased by 33.9% Social Media Highlights Facebook Tired of Turkey Contest grew Facebook following by 161 people in 26 days Noah s Ark History Has a Name teaser reached over 30,000 people and produced over 1,400 actions (views, likes, shares, clicks, comments) Twitter Reaching out and confirming a visit with Malika Bowling via twitter (founder Atlanta Food Blog, author of Food Lovers' Guide to Atlanta, Food Blogging 101) Engagement with Paul Milliken of Fox 5 Atlanta & subsequent retweet
19 County Event Promotion CVB allocates $18,300 to be spent at the county s discretion to promote county events, attractions or venues that have a tourism component. County used part of its 2016 funds for GPB TV ads promoting the Heritage Park Veterans Museum, new photos and new brochures fo the HPVM and digital advertising for Cotton Fields Golf Course
20 Visitors Guide Cost covered by ads & CVB Cities & County receive free full page ad 30,000 printed Distributed to 11 State Welcome Center, 50 regional welcome centers and in employee lounges, credit unions and military bases in Metro Atlanta Main fulfilment pieces for leads and special groups New features: Restaurant Round-up; Under the Radar & History Has a Name quotes.
21 Advertising Georgia Travel Guide (>700K distributed) Georgia Source Book (production resource guide) Atlanta Metro Travel Association Top 100 Atlanta Metro Must Sees Brochures Georgia Tourism E-Newsletter (>132K opt-in subscribers) Georgia State Park Guide & online banner ads TheKnot.com Occasions Magazine Southbound Magazine
22 Additional Marketing Efforts Tradeshows (Group tours, sports, etc.) Tournament support (acquisition and retention) Film/TV location and permitting support Race weekend promotions and onsite presence Taste of Henry partnership Gift Bags (family reunions, tournaments & legislators) Pad maps provided to all hotels Geocaching Custom green screen background used for Jr. World Series & USSSA Convention
23 Association Memberships Atlanta Metro Travel Association Georgia Association of CVBs Southeast Tourism Society Travel South USA