Leadership

A leader is one who has the attributes that he walks as he talks. You can tell people that you are going to do certain things, that you are going to be honest with them, that you have integrity, but talk doesn't mean anything unless you really put it into action.

It used to be that the leader of an organization was the intellectual one who made all the decisions, who came up with good ideas, good thoughts and good suggestions. Today you will find that at all levels there is the ability you should be drawing on. Draw on the ability of all people.

Source: Ewing Marion Kauffman

BRAC Quality of Life Conference Scheduled

You may have received an invitation to participate in the upcoming Quality of Life Conference November 13, 2008 in Ft. Knot in preparation or recruiting and educating newcomers to Columbus.

We'd like to coordinate a meeting of the invitees/attendees to help communicate the best effort in telling the Columbus story.

• If you haven't gotten the invitation, it's important that you attend the planning meeting to find out what's going on.
• If you have received the invite and are uncertain whether you should attend, or have made the commitment to go,  and want to partner with others who are going, you should attend the planning meeting.
• If you have decided you cannot commit the resources to go, but want to make certain that your information is shared, you should attend the planning meeting.

Let's put this on the agenda for the upcoming Marketing Directors Meeting -- Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 9:00 AM at the CVB.

Business Travel Up in '08, But How Will It Fare Next year?

On June 13, Global Insight, an economic and financial analysis firm, released the second quarter 208 update of "U.S. Travel Insights, " predicting a slight year-over-year increase in business-related travel. "Rising hotel rates, gasoline prices, and air fares  have thus far been met by changing trip behavior with travelers spending less -- rather than a decision to stay home. This is strong evidence of the surprising resiliency of travel," said Kenneth McGill, managing director of Global Insights Travel and Tourism Service Group.

Unfortunately, 2009 looks to be a more challenging year as both leisure and business travel are expected to backslide as the slowing economy and lingering influence of rising oil prices will finally take their toll, the report said.

The good news, said Jennifer Fuller, director at Global Insight and principal author of U.S. Travel Insights, "is that slowing demand and rising supplies will take some of the heat off of hotel rates, gasoline prices, and other trip costs."

Source: Convention South, Sept 2008

Columbus, GA Tourism Leaders Honored at Governor's Conference on Tourism,

Peter Bowden, President and CEO of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, received the Larry Allen Award for Excellence in Tourism, given in memory of the late Larry Allen, general manager of Stone Mountain. Bowden was recognized for his excellent leadership skills. He works closely with leaders at GDEcD, GACVB and TDAG on statewide tourism-related issues.

Source: GA Department of Economic Development

NOTE: Columbus Council will recognize this accomplishment during its Tuesday, September 30, 2008 Council Meeting at 9:00 AM, Plaza Level of the Government Center

Mobile Marketing Connects to Traveler

The Columbus CVB has launched phase one of its mobile marketing campaign. This text messaging strategy will add a third "call to action" to the Bureau's traditional advertising. Key words that are used in text messages will alert the visitor about special pricing, hotel information, events, etc. Regular reports will help provide conversion data needed to track inbound visitors. The CVB also hopes to track and communicate to visitors once they arrive in the area by providing additional ways for them to text to take advantage of special interests that may either extend the stay or increase visitor spending.

To get a sneak peek, check out the cell phone version of the CVB's website www.visitcolumbusga.mobi.

O yeah. look at this on your web enabled cell phone; now the visitor has Columbus in their pocket. If you special offers or messages you want to deliver, let us know so we can get them on-line)

Consumers visit an average of 207 restaurants each year. Here are the stats:

• Income less than $45,000 = 35% of all customers
• Income $45,000 - $75,000 = 23% of al customers
• Income over %$75,000 = 39% of all customers

Source: Nation's Restaurant News

Marketing Strategy Announced

During the September 2008 Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau Board Meeting, a new strategy was announced to offset the "de-listing" of Columbus hotel from Expedia and Hotels.com web sites.

The CVB is working with its web master to optimize its site to place key words with the "code" that will help place the CVB web site -- visitcolumbusga.com -- higher in the search engines. Presently, if you Google the site, it shows up in the top 5 listings. If you Google "Columbus, GA hotels," the results are in the top one or two listed slots. The optimization will continue to work to keep the CVB site within the top rankings in the search process.

In addition, the Board approved for Staff to buy key words that will rank "visitcolumbusga.com, Columbus, GA hotels, and Columbus hotels," in the highest possible placement for search for Columbus lodging.

If they have not already done so, Columbus hotels are also encouraged to make certain that their web sites have been optimized in such a way to rank higher in the searches for accommodations.

The CVB Staff will continue to monitor the results of this marketing initiative and adjust the program as needed to assure the lodging facilities have the best possible booking opportunity.