The Hospitality Highway committee was recognized by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on October 15 at the Georgia State Capitol for receiving the Southeast Tourism Society’s (STS) Shining Example Award for Travel Attraction of the Year. Governor Sonny Perdue presented each Hospitality Highway community, along with the Southeast Tourism Society, Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Department of Economic Development, with a signed proclamation. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle also recognized the group.

An excerpt from the proclamation reads: “I, SONNY PERDUE, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby recognize and commend the HOSPITALITY HIGHWAY COMMITTEE for exemplifying a shining example of how Georgians can work together to achieve great things for our state.”

The Hospitality Highway, the official name for Georgia Highway 400, was recognized during the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) annual fall meeting, September 5-7, with the Society’s Shining Example Award for the Travel Attraction of the Year. Currently spanning two travel regions and including seven Georgia communities, Hospitality Highway began as the brainchild of Janet Rodgers (Alpharetta CVB) and Dotty Etris (Roswell CVB) in 2005, as an effort to draw visitors from their normal route of interstate travel through Georgia, letting them discover what lies beyond the highways and encouraging overnight stays in hotels along the route. On July 30, 2007, Governor Sonny Perdue signed into legislation Georgia 400 as the state’s official “Hospitality Highway”.

“Every year, the STS recognizes an entity as the ‘Travel Attraction of the Year’. Hospitality Highway is this year’s award recipient and is a wonderful example of how communities can work together; Hospitality Highway is also unique in that the partners created the attraction themselves,” said Bill Hardman, President and CEO of STS.

Hospitality Highway partners, include Janet Rodgers Alpharetta CVB, Kym Hughes, Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism, Dotty Etris, Roswell CVB, Mary Helen McGruder, Cumming/Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, Marty Williams, Dawsonville CVB, Gary Powers, Dahlonega CVB and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In 2008, Garth Peters, from the Buckhead Coalition, joined Hospitality Highway, which now encompasses all areas that line the full length of Georgia 400.

“Partnerships are powerful. This is the perfect example of what a community can do when they put forth the effort to work as a facilitator with other communities who share the Georgia 400 corridor. To the entire Hospitality Highway Committee, I say, ‘Job well done!’” commended Governor Sonny Perdue.

“We are honored to receive this award that recognizes the vision we share when we created this project,” commented Janet Rodgers, President and CEO of the Alpharetta CVB.

“With five additional communities joining the effort, it has truly been a partnership that has worked hand-in- hand to achieve the goals that resulted in the Shining Example award,” said Dotty Etris, Hospitality Highway partner and Executive Director of the Roswell CVB.

Hospitality Highway information can be obtained via each of the partners websites and through a single shared website which helps visitors plan their trip without having to leave the site. Website reports from www.hospitalityhighway.com show that over 15,900 pages were accessed by travelers in 2007. Two brochures, numerous ads, familiarization tours and several press releases have increased awareness of Hospitality Highway. Signs posted by the Georgia Department of Transportation on all state roads leading to GA 400, along with those at the entry to each partner city, identify them as a “Hospitality Highway Community” and help market and brand the promotion. In 2008, the program was selected by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the University of Georgia New Media Institute as a prototype for new tourism technology. Social media outlets were created using downloadable technology and virtual reality programs including pod casts, Second Life, IPDF and vod casts, among others.

The Hospitality Highway committee will continue to market, advertise and promote the highway locally, regionally and nationally through traditional means such as print advertising and also through new, cutting-edge technologies like having a presence in the world of social media and online.