WELCOME

PRESIDENT & CEO DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL DON WELSH PRESIDENT & CEO DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL

ABOUT US Who We Are Destinations International: Together with our members and partners, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people, and elevating tourism to its highest potential. Destinations International Foundation: The Destinations International Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destination marketers globally by providing education, research, advocacy and leadership development. 600 Destination Organization Members in 15 Countries 5,000 Destination Professional Members

FOUR CORNERSTONES OF DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL Community Advocacy Research Education

VISION, MISSION & VALUE PROPOSITION Our members are essential to the success of destinations worldwide. MISSION We empower our members so that their destinations excel. VALUE PROPOSITION We inform, connect, inspire and educate our members to drive destination economic impact, job creation, community sustainability and quality of life through travel.

GEORGIA MEMBERS Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau Columbus GA Convention & Visitors Bureau Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody Explore Gwinnett Golden Isles CVB Visit Macon Visit Sandy Springs Visit Savannah Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau ATL Airport District Destination Marketing Organization Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau Braselton Visitors Bureau Authority Cobb Travel & Tourism

HIGH PERFORMANCE DESTINATIONS ELECTED OFFICIALS STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS CIVIC LEADERS TOURISM INDUSTRY

STRONG BOARD LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

DESTINATION CHALLENGES Destination Organization Challenges DESTINATION CHALLENGES Natural Disasters Terrorism Overtourism Sustained Funding Trump Administration Weaponization of Travel California Boycotts: 9 U.S. States North Carolina – HB2 (“Bathroom Bill”) California Government Travel Ban Targets: Alabama Kansas Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Oklahoma - Newest ADVOCACY & RESEARCH

CVB VALUE PROPOSITION Destination Influencers Community Connectors Intellectual Capital Economic Impact Client Vision Advocates Randi will do this slide…set up top 2, and bottom 3 that need the most work.

THANK YOU! communications@destinationsinternational.org www.destinationsinternational.org @destintl

How Does Georgia’s Tourism Marketing Budget Rank?

Georgia’s Tourism Marketing Budget FY10. $6. 0 million FY11. $5 Georgia’s Tourism Marketing Budget FY10 $6.0 million FY11 $5.1 million FY12 $4.9 million FY13 $4.7 million FY14 $4.8 million FY15 $4.7 million FY16 $5.1 million FY17 $6.4 million FY18 $6.4 million FY19 $6.5 million (Source: GDEcD)

Georgia - $6.5 million Pigeon Forge - $10.1 million

Southeastern States Tourism Marketing Budgets Florida Southeastern States Tourism Marketing Budgets Florida $76 million Virginia $21 million Louisiana $16 million North Carolina $13 million Arkansas $12 million Alabama $12 million South Carolina $12 million Tennessee $9 million West Virginia $6 million GEORGIA $6.5 million Mississippi $5.6 million Pigeon Forge $10 million! (Source: Google)

Return on Investment. $6. 4 million spent $63. 1 billion $3 Return on Investment? $6.4 million spent $63.1 billion $3.3 billion state and local taxes

New leadership … New opportunity. Its not about the last 10 years New leadership … New opportunity . . . Its not about the last 10 years . . . Its about the NEXT 10!

Thank You

GACVB 2019 State Legislative Agenda 1.Oppose legislation that allows discrimination 2.Protect Georgia’s lodging taxes from redirection 3.Increase investment in Georgia’s tourism marketing 4.Establish new school-start and school-end date policies