 |
|
www.tourismdevelopmentalliance.org |
Tuesday, February
5, 2008 |
 |
| GA Lodging Tax
Reform Recommendations |
Please click here to download the GA Lodging Tax Reform
Recommendations. Please print and send the recommendations
with a personalized note to your legislators asking for
their support on these important issues. [The file is in pdf
format and requires
Adobe Reader]
|
| Recent Tourism Bills |
SR 749
sponsored by Chairman Chip Pearson and Senators
Chip Rogers, Nancy Schaefer, Judson Hill
and Tommie Williams recognizes Tourism Day.
HB 1061 sponsored by Chairman Ron Stephens and
Representatives Earl Ehrhart, Amos Amerson,
Roger Williams, Steve Tumlin and Mark
Burkhalter addresses the shipping difficulties for our
Georgia Farm Wineries.
Last year's shipping bill,
HB 393 is still "live" and we expect a committee
substitute on that bill this week.
HB 1074 sponsored by Chairman Larry O'Neal is a
place holder regarding hotel tax, but our hotel tax bill was
introduced today as
HB 1094, sponsored by Chairman James Mills and
Representatives Ron Stephens, Butch Parrish,
Mickey Channell and Richard Royal
HB 1088 sponsored by Chairman Butch Parrish and
Representatives Ron Stephens, Roger Williams,
Vance Smith, Mickey Channell and Earl
Ehrhart will provide
DOT and
GDEcD the ability to
develop signage for agricultural tourism attractions. This
is in response to your request over the last few years, so
please thank our friends for their efforts to address the
need for improved signage for our tourists.
SB 359 sponsored by Senators Tim Golden, Chip
Pearson, Doug Stoner, Jeff Mullis, Don
Thomas, Michael Meyer Von Bremen is another bill,
similar to
SB 343, addressing the importance of showcasing products
that are made in Georgia.
HB 1059 and
HB 1073 relate to motor vehicle rentals. As many of you
know, rental car tax was originally intended for tourism
promotion. The current language in Georgia law is almost
identical to the original 3% hotel motel tax code section.
In Florida, their state tourism office is funded by rental
car tax.
HB 1059 sponsored by Chairman Charles Martin and
Representatives Jeff Lewis, Mike Coan,
Kevin Levitas and Earl Ehrhart
HB 1073 sponsored by
Chairman Larry O'Neal
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Past Alliance News |
January 30, 2008
January 23, 2008
December 1, 2007
November 19, 2007
October 8, 2007
Please click here to view all past newsletters |
|
 Greetings
everyone,
The General Assembly finished Day 10 of the 40-Day Session
on Friday, Feb. 1. They reconvened today, Tuesday, Feb. 5,
for Day 11.
I appreciate everyone that came to the Capitol on Tuesday,
Jan. 29, to thank our elected officials and celebrate
Georgia Tourism.
It was a unified team effort this year jointly coordinated
by GDEcD,
GACVB and
TDAG
which made a big difference. We had a wonderful presence in
the South Wing thanks to our Regional Travel Associations
and our friends from Zoo Atlanta. And what would I do
without Tyron and the folks from Tifton. Without you on such
a busy day, I would never have had the chance to find time
to eat. Your sandwiches are world famous at the Capitol and
we appreciate you being a part of Tourism Day. A special
thanks to Dotty Etris of Roswell and Janet Rodgers
of Alpharetta for co-chairing this event. Please take a
moment to thank these ladies for all of their hard work.
They provided creativity, leadership, administrative support
and kept all of us moving in the right direction.
Tourism Day was Tuesday, but tourism remained at the
forefront all week. Our Savannah Tourism Team stayed in town
all week to work on tourism issues and we celebrated
Savannah Day on Thursday.
We also had a number of bills introduced this week on issues
that we support.
SR 749 sponsored by Chairman Chip Pearson and
Senators Chip Rogers, Nancy Schaefer,
Judson Hill and Tommie Williams recognizes
Tourism Day.
HB 1061 sponsored by Chairman Ron Stephens and
Representatives Earl Ehrhart, Amos Amerson,
Roger Williams, Steve Tumlin and Mark
Burkhalter addresses the shipping difficulties for our
Georgia Farm Wineries.
Last year's shipping bill,
HB 393 is still "live" and we expect a committee
substitute on that bill this week.
HB 1074 sponsored by Chairman Larry O'Neal is a
place holder regarding hotel tax, but our hotel tax bill was
introduced today as
HB 1094, sponsored by Chairman James Mills and
Representatives Ron Stephens, Butch Parrish,
Mickey Channell and Richard Royal
HB 1088 sponsored by Chairman Butch Parrish and
Representatives Ron Stephens, Roger Williams,
Vance Smith, Mickey Channell and Earl
Ehrhart will provide
DOT and
GDEcD the ability to
develop signage for agricultural tourism attractions. This
is in response to your request over the last few years, so
please thank our friends for their efforts to address the
need for improved signage for our tourists.
A couple of other bills introduced this week which will be
discussed by the Public Policy Committee:
SB 359 sponsored by Senators Tim Golden, Chip
Pearson, Doug Stoner, Jeff Mullis, Don
Thomas, Michael Meyer Von Bremen is another bill,
similar to
SB 343, addressing the importance of showcasing products
that are made in Georgia.
HB 1059 and
HB 1073 relate to motor vehicle rentals. As many of you
know, rental car tax was originally intended for tourism
promotion. The current language in Georgia law is almost
identical to the original 3% hotel motel tax code section.
In Florida, their state tourism office is funded by rental
car tax.
HB 1059 sponsored by Chairman Charles Martin and
Representatives Jeff Lewis, Mike Coan,
Kevin Levitas and Earl Ehrhart
HB 1073 sponsored by Chairman Larry O'Neal
The TDAG
board met this week, and we voted to take a position of
support on the revitalization of Jekyll Island.
TDAG
supports tourism development in a manner that is
environmentally responsible, consistent with the current
preservation efforts of the historic district and
sustainable for the long term. For additional details,
contact the Jekyll
Island CVB at 912-635-4080 or visit:
www.rediscoverjekyll.com.
For those of you that are new to
TDAG
and as a friendly reminder to our veterans.
Once a bill has been introduced, it will be listed in the
right hand column. Only new action taken by the General
Assembly or a request for assistance from you will be listed
in the cover letter.
As a follow up thank you to your elected officials, please
print the TDAG priorities and the
hotel tax summary - found in the right-hand column - and
send a personalized note to your legislators asking for
their support on these important issues.
Thanks for your support of the
Tourism
Alliance. Please let us know if you have any questions
or if you feel that there is an issue we should consider
that we have not mentioned.Best Regards,
Joy Spears Walstrum
Tourism Development Alliance of
Georgia
404-223-2264
(w)
404-358-5634
(m)
404-223-2290
(fax)
joy@tourismdevelopmentalliance.org |
©2007 - 2008 Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia
233 Peachtree Street, NE | Suite 2000 | Atlanta, GA 30303 |
T: 404-223-2264
|