On doing business in Atlanta:
 
"It is our goal to be a city where it is easy to do business. We realize our customers have many destination options so we want to make it easy for them to choose Atlanta." 


"We are on the cutting edge of marketing and attendance-building efforts for our clients and as a city."

"We recognize that all groups are not the same and each one has different needs."
 
"We have a new story to tell convention planners. Big meetings have always come to Atlanta because it's an easy city to get to and has the infrastructure to hold them. Where we were lacking was in terms of, 'What do I do when I get out of the meeting?' Now we have more to offer."
 
"We are in pretty good shape for 2006 from a pace standpoint. The number of large conventions is up over 2005, but smaller conventions are down. The city's new products are really going to help us as we go forward."
 

On What Atlanta Has to Offer:
 
"Now, more than ever, we're excited about our enhanced product. We've always had great hotels, convention space and accessibility, but our attractions – pre-existing, new and upcoming – have given us so much added value as a destination."
 
"New attractions like the Aquarium, the High Museum and Atlantic Station, as well as traditional products like Six Flags, the Zoo and Fernbank provide a niche for everyone."
 
"There's a lot of energy in this city and a lot of people really impressed with what is going on here."
 
"We have great restaurants, great attractions and great activities. I think people who haven't been to Atlanta in a while will enjoy what they find." 
 

On Atlanta's Hospitality Community:
 
"By working as a single entity, our hospitality community makes it easy for meeting planners to do business in Atlanta. "
 
"The sales and convention services staffs at Atlanta CVB are continuing to nurture their alignment with the Georgia World Congress Center and increase partnerships with hotels and attractions."
 
"Our close working relationships within the hospitality community truly allow us to bring everything and everyone to the table to best serve our clients."

 

 

"The development of The Ellis Hotel has been a long time coming for our city and the hospitality community. The restoration of the building fills a void in Downtown's streetscape. Before, all visitors noticed was an empty old building. Now it's playing a big role in the revitalization of downtown. Even just one year ago, who could have dreamed that The Ellis would turn out to be what it is today?

Many times we've been excited about similar projects for this property. None of those occasions came to fruition. We're looking forward to The Ellis playing a part in our business. The new hotel will provide business travelers with a unique experience and gives us diversity in our hotel package. Its tradition and uniqueness tell a piece of Atlanta's story.

We applaud the efforts of the developer and architects for preserving the architectural façade of the building. It adds charm and character to our streetscape and sets itself apart from Atlanta's more traditional hotels. The hotel creates a real sense of place for visitors and will add activity to this stretch of Peachtree Street. This project has preserved a piece of Atlanta's history on Atlanta's most historic street."

 

 

"The most significant trend in the meetings and tourism industry is building attendance around the destination. More than ever, meeting planners are requesting destinations to provide value, a unique experience and assist with generating attendance. To address these concerns, the ACVB works with the hospitality community to deliver customized solutions. The ACVB also prides itself on studying the city's future development and helps meeting planners visualize what Atlanta will have to offer 2, 5 or 10 years from now. Other noteworthy trends sweeping the industry include green initiatives and the implementation of social media programs (blogging, podcasting, etc.)"


On the Brand Atlanta Campaign:
 
"The importance of this campaign, as well as the positive effect it will have on the positioning of Atlanta's hospitality offerings to visitors, has given us an opportunity to proactively channel our efforts."

"Brand Atlanta helps unify the different elements of the city into a destination package while boosting meeting planners' ability to market events held in Atlanta to their attendees."

"Our involvement in The Brand Atlanta campaign is a perfect example of our dedication to establishing Atlanta as a premier destination."

"The Brand Atlanta Campaign has allowed us to show the world what we're all about."