FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

August 24, 2010

Dalton CVB says thanks!

(Dalton, GA)- The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau recently recognized Debbie Parsons for her service to the organization while on the DACVB Board of Directors.

Debbie originally came to Dalton to help with the opening of the Hampton Inn. After leaving for a couple of years she returned to Dalton in 2003 and rejoined the staff at the Hampton Inn as the Sales and Marketing Director, soon after she was named the Assistant Manager and finally three years ago she took the reins as General Manager. “While working with the Hampton I had the wonderful privilege of serving as the DHA President & Membership chairman as well as having the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for the CVB from 2008 – 2010”, Debbie stated. “Hotel Equities partnered with Curt Howe in 2008 and shortly thereafter honored me with the GM of the Quarter award. I have truly been so very blessed to have worked with an amazing team of people at the Hampton, and a community that has been so supportive in every way. Dalton is a great place in which to live and grow”.

Debbie is married to her “best friend” Mark Parsons and has two children; Adam and Amber and a new Grandson; Brett Montgomery Hairel. She enjoys motorcycle riding, reading, singing, drama and walking.

“Debbie has served as a CVB Board of Directors member for three years and has helped the organization to achieve many of the items in the plan of work, resulting in a greater economic impact in the Dalton community. She has worked hard to help the organization grow and become a viable entity for this community and we will definitely miss her”, stated CVB Director Brett Huske.

####



Contact: Kay Phillips
Company: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 706-876-1620
Cell: 706-876-1620
Email: kphillips@VisitDaltonGA.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

June 13, 2010

A Civil War Driving Tour of Dalton-Whitfield County awarded NACO Achievement Award

(Dalton, GA) – The program, A Civil War Driving Tour of Dalton-Whitfield County, was recently awarded the NACo (National Association of Counties) Achievement Award. Many of the 3,000 counties across the country submit applications, few are chosen. “It feels good to be a winner” stated County Administrator Bob McLeod. “Commissioner Mike Cowan and I are invited to attend the Award Ceremony during the upcoming annual conference.” Also, an award certificate has been issued; a summary of the program will be included in the NACO Model Programs database; and highlights of the program will be presented in an upcoming issue of County News, Focus on Achievement.

This project was the outcome of a real team effort involving many people: The County provided seed money and leadership; Kathryn Sellers provided project coordination and brought together a number of contributing individuals; Dr. Jim Burran did the research and wrote the narrative booklet, assembled pictures, and became the project backbone; Jess Hansen, an employee with Whitfield County, prepared many variations of the foldout driving map that became part of the booklet; Gary Brown, Whitfield County Public Works, worked on and produced the road signs; several people came together to record the CD; The Convention & Visitors Bureau staff arranged for publication of the booklets; the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center staff assembled the booklets, and others assisted in various stages of the project.

The Civil War Driving Tour of Dalton-Whitfield County program consist of a booklet, a map, and a CD to play in your car as it takes you on a tour of historic Civil War sites throughout Dalton and Whitfield County. These driving tours are available for purchase at several merchant locations in Historic Downtown Dalton, the Dalton Freight Depot Visitor Center and the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. For more information or to order by mail please call 706-270-9960.

####

Contact: Brett Huske
Company: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 706-281-1289
Cell: 970-987-9435
Email: bhuske@visitdaltonga.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2010

There’s just something about a Train!

(Dalton GA)- Everybody loves trains. We write songs about trains, make movies about trains, collect them, you name it. Now there’s a National Day dedicated to all things train.

Come celebrate your love of trains at the Dalton Freight Depot on National Train Day this Saturday, May 8th! The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has organized a day of train related events in the newly renovated Freight Depot. The day’s events will last from 10 am to 3 pm and will include:

· A special Joint Resolution by the City of Dalton and Whitfield County in Support & Recognition of National Train Day at 10 am

· A Showing of the Disney Film, The Great Locomotive Chase, at 11 am

· Retired Norfolk Southern Track Supervisor, Jerry Collins, demonstrating how messages are sent through train whistle codes at 1 pm. Bring your own train whistle and practice with Mr. Jerry!

There will also be activities for children throughout the day, as well as the unveiling of a very special addition to the Freight Depot at 10:15 am for Trainiacs of all ages.



###


Contact: Brett Huske
Company: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 706-281-1289
Cell: 970-987-9435
Email: bhuske@visitdaltonga.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TASTE OF SUMMER

(Dalton, Ga) The Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau; together with the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Dalton Development Authority, and the Joint Development Authority are hosting the Taste of Summer at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention center on May 11th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Tourism businesses will exhibit their product or service while visitor contact employees from Dalton businesses will stroll from exhibit to exhibit, learning of the tourism products and services available in Dalton/Whitfield County. The aim of this exhibit is to better educate the employees in the community who have regular contact with tourists on what Dalton has to offer.

This new spin on tourism destination education will provide information in a relaxed and fun atmosphere to visitor contact residents.

Cost for businesses to exhibit is $100 per table top display and attendees are complimentary.

Food and beverage will be provided complimentary during the exhibit time and random prizes will be drawn for those that successfully visit each exhibitor. A grand prize of a trip for two to Savannah will be drawn at the conclusion of the exhibit. Participants need not be present to win the trip.

For more information, contact the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-270-9960.


###

Brett Huske
Company: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 706-281-1289
Cell: 970-987-9435
Email: bhuske@visitdaltonga.com




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 19, 2010

Georgia Cup to Stop in Dalton!

(Dalton, GA)- Dalton will become a new stop on the Georgia Cup circuit this year. The cycling race, which also makes stops in Gainesville, Atlanta, and Rome; is likely to bring hundreds of cyclists and their families to the Dalton area for the weekend of July 31. Brett Huske, Executive Director of the Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau, estimates that the race will have an economic impact on the Dalton area of approximately $200,000, and he is hopeful that Dalton will be able to make the Dalton Grand Prix an annual event. The day’s events will consist of a Criterium race in Downtown Dalton on Saturday, July 31; followed by a Downtown Street Party complete with music, food vendors, and a beer garden! The race will be an exciting, spectator-friendly event and will be free and open to the public! Join us at the Dalton Freight Depot at 305 S Depot Street for the Georgia Cup Press Conference on Friday, April 23 at 10:30 am to learn more about this exciting new event!


###


For Immediate Release
March 18, 2010
Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
706-270-9960

The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announces new extended hours for the Dalton Freight Depot Gift Shop and Visitor Information Center.

“I am pleased to announce the change in hours at the Center. We noticed an increase in visitors to the Freight Depot on Saturdays when the Gift Shop and Visitor Center are normally closed. We made the decision to extend the hours to be open on Saturdays in an effort to accommodate them,” stated CVB Executive Director Brett Huske. “It is exciting to see that people are continuing to travel, and the need is there for someone to welcome these visitors to our community. The center’s staff is there to distribute information, share the history of the Dalton area, suggest interesting things to see and do while visiting, or simply assist them in finding just the right souvenir to take home with them”.

Beginning April 1, 2010 the Visitor Center and Gift Shop will be open from Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. These new hours will give everyone an extra day, Saturday, to visit the newly renovated Freight Depot in Downtown Dalton at 305 S. Depot Street, for shopping, train viewing or just visiting. Help us kick off our new hours by joining us for the Downtown Dalton Easter Egg Hunt at the Freight Depot on April 3rd from 1 to 4 pm! Register for door prizes, check out the special sales in the Gift Shop, and enjoy that All-American pastime, train viewing! For more information please call the Dalton Freight Depot Visitor Center and Gift Shop at 706-270-9960 or visit us on the web at www.VisitDaltonGA.com.


####


Contact: Brett Huske
Company: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 706-281-1289
Cell: 970-987-9435
Email: bhuske@visitdaltonga.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MEDIA ADVISORY

March 23, 2010


Half Marathon Coming to Dalton!


(Dalton, GA)- Dalton will soon be home to a Half Marathon, part of the USRA Half Marathon series. “Dalton hopes to make the Half Marathon an annual event. USRA Half Marathons in Council Bluffs, IA and Bentonville, AR have drawn over 1100 runners each. The Lexington Half Marathon scheduled for March 28th has been closed to registration at 2500 runners,” explains Brett Huske, Executive Director of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Dalton’s Half Marathon is scheduled for October 16, 2010. A press conference will be held at the Dalton Freight Depot at 305 S. Depot Street in Dalton on Thursday, March 25th at 10 am to roll out this exciting new event.



###



For Immediate Release Contact: Kristen McIntosh
December 18, 2009 Executive Editor, SportsEvents Magazine
kmcintosh@coveypubs.com or
(251) 968-5300


SPORTSEVENTS MAGAZINE NAMES INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO ANNUAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Dozens Of Planners and Organizations Recognized
For Excellence In Hosting Sports Events

GULF SHORES, ALA.—SportsEvents Magazine, the sports events industry’s only magazine dedicated to helping organizers of sports events be more successful and efficient with their events, has announced the list of honorees of its Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The special feature will be included in the January 2010 issue of SportsEvents Magazine and spotlights industry professionals from across the country who have exhibited a high level of professionalism, creativity and excellence in hosting sports events.

The industry professionals profiled in SportsEvents Magazine’s January 2010 issue were nominated by readers of the magazine and by their industry peers. The sports event planners have garnered attention in the industry for their ability to recognize and rise above the various challenges of running sports events, for their innovative and creative approaches to planning and executing sports events, for their ability to inspire others, for their dedication to their jobs, and for their passion for sports—for providing opportunities for thousands of youth and adults to compete in the sports they love.

The list of 2010 honorees represent a distinguished and diverse class, from the industry’s many different segments—including sanctioning bodies; national, regional and local administrators; event rights holders; promoters; destination marketing officials; and other organizations.

In addition, the Annual Readers’ Choice Awards included a category for sports event planners to nominate their favorite destinations and venues for hosting sports events. These winners included convention and visitors bureaus, sports commissions, and fields and facilities from across the country that have a proven history of providing both the physical attributes and commitment to hospitality and service that sports event planners demand.

The Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) was acknowledged for its excellence within the destination marketing organization category.

“When we put the call out to readers to nominate sports planners and sports-friendly destinations and venues for SportsEvents Magazine’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked them to recommend only the best,” said J. Talty O’Connor, publisher of SportsEvents Magazine. “We believe our select group of planners, destination marketing organizations, and fields and facilities, Dalton Area CVB, not only meet but exceed the high demands of producing successful sports events today.”

In addition to being profiled in the Readers’ Choice Awards special feature, the sports planners and organizations will receive a certificate with a special “Sports Event Planning Excellence” seal to commemorate their award, along with complimentary copies of the January 2010 issue of SportsEvents Magazine that includes the special feature. Honorees also will receive a digital version of the seal to be used for promotional purposes in identifying them as providing excellent service in sports event planning.

About SportsEvents Magazine
SportsEvents Magazine is a nationally distributed magazine read by owners and planners of sports events and sports competitions, including national governing bodies, regional directors, league managers, coaches associations, sports commissions and other sports event owners. It is designed to help planners be more effective, informed and successful with sports events. Each issue includes articles containing tips and techniques by recognized authorities, as well as news, interviews, sports destination spotlights and other topics relevant to sports planners. Skater’s Edge Sourcebook, Baseball/Softball Fields & Facilities, and Soccer Fields & Facilities directories are also published under SportsEvents Magazine. In addition, SportsEvents Magazine also produces an industry educational conference, S.P.O.R.T.S. Institute (Sports Planners & Organizers Training Symposium). For more information, visit www.sportseventsmagazine.com.

About Covey Communications Corp.
Founded and owned by J. Talty O’Connor, Covey Communications Corp. is a multimedia company that publishes nationally distributed magazines for targeted markets. In addition to SportsEvents Magazine and its ancillary titles, Covey Communications also publishes ConventionSouth, the leading magazine in the United States for meeting and convention planners who book events in the South; Condo Owner, serving Alabama/Mississippi/Perdido Key Gulf Coast and Florida Emerald Coast; and Crossties, an internationally known railroad industry publication. Covey Communications is based in Gulf Shores, Ala. For more information, visit www.coveypubs.com.

###


February 1, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dalton, Georgia

Dalton WoodSongs CoffeeHouse Concert Series Opens to Near Capacity Audience

Despite poor road conditions, freezing temperatures and a wintry mix of precipitation, the Dalton WoodSongs CoffeeHouse Concert Series opened last Saturday January 30th to a near capacity audience to watch David Lewis Crawford and Spatial Effects perform.
Event organizers were thrilled with the attendance and are optimistic that the remaining three shows in the series will be a success. A portion of the proceeds from the concert series will benefit Providence Ministries Women and Children’s Shelter.
Appearing February 27th will be Atlanta singer/songwriter Kathy Reed and the female vocal group Sistren from Chattanooga. The Brookwoods will perform 60’s era folk music on March 27th with an open mic segment which will certainly showcase great area talent. The concert series finale on April 24th will feature the musical styling of songwriter Earl Brackin and contemporary gospel artist Gary Stanley.
The concert series is sponsored in part by the Dalton Downtown Development Authority (DDDA).
Seating is limited and begins at 6:30 pm with reservations preferred. Adult tickets are $8.00, Students $5.00 and Children under 12 yrs free. Concessions will be available.
Visit http://WoodsongsDalton.com for more information and to purchase tickets on-line. Tickets may also be purchased at the Freight Depot gift shop.
-END-

Providence Ministries is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization serving Dalton and North Georgia. The WoodSongs CoffeeHouse Chapter is operated by Bluegrass Bands and Helping Hands LLC, an organization committed to community service and the preservation of folk music.



Contact: Paul Byrum –Event Director
706-264-6950
WoodSongsDalton@gmail.com
Http://WoodSongsDalton.com










MEDIA ADVISORY


Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
P. O. Box 6177 * Dalton, GA 30722* 706-270-9960 * www.VisitDaltonGA.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009


SPIES, GENERALS & STOLEN TRAINS FEATURED IN NEW TOUR
Whitfield County to Launch CD & Tour at Historic Battle Reenactment


A new audio CD, map, booklet and road signage promoting unique stories and battles of the Civil War are now available in Greater Dalton, Georgia. The packaged driving tour, entitled “War Comes to Dalton” highlights key Whitfield County sites of the war.

Featured sites in the new Civil War Driving Tour package include the Western & Atlantic Depot where a young telegrapher jumped from the train chasing the stolen “General” to signal for help; Buzzard’s Roost Gap where northern soldiers attempted to build a pontoon bridge across an artificial lake; and Dug Gap where outnumbered Confederates resorted to pushing boulders down the hillside at startled Yankees. The booklet discusses train robbers hanged as spies and General Sherman’s March to Atlanta, along with important battle strategies and historic details.

The tour will be launched on Friday, September 18 at 11:00 am at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, in Tunnel Hill, GA. Attendees will also see re-enactors setting up their camps and settlements in preparation for living history demonstrations.

The tour’s launch is designed to coincide with the historic Battle of Tunnel Hill Reenactment, which features Union and Confederate soldiers in full uniform, as well as crafts, food and music. The Battle Reenactment will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 18, 19 and 20 at the historic tunnel and Clisby Austin House in Tunnel Hill.

The driving tour package will be sold at the new Visitors Center in downtown Dalton, as well as at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center. The packaged book, audio CD and map is available for $15. Additional retailers will be listed on the website of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, at www.VisitDaltonGA.com.

# # #



MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday, September 3

For Immediate Release

Full Event Schedule Attached



National Softball Championships in Dalton This Weekend

125 SPA Teams from 18 States Begin Annual Tournament Today



The Softball Players Association (SPA) opens its 2009 National Championships in Dalton, Georgia tonight with Opening Ceremonies at Heritage Point Park and play-off games continuing throughout the weekend. Additional tournament play will occur next weekend, and again from September 17-22. This weekend’s tournament involves 34 teams from around the country, filling hotel rooms throughout the area. Several players are retired pro-baseball players.

“Our players and their families love Dalton”, says SPA executive director Ridge Hooks. “We get a great reception here. The CVB works very hard for us. They make sure the details are handled before we arrive.” The national tournament location is selected through a competitive bid process, and this is the third consecutive year the SPA has selected Dalton.

“We couldn’t be happier to see our SPA friends return”, says Melanie Suggs, interim executive director of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Direct economic impact of the tournament to the community is estimated at $2,065,000. The CVB’s mission is to enhance economic impact through travel to the area and this event is right on task, says Suggs. Debby Long, the CVB’s Director of Service & Housing manages the multi-venue, multi-week event, coordinating details as diverse as team transportation, city-wide hotel room blocks and group dining arrangements.

“The Dalton area has always been known for its own athletic teams”, says Mayor David Pennington. “We want others to know us as a great place for sports, too.” The community has attracted tennis, golf and other tournaments and events in the past and recently formed the Dalton Area Sports Commission, a new division of the Conference & Visitors Bureau. Both the City of Dalton and Whitfield County are enhancing their parks and community center offerings, making it possible for Greater Dalton to bid on larger and more numerous sporting events in the future.

The Softball Players Association is a National organization promoting and sponsoring Senior Softball. SPA coordinates and operates over 40 National Invitational tournaments around the country. SPA has over 400+ teams and 10,000 players.

###



Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
P. O. Box 6177 * Dalton, GA 30722* 706-270-9960 * www.VisitDaltonGA.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2009

DALTON SET TO LAUNCH HISTORIC CEMETERY TOUR
West Hill is Resting Place for Poets, Sports Heroes, Civil War Soldiers

A new brochure, map and street signage around Dalton’s historic West Hill Cemetery will showcase notable figures from the 19th and 20th centuries who are buried there. The brochure is designed to capitalize on public interest in historic events and unique human interest stories. The tour will be unveiled at the cemetery on Wednesday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. The project was developed by the Dalton Historic Preservation Commission and funded by a grant from the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources with matching funds and additional support from the City of Dalton.

Historic figures who have made West Hill their final resting place include:

- Henry “Suitcase” Simpson, one of the earliest African American baseball players who joined the Negro League in 1946 and was once called the best defensive right fielder in the league. Simpson called Dalton home.

- General Duff Green, a native Kentuckian who fought in the war of 1812, was a member of President Andrew Jackson’s “kitchen cabinet” and a former owner of both the newspaper in Washington, DC and the United States Telegraph.

- Anthony Johnson Showalter, composer, music teacher and publisher most famous for writing “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”, one of the most popular gospel songs of the 20th century.

Others interred in the historic cemetery include champion motorcyclist and Hall of Famer Dale Singleton; founder of Dalton’s bedspread and textile industry Catherine Evans Whitener; poet Robert Loveman and others. The cemetery features a Civil-War era Confederate Cemetery with 421 graves and a commemorative wall listing the names of both Confederate and Union soldiers buried there. Architectural features include a Gothic-inspired stone chapel, a reproduction Civil War cannon and a number of exemplary obelisks, pedestals and angels, as well as a Civil War statue known as the Lone Sentinel.

Development partners for the project included the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, the North Georgia Regional Commission, the Tourism Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Additional information was gleaned from aWhitfield County school project on cemeteries, recorded by students in 1998.

The new brochure, street markers and tour are a part of Dalton’s ongoing efforts to develop tourism products that resonate with targeted visitors to the area. Brochures will be distributed by the Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau through State visitors centers and other means. Brochures will also be available at the new Visitor Center scheduled to open in September in Dalton’s renovated Freight Depot, downtown.

# # #






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Janet Cochran, President

Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation

706-260-5183 cell

tunnelhillfoundation@yahoo.com

Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation Announcements Fall 2009

Tunnel Hill, Ga.-The Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation is pleased to announce of a new collector's ornament, plans for the 2009 Battle of Tunnel Hill Civil War Reenactment, and the soon-to-be-released Taste of Tunnel Hill Cookbook.

The new limited-edition ornament features the historic 1850 Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel and General train engine. Only 3,000 ornaments will be produced. The first 50 are available now at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center for $15 each.

"Each ornament is numbered and comes with a wire stand for display on a shelf or table," says Janet Cochran, President of the Foundation. "It's a tangible reminder of the community's name sake; and while it makes a great gift or collector's item, it's one of our efforts toward keeping this historic treasure on the minds of our visitors."

The annual Battle of Tunnel Hill Civil War Reenactment is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday September 19th - 20th 9:00am - 4:00pm each day.

"The reenactment is a week later than usual this year due to a major conflict with reenactors' schedules," says Cochran. "We expect to return to our normal date next year."

The weekend event will consist of living history camps, sutler tents where attendees can shop for Civil War-era clothing, collector items, books and more, and a reenactment each day at 2:00pm. Concessions will be available as well as free admission to the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center and historic tunnel during the event weekend.

Event organizers are currently working with local educators to schedule hundred of school children to be on site for a living history education the Friday before the event weekend. Reenactors volunteer their time to teach the kids about life as a soldier

-continued-

Page 2 - Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation Announcements Fall 2009

during the Civil War, and provide snippets of history not always found in the text books.

Admission to the reenactment is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 3-12 and free for children under three. Parking is free, but donations are gladly accepted by the Boy Scouts who are helping with this aspect of the event.

Area plein air artists sponsored by the Art Alliance of Georgia will also be joining the crowd as they paint on site during the event. Plein air artists enjoy the light and atmosphere of painting outside on site.

"Capturing the historical significance of this NW GA area is something close to the hearts of these artists," says B. J. Wright, Art Alliance member. "It's their way of preserving heritage for future generations. The paintings are special because they also express the feelings of the individual artists."

The artwork produced at the reenactment will be available for sale during the event weekend with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation. Artists who would like to participate may contact B. J. Wright at beejw@charter.net.

The Taste of Tunnel Hill Cookbook produced by the Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation is scheduled to make its debut during the month of September, and will be available at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center during regular business hours Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm.

For more information, visit www.TunnelHillHeritageCenter.com or call 706-876-1571.

###

MEDIA ALERT

FOOD NETWORK STAR TO HEADLINE CULINARY WEEKENDS IN DALTON, GA

All-Inclusive Weekend Escapes Feature Food, Wine & Fun


Food Network star James Briscione (and 20 lucky couples) will prepare, cook and enjoy a gourmet meal together, enjoy special wine tastings and other unique food-related events in Dalton, Georgia this October and November.



Dalton’s NEW, two-weekend series titled “Culinary Weekend Escape Tours” is limited to 20 couples per weekend. Event dates are October 9-10 and November 6-7.



Culinary tour highlights include:



- Visiting Historic Prater’s Mill to learn how cornmeal was made in the 1800’s – then using fresh, stone-ground cornmeal in a cooking class with James Briscione

- Wine tasting and fun at the Downtown Dalton Wine Festival

- A Four-course-dinner at Planet of the Grapes, a gourmet restaurant and wine bar

- A Wild Game cooking class and dinner

- An “All Around the US” beer and food pairing event

These weekend tours occur on October 9-10, 2009 and November 6-7, 2009. The all-inclusive packages include hotel costs, all breakfasts, most lunches, all dinners, cooking classes and demonstrations, transportation to and from events, entrance to events and special souvenirs to remind you of your experience! Ticket prices start at $325 for the weekend. Couples packages and two-weekend discounts available.

Dalton, Georgia is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 80 miles north of Atlanta and 30 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This great weekend escaped is produced by the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Chef James Briscione is the winner of Food Network’s “Chopped” show. He lives in New York and has been featured in on-line cooking segments for ABC News Now, delish.com, and Conde Nast, as well as Martha Stewart Radio on Sirius. Together with his wife, Brooke Parkhurst, he has written a cookbook titled “Just Married and Cooking” a new lifestyle entertaining guide for the uninitiated, newly-married, kitchen-challenged couple.


For more information on the Culinary Weekend Escapes, please visit www.VisitDaltonGA.com

###




For Immediate Release Media Contact:
June 25, 2009 Natasha Colkmire
706-876-1572
ncolkmire@VisitDaltonGA.com


Discover Dalton’s Culinary Tour with Food Network Star!

DALTON, GA (June 25, 2009) – The Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is celebrating the culinary success of Northwest Georgia by hosting a two part weekend series titled “Culinary Weekend Escape Tour.” The participants of the tour will find the weekends full of education, activities and experiences that are directly linked to all things culinary starting at the value price of $295.00.

Food Network star and winner of the show Chopped, James Briscione, will join the tour for the first series, giving an interactive cooking class for the participants. Through the class, the participants will work alongside Briscione as he teaches different culinary techniques that can be used to make that evening’s dinner.

Having his first cooking experiences in Pensacola Beach, FL where he was raised, Briscione knew his calling. He moved to Birmingham, AL to study Nutrition/Dietetics at Samford University and then finally moved to New York City where he is now a chef-instructor for the Institute of Culinary Education. Since moving to New York, Briscione has also been featured in on-line cooking segments for ABC News Now, delish.com, and Conde Nast, as well as Martha Stewart Radio on Sirius. Together with his wife, Brooke Parkhurst, they have written a cookbook titled Just Married and Cooking that will act as a lifestyle entertaining guide for the uninitiated, newly-married, kitchen-challenged couple.

Along with Briscione’s cooking class, the first weekend of the tour will be full of culinary delights. A wine festival, country fair, and a beer tasting are just a few of the activities that are on the schedule.

The second and final weekend of the tour will be on November 6-7, 2009. Celebrating the Thanksgiving season, the weekend’s highlight will be a Wild Game Dinner. Like the first cooking class, it will be an interactive cooking class, allowing the participants to learn how to prepare wild game. With the Wild Game Dinner, other activities that are scheduled are Dalton’s Annual Pancake Day, a wine tasting at the Georgia Winery, and wine and cheese at Georgia’s oldest multi-displinary art guild followed by a four-course meal.

For pricing and more information, please visit www.VisitDaltonGA.com

###

MEDIA ADVISORY


Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
P. O. Box 6177 * Dalton, GA 30722* 706-270-9960 * www.VisitDaltonGA.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2009


DALTON AREA CVB BEGINS SEARCH
FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melanie Suggs Tapped as Interim Executive/Consultant

The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has begun its search for a new executive director. In the meantime, Melanie Suggs, former executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority (JDA) has been hired on a consulting basis, as interim executive director.

According to John Davis, new chairman of the board of the CVB, the search process is already well underway. “We are placing ads in top regional tourism industry publications. We’re seeking a well-qualified and experienced professional and we know we will find that person. But the process takes time. Research shows that organizations who hire an interim executive tend to become stronger and are more ready to move quickly when that new professional arrives.”

Ms. Suggs, who has in the past been chief executive of tourism organizations in Washington, DC and Annapolis, Maryland, as well as executive director of the local JDA, will act as interim director as the CVB goes through this transitional period. She will be an independent consultant who will use her years of experience in non-profit management, marketing, tourism and economic development for the good of the CVB.

“I’m pleased to be working on this project with the CVB”, Suggs said. “Our community has significant opportunities and the CVB board and its great staff have already begun outlining specific action items we need to keep on track. My job, as a consultant, will be to facilitate the transition and keep the organization moving forward.” She will manage projects, timelines, finances and outreach, and will assist in facilitating the search process.

The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization created to promote economic development through travel and tourism, attracting visitors through marketing, sales outreach, etc. The CVB is jointly funded by Whitfield County and the City of Dalton and is governed by a volunteer board.
####



MEDIA RELEASE:

FROM:
Prater’s Mill Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Drawer H
Varnell, GA 30756
USA
Phone: (706) 694-6455 Fax: (706) 694-8413
Email: Peacock@PratersMill.Org
www.PratersMill.Org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JANE GALAY: Project Manager@ 423.303.6509

Grassroots Arts Program:
“PRATER’S IS THE PLACE WHERE THE PEACOCK STRUTS” - PEACOCK PARTY!

Grassroots Art Program and the Prater’s Mill Foundation, Inc will host this Art and Cultural Event, Saturday, May 9th, Mother’s Day Weekend, from 1pm to 4 pm at Prater’s Mill.

The public is invited for an afternoon of Creativity, Tea, and History honoring the Mother’s of Our Industry with an unveiling of Prater Mill’s first Peacock Barn Design. This initial signage will soon be displayed on barns the length of the Scenic Byway, thus commemorating regionally famous “Peacock Alley,” North Georgia’s entrepreneurial endeavors once viewed hanging from local clotheslines all along the old Dixie Highway/Hwy 41, replaced now by I-75.

“The Genius of Girls, Women Who Have Changed Our World” is the theme of the day It will be a day to rediscover the power of inspired Art, how it transformed and energized our community, and as evidenced in this region with an inherent legacy able to refocusing the community towards economic hope for the future. This Mother’s Day event is for each generation of women, from 12 to 102, to come together in participation!

Tickets are not required, RSVP requested by contacting Peacock@PratersMill.Org, or by calling Jane at (423) 303-6509. Be sure to visit our website at www.PratersMill.Org

Directions: Prater’s Mill is located in the Varnell community at 500 Prater’s Mill Road/GA Hwy 2, Dalton, GA 30721. Dalton and Varnell are 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Interstate travelers should take 1-75 to the Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit #341; drive north 4.5 miles to the intersection with Hwy 2 at Varnell; turn right and continue 2.6 miles to the Mill, a total distance of 7 miles from I-75. GPS coordinates are: N34 53.720 W84 55.197

“This Grassroots Art Program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly as administered by the Creative Arts Guild, the GCA’s Grassroots Regional Partner agency “

Renee' Rector, Arts in Education Director
Creative Arts Guild
P. O. Box 1485
Dalton, GA 30722-1485

Phone: 706-259-2846
Fax: 706-278-6996


Press Release
March 31, 2009

Contact: Margaret Thigpen
Executive Director, Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
mthigpen@VisitDaltonGA.com
Direct Line: 706-281-1289

The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcomes
Many Visitors in April!

The Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (DACVB), the primary marketing arm for Dalton & Whitfield County, has worked with and stand ready to “roll out the red carpet” to the following groups in April:

April 2-4, 2009 – Adventist Layman’s’ Services & Industries Spring Conference – approx. 750 attendees
April 3-4, 2009 – Super Series Invitational – approx. 720 attendees
April 11, 2009 – Classic Car Cruise In – approx. 200 attendees
April 15-17, 2009 – Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities – approx. 155 attendees
April 16-19, 2009 – Red Clay 25th Anniversary – approx. 10,000 – 20,000 attendees
April 17-18, 2009 – Super Series Invitational – approx. 720 attendees
April 30-May 2, 2009 – Southeast Garden Railroad Show – approx. 700 attendees

“This is great news for these groups represent an estimated economic impact of $899,767 for our community. Regardless of the ever slowing economy, people still feel it is their right to travel, they are just being more cost conscious and the Dalton Area is a prime choice,” said Margaret Thigpen, Executive Director of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The above groups represent those that have worked directly with the DACVB and do not include those using other facilities like the Northwest GA Trade & Convention Center. For information on community events visit DaltonEvents.com.

###