Nov 9, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Bowden
Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone 706.322.1613
Fax 706.322.0701
900 Front Avenue
www.visitcolumbusga.com
e-mail: pbowden@visitcolumbusga.com
Columbus, GA (November 9, 2015): After two separate bid presentations, it is announced that T.E.A.M. Columbus has been selected to host the 2017 annual meeting for Georgia Parks & Recreation Association (GRPA). T.E.A.M. Columbus consists of the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Columbus Parks & Recreation, Columbus Sports Council, and the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.
Other cities competing to host this event included Jekyll Island, Macon, Athens, and Dalton.
GRPA was formed in 1945 as a private, non-profit Institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. It is the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level.
The meeting, to be held in Columbus November 5-10, 2017, will welcome 400 GRPA members and will have an economic impact of $330,000.
“The presentation to the GRPA membership encapsulated the savings for the GRPA members during their conference, benefits to the organization, and the amenities and ambience of Columbus as a meeting destination,” stated Peter Bowden, President & CEO of the Columbus CVB.
“I would like to thank all of our partners that made it possible for us to win the bid for the 2017 GRPA Conference that was just awarded at the 2015 GRPA Conference this week,” said James Worsley, Director of Columbus Parks & Recreation. “Your dedication is appreciated and we look forward to planning the 2017 GRPA Conference with your assistance. We recognize "through teamwork, everyone achieves more!"
Tourism continues to be big business in Columbus, GA. In FY 2015, over 1.9 million visitors traveled to Columbus attending business and trade conferences, conventions and meetings, to tour local attractions, or to visit family and friends. These visitors spent an estimated $340 million locally.
Visitor expenditures supported an estimated 4,477 jobs in the city with an estimated payroll of over $119 million, an average of $27,000 per job. The economic activity arising from visitor spending is estimated to generate over $18.6 million in lodging and sales tax for the city and more than $15 million in sales tax revenue for the state.
For more information, contact the Columbus CVB at (706) 322.1613 or go to visitcolumbusga.com.
# # #