Members of the Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association and the Historic High Country Georgia Travel Association will gather at the Georgia Mountains Center on Monday, March 10, for a full day of seminars. Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Charlie Gatlin will address the group of industry specialists with a Tourism Update at the conference luncheon. A special announcement will be made by Tour de Georgia officials as well.

“Tourism is the second-largest industry in Georgia,” said Stacey Dickson, president of the Gainesville/Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is helping orchestrate the full-day event. “We’re indeed honored to have Charlie Gatlin bring us the most updated information about tourism in our state.”

Nationally known organizational expert Peggy Duncan, author of several books, will headline the day’s sessions. She has been sited in O, Oprah Winfrey’s magazine, Essence, the Today Show and other national media outlets.

“Peggy has a national reputation in time management, productivity and organizational effectiveness,” Dickson said. “Having her wisdom for the day will help all those in tourism be better at their jobs.

The meeting, which generally attracts more than 100 tourism professionals from across the northern section of Georgia, will focus on ways to be more effective. From how to maximize exposure through websites and the internet to learning about ways to be more efficient in project planning, the seminar is an annual event, this year sponsored by the Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association.

The Gainesville/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau was founded in 1992 and serves the hospitality and travel industry. With more than 1,500 hotel rooms, Gainesville and Hall County are major destinations for travelers to Northeast Georgia.

The bureau is governed by a 22-member board of directors, comprised of representatives from the hotel, attraction, restaurant and business community. The bureau markets Gainesville, Oakwood, Lake Lanier Islands and other areas of Hall County throughout the Southeast and supports marketing of major events by its members.

Kay Parks of Jackson EMC is the chairman of the CVB board.

The bureau is housed at 117 Jesse Jewell Parkway in downtown Gainesville. It can be reached at 770-536-5209 or toll-free at 1-888-536-0005. For information about tourism in Gainesville and Hall County, visit www.gainesvillehallcvb.org.