Tourism

B2B Stories

Helene’s impact on the local tourism industry

Local tourism and hospitality leadership is assessing the impact Helene has had so far, and will have in the coming days, on Metro Augusta. Destination Augusta estimates as much as $8.5 million has been lost in economic impact from events that have been canceled and will be canceled for the foreseeable future. “With the news that hurricane Helene was going to impact Georgia, we began to see conferences and conventions cancel their plans. Obviously, the first major thing to go last week was the Iron Man event that was supposed

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B2B Stories

August in Augusta: $4.2 Million

Augusta is known as the Cyber City and this month, there will be a financial bump for the community, thanks to a big conference in the middle of the month. Tourism professionals from Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council estimate that about 8,255 visitors will be attending meetings, reunions, events, and sporting events in Augusta’s River Region and will generate at least $4,183,810 in total estimated economic impact (EEI) in August 2024. More than 3/4’s of the economic impact will come from a week-long conference at Tech Net Augusta

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B2B Stories

Nike Peach Jam highlights $20 million month

About $18 million of tourism spending will be circulating around the CSRA, thanks to the Nike Peach Jam and Peach Invitational Tournament later in July—according to Destination Augusta and the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The tourism arms of Augusta expect more than 16.000 visitors attending those sporting events, meetings, and reunions in July, with a projection of $20,409,989 in economic impact. This includes eight family reunions and many other events and workshops. According to DA and GASC, there are nearly 30,000 jobs that are part of the Leisure and Hospitality

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B2B Stories

Celebrating travel and tourism week in Augusta

The people responsible for supporting tourism in Augusta have celebrated the annual National Travel and Tourism Week from May 19 through 25. Destination Augusta threw two parties to mark the importance of the week, including the 5th anniversary of a shop designed to draw people downtown. Augusta & Co. at 1010 Broad Street, opened its doors in 2019. It serves as a Welcome Center and clearinghouse for what the city offers. “We did our homework and our research, including getting input from our customers. Augusta & Co. was purposefully designed

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B2B Stories

One down and one to go at Augusta Airport

Fast on the heels of the 2024 Masters Tournament, Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition, Augusta Regional Airport is preparing for another large-scale event. The second annual Augusta Air Show is set for May 25 and 26. The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team is this year’s headliner. According to the team’s media guide, the team is stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and “performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The team also teams

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Awards/Celebrations

Winning murals will adorn walls of iconic roadside candy store

Before Buc-ees, there was Stuckey’s. It’s a short trip down Highway 1 to Wrens, Georgia, in case you need a Stuckey’s pecan log roll fix or to feast your eyes on some award-winning art. The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Stuckey’s Corporation have unveiled the artists chosen to adorn the candy plant’s exterior walls, Pash Lima and the team behind “Color the World Bright,” a collaborative project led by Joseph Norman, Professor of Art at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, and Katie Brannen,

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B2B Stories

Showing off Augusta to business leaders from around the world

While much of Augusta is awash in Masters green, a swath of red was rolled out at a hospitality tent on Washington Road. A red carpet pointed the way for business leaders arriving for the 62nd annual Red Carpet Tour. The event is coordinated by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. “It is a great way to showcase the state, but also our region for all new employers looking to come to town, but also as a thank you

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B2B Stories

Changes to Augusta’s Masters Week traffic plan

Augusta’s traffic engineering division is ready to launch the traffic plan for Masters Week 2024. Assistant Director, John Ussery held a media briefing and outlined the plan. Much of it is familiar, steps created to improve traffic flow for the roughly 30,000 vehicles trying to access and depart the golf course. This year, however, the plan includes two major changes. A traffic light was installed at Washington Road and River Ridge Road. It is necessary because the Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) purchased the former Electrolux building and turned it

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B2B Stories

Augusta sees Black History Month tourism boost

Today may be the last day of the month of Black History Month and a special Electric Vehicle promotion—but Destination Augusta CEO and President, Bennish Brown thinks the AAA travel troupe saved the best for last! At a news conference at the Augusta Tourism Center’s headquarters, Brown, representatives from the Augusta mayor’s office and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum shared with the AAA how important this unique program is. “AAA is a brand that shouts reliability and they know how to partner with businesses to save money on goods and

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B2B Stories

Augusta group grows economy; wins statewide awards

Last week in North Georgia, Destination Augusta took home two awards at the annual tourism convention. Many members were on hand to take home The Bill Hardman Sr. Tourism Champion Award for Product Development, for the concept, funding support, launch, and delivery of the Authentic Augusta Experience collection. “During the development of the Authentic Augusta Experience Collection, Destination Augusta worked with 10 partners through a year-long development process. Partners were equipped with tools for ideation, creation, scripting, and delivery of these novel experiences. Each experience engages all five senses—taste, touch,

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