Just in time for Independence Day, Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, has launched the state’s newly redesigned tourism website.
ExploreGeorgia.org now offers visitors fresh custom features including the new Georgia Trip Planner, shareable trip ideas, interactive maps and much more.
“ExploreGeorgia.org is now loaded with new technology like Smart Content, which will help deliver the right content to the right potential visitor at the right time, providing users with exactly what they are looking for,” said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The responsive design gives it an effortless and seamless transition between computers, smartphones and tablets.”
The enhancements made to ExploreGeorgia.org focus on all aspects of the consumer’s travel decision-making process. The site offers inspirational content for planning and booking to sharing trip ideas on social media. One key component of the new site is the ability to create a shareable itinerary by adding tourism sites to the new Georgia Explorer Trip Planner. The Georgia Explorer Trip Planner provides visitors with a customized approach to exploring the website by organizing and mapping out the things they want to see and do in Georgia.
At the heart of the site is new engaging content with featured articles, itineraries, top-ten lists, must-see attractions, and the Explore Georgia blog. Not only will visitors find information about iconic Georgia destinations, attractions, accommodations and events, but the brand new easy-to-navigate website also features:
- Slide shows and image galleries
- interactive maps
- travel deals and packages
- trip ideas
- a complete list of dining options
Additions to the site create greater exposure for the state’s thousands of tourism partners – making it easy for potential travelers to find and access tourism partners’ profile pages where they can find directions through Google Maps, nearby attractions, information and amenities, and deals all in one location. For the first time ever, Georgia Tourism partnered with the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) to incorporate the association’s complete list of restaurants on the state’s tourism website.
ExploreGeorgia.org is Georgia Tourism’s main marketing tool in distributing travel information to visitors throughout the world. The advanced functionality and new design incorporates inspirational content encouraging visitors to plan their next vacation in Georgia.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts events and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. www.georgia.org
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development (GOWD) has been repositioned under the umbrella of GDEcD as the new Workforce Division. This streamlined structure is intended to ensure that the state’s workforce development efforts are aligned with the economic realities of the marketplace and what businesses need to succeed in Georgia.
“I am excited that the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development is now part of GDEcD – their resources and knowledgeable staff will only enhance our economic development portfolio,” said Chris Carr, Commissioner GDEcD. “By aligning these entities, the state gains an enhanced ability to attract new business and to ensure that existing industry continues to thrive in a business-friendly climate.”
As GDEcD works to bring new investment opportunities to our state and to support existing industry, a critical component of this mission is meeting the workforce needs of Georgia companies. The Workforce Division, formally GOWD, adds a workforce development team to Georgia’s economic development assets providing additional resources to new and existing companies in Georgia.
“This move to a streamlined structure highlights Governor Deal’s understanding that workforce issues are paramount to economic development in the state,” said Ben Hames, Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner, Workforce Division. “We are looking forward to having a seat at the table where we believe we will be able to contribute to the great work already being done by GDEcD to keep Georgia the No. 1 place in the nation to do business.”
Earlier this year, Governor Deal announced the creation of the Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative to bring together the leadership of GDEcD, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia and key business leaders across the state. With decision makers from each of these entities at one table, GDEcD will get a clear picture of what Georgia businesses need and pair them with existing assets and/or collectively tackle any gaps. The new Workforce Division will take the lead on this initiative in order to make sure the state’s economic development infrastructure is meeting the workforce needs of Georgia businesses. Governor Deal will kick off the initiative with a series of meetings in Atlanta, Dalton and Statesboro over the next two months. The first meeting will take place in Atlanta at the Georgia Tech Research Institute on April 15 from 8:30am – 11:30am. To learn more – visit http://www.georgia.org/competitive-advantages/workforce/high-demand-career-initiative-hdci/.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) plans, manages and mobilizes state resources to attract new business investment to Georgia, drive the expansion of existing industry and small business, locate new markets for Georgia products, inspire tourists to visit Georgia and promote the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects. Visit http://www.georgia.org and www.workforce.georgia.gov.
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Governor Nathan Deal today announced that Georgia’s business climate is best in the nation according to Site Selection magazine, one of the nation’s top economic development trade publications.
Georgia displaced North Carolina, which was number one last year. The magazine ranking is based on several factors, including plant openings and taxes. Georgia came in at number four last year, second in 2011 and sixth in 2010.
Governor Deal says a diversified economy, low-cost energy, enviable logistics assets and an ear for what businesses require to succeed and to expand are what separate Georgia from the pack in Site Selection’s annual ranking of state business climates.
“Making Georgia the premier state in the nation for business has been a strategic goal from day one of my administration,” said Deal. “We have worked hard to stay ahead of the curve by practicing conservative principles and anticipating business needs not only today, but in the future.”
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