Friday, March 19, 2004
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Friday, March 19, 2004 |
| Tourism Assn. getting down to business By J. FRANK LYNCH With two full months of experience overseeing operations at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater and Peachtree City Tennis Center, it feels like “business as usual” for the Peachtree City Tourism Association Board of Directors. For example, at the board’s regular monthly meeting Wednesday night it approved contracts to private firms to handle landscaping duties at both venues, as well as cleaning services at the Tennis Center. It also considered a plan for employee liability insurance, appointed local attorney Carol Sumner-Black to oversee the Tourism Association’s legal affairs, accepted a proposal to develop marketing campaigns for both the tennis center and amphitheater, and discussed a proposed “spring special” for new membership to the tennis center they hope will jump-start the healthy, but somewhat stagnant, rolls. Additionally, the PCTA signed off on a new one-year contract to the managers of the Ashland Grille, the private restaurant that operates out of the second floor of the Tennis Center clubhouse. The eatery will celebrate one year in operation in April, after changing hands and hanging in limbo for several months early last year. Debbie Britt of Peachtree City, who operates her own marketing firm under the name “Britt Ideas” and steered the development of the city's new corporate logo and “Plan to Stay” slogan, was hired on to develop separate marketing schemes for both the amphitheater and tennis center. Britt said she isn't aware of any negative impressions about either facility, but that her goals wouldn't be focused on changing public perception as much as raising awareness, both internally and in the public, about the venues. “The whole purpose of having a marketing plan for any business is to have a roadmap of where you’ve been and where you're going,” she explained after Wednesday’s meeting. “It charts a course for all of your long-range strategic planning.” The amphitheather’s acting manager, Lisa Marie Waslis, confirmed that “selling” the concert facility to its patrons isn’t really necessary, since the Summer Concert Series routinely sells the majority of its season ticket packages. Sales for the first five concerts in the upcoming Summer Concert Series have gone well, she added. The lineup for the second half of the 10th anniversary season at “The Fred” will be made next Friday, March 26, Waslis said. Meanwhile, both first-time and current members of the Tennis Center will have incentive to buy memberships this spring. Under a “membership special” proposed by Acting Director Sean Ferriera, the standard application fee of $300 will be halved through the season, to $150. An additional $50 off that fee will be awarded if current members sponsor a new member for the first time, meaning both sponsored new applicants and returning members could join for just $100. Ferreira said the membership stands right at about 600 now, just down from the peak of 646 last September before troubles with the Peachtree City Development Authority forced a change in management the resignation of Executive Director Virgil Christian. The Tennis Center is preparing to host two large national tournaments later this spring: The 12-Under Kids Nationals in May will bring the top 128 young players from around the country to Peachtree City, and the tennis center’s Peach State tournament is again expected to attract America’s top amateur tennis athletes. Two years ago, Peach State was won by Bobby Reynolds, who went on to earn the No. 1 Title in the nation from the NCAA. The 14-Under Nationals tournament will come to Peachtree City in August as well, Ferriera said.
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