By By Janet Little Cooper
Public Information Specialist with the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel were in town Tuesday to inform business owners and residents of Atmore how the bureau could assist them in marketing the city of Atmore.
The ABTT Educational Seminar sponsored by the Atmore Chamber of Commerce was held at Annie's Community Cup Caf/ with more than 30 people in attendance.
Russell Nolan, who works closely with brochure design and development for the bureau shared with the group a number of available publications printed by the bureau that are distributed in various arenas. Among the publications he presented was the 2006 Calendar of Events for Alabama, the official Alabama vacation guide and a brochure featuring 100 Outdoor Adventures in Alabama.
"We have eight welcome centers in the State of Alabama," Nolan said. "On average 1000 people visit those sights each day. We distribute all of these magazines and brochures in the Welcome Centers. Atmore has two centers located in its general vicinity on Interstate 10 in Baldwin and Mobile County. We talk to the visitors in the centers and offer them any information about the State of Alabama, if you make us aware of events or places of interest in your area, Atmore can be promoted to this market each day."
Marilyn Jones Stamps, also a Public Information Specialist, informed the group of the bureaus Matching Grants program that is intended to help cities create and publish their own marketing brochures featuring events and attractions of the region.
The ABTT representatives also discussed the Saturday Walking Tours offered in numerous cities across the state.
"This is an effective way to encourage people to visit our small and even larger communities," Nolan said. "Atmore has a beautiful downtown and the you could promote it through the walking tour program. It would give people an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the area and learn about the cities history at the same time."
Emphasis was placed on this year's theme: 2006 The Year of Outdoor Alabama as well and how local towns could benefit from the yearlong promotion.
Last year, McElhaney's Restaurant and Grill was featured in the 2005 theme of Alabama Food, as one of the top 100 places you should eat at in Alabama before you die.