State Economic Impact Report Reveals 20% Increase in Tourism in Morgan County

Travelers spent $252 million and were responsible for 2,711 jobs last year in Morgan County, according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department. That figure represents a 20.3 percent increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation. Annual state lodging taxes collected in Morgan County in 2018 reached over $1.2 million, up 20.3 percent from 2017. New conferences and an increase in fishing and sport tournaments are contributing factors to the consistent growth in tourism in Morgan County.

Decatur Morgan County Tourism President/CEO Danielle Gibson stated “We are excited to learn more visitors made a choice to spend time in Morgan County last year. Several factors contributed to the 20.3 percent increase in visitor spending. An increase in fishing and sport tournaments, new meetings and conferences, affordable lodging, festivals that appeal to all ages and a thriving downtown district helped drive more visitors to Morgan County in 2018. Decatur Morgan County Tourism has also taken steps to increase engagement with target audiences by increasing its social media presence and pumping more advertising dollars into digital campaigns and consumer shows.”

In 2018, travel-related total expenditures in Morgan County reached $252,566,773, up from $210 million in 2017. Lodging tax collection broke the million-dollar mark for the second time in Morgan County. In 2018, lodging tax collected reached $1,267,414, up 20.3 percent from 2017 ($1,053,185). “These figures indicate that tourism is an important economic driver for our county and state and we would not realize this success without the partnerships we have established with our accommodations, restaurants, merchants, Decatur Parks and Recreation, elected officials and other local organizations,” said Gibson.

Travel-related earnings showed a 24.5 percent increase from $52,240,371 in 2017 to $65,046,434 in 2018, and 2,711 individuals were employed directly and indirectly in the tourism industry, an 18.5 percent growth over 2017. “Providing job opportunities for more than 2,700 individuals, and with an estimated $65 million in payroll income, the tourism industry is an important employment sector for Morgan County. The numbers reflect the power of the county’s collaboration efforts between civic, government and business who are all working together to create and sustain new jobs, drive visitor spending, enhance the visitor experience and generate tax revenues,” added Gibson.

The tourism and travel industry generates millions of dollars for state and local government each year. The Alabama travel industry grew by $1.2 billion in 2018 to a record of $15.5 billion in expenditures. It is estimated that more than 27.7 million people visited the state during 2018 and an estimated 198,890 jobs were directly or indirectly attributable to the travel and tourism industry. In 2018, more than $954 million of state and local tax revenues were generated by travel and tourism activities. Without those taxes, each household in Alabama would have had to pay $507 in additional taxes to maintain current service levels.

The report, Economic Impact 2018, was conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department using a model created by Dr. Keivan Deravi, an economist in the School of Business at Auburn University Montgomery. The purpose of the study is to estimate the economic impact of the travel and tourism industry in Alabama for 2018 and includes information on the number of jobs attributed to tourism, spending and revenue figures and the most visited counties. Information sources used to prepare this report included primary data, detailed monthly lodging tax data, copies of previously commissioned economic impact studies, and other relevant information and publications.

For the complete report, go to http://tourism.alabama.gov/reports/ to download a pdf copy.

For more information on Morgan County tourism figures, contact Gibson at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028.

Meet the Board Monday

We are extremely blessed at DMCT to have such a wonderful, supportive board. This year, we've decided to highlight a board member in each newsletter and on our blog, rivercitydrifter.blogspot.com. This month we would like to highlight Ronnie Dukes. 

Ronnie was born on October 12, 1948, to Bill J. and Juanita Dukes. His family moved to Decatur in 1957. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1966 and graduated from the University of Alabama in January 1971 with a BA in Business. 

He was a member of the Alabama Army National Guard from January 1971 -January 1977 and started working the First National Bank of Decatur in March 1972. The bank later became AmSouth Bank.

In1985 he left the bank to begin working for Pepsi Cola Decatur a local owner franchise, owned by Rodger Shabel. 

 He is a member of several boards and civic clubs. These include Rotary Club of Decatur, Decatur Lions Club, Decatur Morgan County Tourism Board, Decatur Park and Recreation Board and the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Board. 

Ronnie is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Decatur where he serves as head of ushers and Chair of the Finance Committee.

He is married to Vicki Thornton Dukes and together they have two children and four grandchildren. 

We are so thankful to have Ronnie on our board and look forward to another prosperous year together! 

Meet the Board Monday

We are extremely blessed at DMCT to have such a wonderful, supportive board. This year, we've decided to highlight a board member in each newsletter and on our blog, rivercitydrifter.blogspot.com. We couldn't think of anyone better to start with than the 2018/2019 DMCT Board Chairwoman, Christy Richardson!

Christy Richardson was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama and has been in the legal field for over 22 years now. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1992, and then went on to receive degrees from Calhoun Community College and Athens State University. At the urging of a dear friend, she decided to continue her education and go to law school. After law school, she joined the law firm of Lentz Whitmire, House & Propst, the firm she had worked for as a legal assistant prior to and while attending law school. She joined Calvin McBride in March 2016, and her practice is now focused primarily on real estate and probate matters.

She has been married to her husband, Ashley, for 20 years and they have two beautiful children, Alex who is 10 and Isla Grace who is 6. I love Decatur and Morgan County, and she is very committed to seeing this community grow and thrive. In addition to being the Board Chairwoman with Decatur Morgan County Tourism, she is the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Decatur and is on the Affiliate Counsel for the Morgan County Association of Realtors. She is past President of the Decatur Jaycees and a past board member of the American Red Cross and the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband are members of First Bible Church in Decatur where they serve as kindergarten teachers. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and staying actively involved in her children’s school and sporting events. You can find her most evenings on the soccer fields or in the dance studio.

We are so thankful to have Christy on our board and look forward to another prosperous year together!  

Decatur-Morgan County CVB Announces Name Change

Decatur, Ala. (November 9, 2017) – The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today that the organization’s board of directors approved an organizational name change to Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Inc. effective immediately.

The name change is part of the rebranding initiative to move towards creating a new brand destination and to better align the organization’s name with its current and future tourism efforts. “When I accepted the position of president in 2013, I knew that I had wonderful resources and stories to promote, but I also thought that we needed to move towards creating a new brand destination,” stated Decatur Morgan County Tourism President and CEO Melinda Dunn. “Our name was too long and didn’t accurately reflect our scope of work and our logo, which had served us well for many years, had become dated and needed a refresh. Visitors, vendors and tourism partners will find no change in the quality of services offered as we make the transition to the new name.”

Along with the new name, the organization is sporting a new logo and has adopted a new tagline of Create Your Adventure. The new logo and tagline will be incorporated into all advertising and promotional efforts. The logo features rich warm, earthy tones and incorporates the abbreviation for the state of Alabama into the design to distinguish Decatur Morgan County Tourism from other cities named Decatur.

“Decatur and Morgan County is filled with opportunities for adventure. Our rebrand team loved the idea of being able to create your adventure with the implication of choice and creativity given to each person to define what adventure means to them. Maybe your idea of adventure is to explore your genealogy at the Morgan County Archives or trace the events of the Civil War. For a family with young children, their idea of adventure might be witnessing the colorful spectacle of hot air balloons as they float through the sky at the Alabama Jubilee. To a foodie, adventure might be to going to the Farmer’s Market and gathering an abundance of fresh, local produce to make a special meal, or trying a different local restaurant or local dish each week of the year for one year. For outdoor enthusiasts, your adventure might be paddling the backwaters of the Tennessee River. I could go on and on about the adventures that we have to share, and with our new name, logo and tagline, our team at Decatur Morgan County Tourism will proactively work to bring visitors to our city and county,” said Dunn. 

As part of the rebranding efforts, Decatur Morgan County Tourism is working on the development of a fresh, new web site that reflects the new name, tagline and incorporates more of the features that tech-savy traveler’s demand. Estimated launch is late spring of 2018.

For more information on the new name and logo, call Dunn at 256.350.2028. For full press materials, including new and old company logo graphics, contact Maryanne Floyd, Decatur Morgan County Tourism communications director, at mfloyd@decaturcvb.org.

Award Recipients and 2016 Tourism Figures for Decatur and Morgan County Announced

Decatur, Ala. (November 9, 2017) – During the annual tourism breakfast hosted by the Decatur Morgan County Tourism and the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association on November 9, 2017, at Ingalls Harbor Pavilion, tourism figures for 2016 and six awards were presented and five corporate companies were recognized for excellence in tourism.

According to the most recent economic impact analysis conducted by the Alabama Tourism Department, travel-related expenditures for Morgan County in 2016 exceeded $179 million, an increase of 12.8 % from 2015. Annual state lodging taxes collected in Morgan County in 2016 garnered over $900,000. The tourism and travel industry within Decatur and Morgan County provided 2,080 direct and indirect jobs for local residents and total travel-related earnings for Morgan County exceeded $48 million, reflecting a 7.8% increase. “Tourism puts money in the pockets and purses of our local citizens,” said Decatur Morgan County Tourism President/CEO Melinda Dunn. “Without the dollars collected by the tourism industry, each household in the state would end up paying $444 more in additional taxes, according to the reports developed by economist Dr. Keivan Deravi.”

According to the report, statewide tourism industry has grown by 5.4% with more than 25 million visitors spending $13.3 billion and creating $836 million in state and local tax revenues in 2016. An estimated 179,644 jobs are attributable to tourism and the total impact of the travel industry on Alabama’s earnings in 2016 is estimated at over $4.7 billion. The general fund of the State of Alabama received over $49.4 million from lodging tax revenues and travel spending in Alabama has doubled over the previous 14 years. 

Wade Weaver, treasurer of the Decatur Morgan County Tourism board of directors, stated, “When we hear the word industry, we tend to think in traditional terms such as the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods in factories. However, tourism is an industry, and it is proving to be a natural in its role as a key economic driver in our local and state economy. It continues to be a sweet time for tourism in our Sweet Home Alabama.”

This year’s theme for the annual tourism breakfast was Tourism: It’s In Our Nature. During the presentation, Decatur Morgan County Tourism took time to reflect on growth resulting in new visitors and revenue to the city and county. Decatur and Morgan County boast over two dozen annual events that bring over 100,000 visitors to the area. The special events and tournaments hosted in the area encompass activities that range from soccer to dog shows, tennis to fishing, Ultimate Frisbee to Lacrosse, horse shows to hockey. “Over 8,000 documented hotel rooms from events hosted in the area translate into an economic impact of over $5.9 million dollars for Morgan County alone,” said Dunn.

Additional developments of 2016 that had a positive impact on tourism growth in Decatur include:

- From 2009 to 2016, using data only from events where the Decatur Morgan County Tourism served as the official housing bureau, sporting activities at Jack Allen Recreation Complex, which include soccer, lacrosse, archery and ultimate, brought in a documented 41,821 room nights for the area and an economic impact of $30,909,108. 

- Decatur Morgan County Tourism received a grant to develop three new pieces promoting local heritage to include a new African American Pioneers Brochure, signage for the Burleson Fine Arts Center and a brochure to accompany the new Trail of Tears Interpretive Trail and its signage that was installed in 2017.   

- Decatur and Morgan County received national media attention on ESPN and Fox Sports SE through coverage of various sporting events that include fishing on Wheeler Lake and softball at Wilson Morgan Park. 

- Point Mallard Park was named as one of Alabama’s top 10 tourist attractions for 2016 by the Alabama Tourism Department.

- A new state-of-the-art visitor’s kiosk was installed at the Ardmore Welcome Center this year. The kiosk provides tourists a new way to discover Decatur and Morgan County by providing instant access to information on attractions, festivals and local businesses. Additionally, a new visitor panel located above a key entry that visually connects to the display was installed.  Each year, over one million visitors stop at Ardmore.

During the annual breakfast, the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association honored area hotels, industries, and citizens with its annual awards. Based on data submitted from seven participating hotels in Decatur, the Top Five Corporate Companies producing the most room nights in Morgan County during 2016 were recognized. Those receiving recognitions were Toray with 1,824 room nights; 3M with 1,905 room nights; Nucor with 2,461 room nights; United Launch Alliance with 3,636 room nights; and Hexcel with 5,346 room nights.

Each year, the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association selects an Event of the Year and honors its impact on Decatur and Morgan County. This year’s honoree is a relatively new event that has shown significant growth since its inception five years ago. The 2017 Event of the Year is Battle at the Jack. This three-day tournament attracts up to 120 teams from across the Southeast, bringing some of the region’s best youth soccer players to Decatur and producing 367 room nights in September. Hosted by the River City United Soccer Club, Battle at the Jack is an Alabama Soccer Association and United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) sanctioned tournament that offers competitive soccer opportunities. Funds raised from this event are used to support soccer scholarships for children.

The Good Neighbor Award is given to a person, business, organization or entity whose body of work has had a significant impact on local tourism. The “Good Neighbor” may be an event organizer who lives out of town but helps with events in Morgan County; it can be an organization or business that significantly supports local events, or a person whose job may be outside the typical realm of tourism but whose work has made a difference. When Hurricane Irma forced people to flee their homes seeking refuge in Decatur and Morgan County, many local hotels hosted evacuees and made this difficult time in their lives easier and local citizens and churches sprung into action and brought food. The Good Neighbor Award is presented to all of those individuals and organizations that assisted the evacuees during their stay in Decatur.

The Tourism Professional of the Year award is presented to the person who has exhibited extraordinary leadership skills and initiative associated with their position. This year’s nominations were so strong that it resulted in a tie. The members of the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association elected to name a King and Queen Tourism Professional of the Year. The Tourism Professional of the Year was awarded to Mr. Scott Suenaga of the Courtyard by Marriott and Ms. Seyma Njbigbo of the Best Western.

To go along with Decatur Morgan County Tourism’s new tag line, a new award was presented at this year’s tourism breakfast. The first recipient of the Create Your Adventure award is Mr. Art Thrash with the Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic. Thrash has served on the Alabama Jubilee committee and also has been the pilot for the city’s balloon for many years. He is retiring as pilot this year.

Presented to a person, or persons, within Morgan County who has contributed significantly beyond their professional duty to the development and promotion of tourism for the betterment of Decatur and Morgan County, the 2017 Julian Walker “Mr. Tourism” Award was awarded to Mr. Tyler Jones, owner of The RailYard and Whisk’d Café. 

The Gilmer Blackburn Legacy Award was created as a means of recognizing an individual who has shown a long lasting and permanent contribution to the industry over the years and has helped change the tourism landscape of Morgan County. It is named in honor of the late Mayor Blackburn who was instrumental in developing the foundation of the tourism industry here. For his service to Decatur and Morgan County and the tourism industry, Jimmy D. Smith of Jimmy Smith Jewelers was presented with the 2017 Gilmer Blackburn Legacy Award.

For more information on tourism figures and awards, contact Melinda Dunn at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028.

Celebrate Back to School at 3rd Friday

Downtown Decatur’s monthly block party takes to the streets this Friday, August 18 for an evening of music, shopping, dining, classic cars and vendors. In celebration of back to school, festivalgoers are encouraged to bring school supplies to benefit local children.   

Organized by the Downtown Merchants and Business Association, 3^rd Friday gets underway at 5:30 p.m. This month’s celebration features a school supply drive and festival goers are asked to bring donations to Jones Park to benefit the local Boys and Girls Club.  

While antique cars line 2^nd Avenue, some of the area’s best musicians and entertainers will be performing at various locations. Performers slated for Friday include Elvis impersonator Michael Dean at the Princess Theatre, Divide by Zero at Gyro Uno, Lindsey Gravitt at Downtown Dawgs and Wild Paisley at Kathleen’s. Everyone is also invited to a street dance party led by Delandrion Woods at the intersection of Moulton and 2^nd Avenue.

Craft vendors selling handmade items and artists and artesian goods vendors will fill the area of 2^nd Avenue from Moulton Street to Johnston Street. Additional store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at select retailers, and many of the merchants will remain open until 8 p.m. or later.

3^rd Friday is concentrated in the 2^nd Avenue area only (including Holly Street, Moulton Street, Johnston Street and Grant Street). Beginning at 4:30 p.m. streets will begin to be blocked and will be closed to traffic from 5:30 until 9:00 p.m. Antique and classic cars are asked to be in place by 5:30 p.m. For more information on 3^rd Friday, visit www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/.

Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Additional sponsors include Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Magnolia River, Bank Independent, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Cook’s Pest Control, Morgan County Commission, Nucor Steel, 3M, Peck-Glasgow Insurance, Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance and King Insurance Agency. The Downtown Merchants and Business Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor.

A Weekend Retreat to Satisfy Both Sexes

Summer is here, which of course, means it’s time to take a break from reality and gather your friends for a weekend getaway. Still trying to decide on the ideal location? Look no further than Decatur, Alabama. Nestled along the Tennessee River, Decatur is a Southern oasis perfectly tailored to host a weekend full of activities for both sexes. No matter what your group is into, this charming city has the total package.  

Shopping, sunning, and, spas- the quintessential recipe for the perfect girls’ weekend

You will love the quality time with your ladies and feel like a million bucks while experiencing all that Decatur has to offer. Spend some time strolling the tree-lined streets of Decatur’s historic shopping district and explore the specialty shops offering a variety of eclectic items. You will surely find something to boost your wardrobe at Indigo’s and other unique boutiques found in the historic downtown Decatur and Hartselle shopping districts. In search of completely unique home décor? Kathleen’s Interiors in downtown Decatur has an incredible selection original furniture and artwork you never knew you always needed in your home!
If your crew is craving some fun in the sun, reconnect with your inner child at America’s first wave pool at Point Mallard Park. Relax in a float as you improve your summer tan and let the waves rock your worries away. When you need a break from that scorching heat, spend an afternoon in cushy robes with cucumber-covered eyes, and unwind with the girls in Decatur’s most exclusive day spa, deLoain. Pamper yourself with a relaxing pedicure or massage or renew your skin with a refreshing facial.
After a day of leisure, you’ve probably worked up quite the appetite! Round up the crew and head to Simp McGhee’s for fine dining spiced up with a Cajun twist! This storied local downtown dining hub boasts a tapas menu with shareable bites like the Crystal Shrimp Martini, dinner mains such as the creamy, garlicky Speegle, and the housemade fave speciality cocktail the Bank Street Tea. If you’re looking for a more casual dining option, check out Hard Dock, located right on the Tennessee River, and enjoy a beautiful Alabama sunset while listening to live music, sipping cocktails, and eating delicious seafood on the outdoor patio.
Spend a weekend outside with the guys
Plan an outdoor-fueled guys’ weekend by taking advantage of the Decatur’s many recreational activities. For the fishing enthusiasts, Wheeler Lake offers top-notch waters for dropping a line. Rife with bass and catfish, you’re bound to get a bite on this top-notch local fishery. Enjoy a peaceful day on the water... until you and your buddies start trying to decide who had the bigger catch!
If golfing is more your competitive speed, Point Mallard’s course is a great option for teeing up. With 200 acres of wooded flatlands right on the Tennessee River this scenic course is one to experience. It is open to the public and only $26 for an 18-hole round.
For a more leisurely day, head to historic Decatur to take a trip back in time with the self-guided Civil War walking tour. Beginning at the Old State Bank building, the thirteen-block walk chronicles events surrounding the four-day 1864 Battle of Decatur. History buffs will also enjoy the Blue and Gray Museum at 723 Bank Street, which is home to what is believed to be the largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the country.
Everyone knows any manly weekend isn’t complete without beer and meat. Moe’s BBQ provides a laid-back setting with live music, some of Alabama’s most beloved wings and a beer selection to meet all needs. The Railyard is another favorite with area beers on tap and a local farm and produce-based selection of mouth-watering Southern influenced dishes. Dine on roasted quail, venison and pork meatloaf, prime rib, or lamb shank—this menu leaves no meat behind!
Where to turn in for the night 
After you’ve delighted in dining, dancing, and live music at Decatur’s various venues like The Hard Dock, The Brick, and the historic Princess Theatre, your crew will want a cozy place to call it a night. Whether your group prefers comfy hotel beds and continental breakfasts or sleeping under the stars, Decatur has options for every style of respite at every single price point. The Point Mallard campgrounds have 210 shaded camp sites over 25 wooded acres. Waste no time in finding your ideal spot and getting right to the many activities in Point Mallard Park that are walking distance to the grounds! If WiFi and room service are necessities, the Decatur Riverfront DoubleTree has you covered. They offer a variety of amenities including an indoor/outdoor pool and fitness center. No worries if you need to use those Marriott points—Decatur has a lovely Courtyard Marriott as well! In addition, the newly opened Home2 at Ingalls Harbor has an array of posh rooms perfect for crashing hard at the end of all your distinctly Decatur adventures!
 However you choose to design your weekend in Decatur, your friends are sure to love you for it! For more information on Decatur’s many attractions and lodging options visit decaturcvb.org or call 800-524-6181.