Loading...Red Carpet Tour Gets Underway
The 45th Annual Red Carpet Tour brings 35 corporate decision makers to Georgia for a look at the state’s business community, April 7-10, 2004. The Tour is a unique economic development initiative that shows off the best Georgia has to offer.
The Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Atlanta serves as the official headquarters for the Tour, which visits metro Atlanta, the Augusta region and northeast Georgia. Throughout its history, the Red Carpet Tour has visited every corner of Georgia and reaped impressive returns. In fact, since 1988, Red Carpet Tour guests have announced more than $3 billion in investments and created more than 24,000 jobs across the state.
The Tour began with a reception and dinner at the Governor’s Mansion, hosted by Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue. On Thursday, the group was on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club for the first round of The Masters. They will also attend the third round on Saturday. Friday is community day on the Tour, as guests will hear from business leaders in metro Atlanta and northeast Georgia.
The Atlanta Program will begin with breakfast at the 755 Club at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves. Gary Stokan, Executive Director of the Atlanta Sports Council and Mike Plant, Executive Vice President of the Atlanta Braves will address the group before they depart for tours of the stadium and trips to the batting cage. A short bus ride will move the group to the brand new Global Tech Learning Center at Georgia Tech for a presentation by Sam Williams, President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Wayne Hodges, Vice Provost of Georgia Tech and Brian Leary, Vice President of Design and Development for Atlantic Station.
Representatives from 12 northeast Georgia counties, including Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Stephens and White, will welcome the Tour to Road Atlanta, where guests will take “hot laps” in race cars and test out the skid pad. A trip to the Lake Lanier Olympic Rowing Venue will divide the team into groups for Dragon Boat Races. A stop for dinner at Riverside Military Academy will include comments from Don Panoz, a Red Carpet Tour success story whose diverse ventures include Chateau Elan, Road Atlanta and Panoz Racing.
Georgia Chamber President & CEO says the Red Carpet Tour is a model economic development program because of the people involved. “Everybody from the guests, state and local hosts and staff make this event what it is,” Israel said. “It is a serious look at the business community but it is also lots of fun.”
The Red Carpet Tour is a partnership between the Georgia Chamber, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism, the Augusta Metro Chamber and Georgia Allies.
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