The 2009 Governor’s Tourism Conference will be held next year at Lake Lanier Islands, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Friday.

The announcement was made at the closing session of the 2008 conference held in Albany. Next year’s conference is slated for Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, 2009, and the Lake Lanier Convention & Visitors Bureau will serve as host.

"Between Lake Lanier Islands Resort, and all the wonderful work that the Virgil Williams family is doing there, and the Lake Lanier Convention & Visitors Bureau, we are indeed looking forward to a tremendous conference in 2009," said Betsy Adams, co-chairwoman of the bureau. "Northeast Georgia has a great deal to be proud of in terms of tourism assets, and this is the area’s opportunity to showcase itself to the rest of the state."

For the second consecutive year, the conference will be held by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia.

"As a seventh-generation Hall Countian, I am extremely proud that our area has been chosen for this honor," said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who opened this year’s conference in Albany. "Georgia has much to offer visitors, and the economic impact of tourism has a positive impact on our entire state. I look forward to the 2009 Governor’s Tourism Conference and the many attractions and destinations of the Hall County region being highlighted."

In 2009, the annual conference will be held at Lake Lanier Islands Resort, and the Lake Lanier Convention & Visitors Bureau will be working with area attractions to showcase the assets of Northeast Georgia, from the shorelines of Lake Lanier to the treasures in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

"Lake Lanier CVB and Lake Lanier Islands resort have already begun plans for the conference, which serves as a benchmark for tourism marketing and planning each year," said Stacey Dickson, president of the bureau. "The opportunity to have this important conference at Lake Lanier showcases all that we have to offer and gives us the chance to shine among the many tourism jewels throughout our diverse state of Georgia."

The Governor’s Tourism Conference brings together representatives of the tourism and travel industry from across the state. The conference typically draws 300 to 400 people in the tourism industry, from convention and visitors bureau executives and staff, to managers of the state’s many visitor attractions, special events and festivals, to hotel managers and sales staff, plus officials throughout the state who support tourism.