Augusta travel business up despite economy

Janet Jordan got to town Sunday, her husband had business at Fort Gordon and she came along from Belton Texas and gave area stores a little business.

“I think it’s wonderful I’ve had a great time I had fun shopping, wonderful shops,“ she said with a laugh.

Though maybe not wonderful it’s been a good year so far for Augusta’s hotel business.

Despite economic woes the city’s hotel-tax collection through September is up seven percent compared to a year ago,the highest increase in the state.

“We’ve been fortunate we’re seeing a seven percent increase right now in our hotel revenue and the resulting lodging tax that comes from that for the city and we’re knocking on wood and hope we continue in that same direction,“ says Barry White President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

White says all the construction in the city, such as I-20 and Fort Gordon, has been good for the hotel business, bringing in out of town workers.

“and our conventions and visitor business seems to be going good as well,“ he added.

And the new Trade, Exhibit, and Events Center will also be good for business.

Commissioners hired the architect Tuesday and already the CVB has several groups making plans on using it when it’s ready.

Big events that should have a big impact on the economy.

“We’re looking at ten million dollars that first year that’s visitor spending, I’m not blowing it out of proportion this is what we are estimating these people will spend while they are in town, says Peggy Seigler Vice President of Sales.

The TEE Center is still a couple of years away and a few million dollars short of being ready to go.

Augusta Voters approved 20 million dollars in the last sales tax to build it, but White says more sales tax dollars will be needed to complete it.