Georgia Tourism Launches Biggest Social Media Contest Ever

ATLANTA, May 4, 2011 —Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, launched 80 Days of Georgia Giveaways on Monday, May 2. Facebook fans and Twitter followers will have access to more than 100 prizes from across the state over the next 80 days. New prizes will be announced every weekday through August 23, 2011 on www.facebook.com/exploregeorgia and @GeorgiaTourism on Twitter.

'Eighty Days of Georgia Giveaways is an excellent opportunity to not only increase our social network, but encourage existing fans and followers to get out and Explore Georgia,' said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'Our tourism partners from around the state banded together, providing a great sampling of the best of Georgia's tourism offerings. This will be Georgia Tourism's largest social media contest to date, so we look forward to the opportunities this will create for tourism and for Georgia.'

More than 100 prizes including attraction passes, festival tickets, weekend getaways, overnight accommodations, outdoor adventure activities and gift items valued at more than $25,000 will be awarded daily to lucky winners. Grand prizes packages include: Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah (Two-night stay, including breakfast both mornings and two cooking classes at 700 Kitchen Cooking School); Flat Creek Lodge in Swainsboro (Two night stay for two, including breakfast each morning and one evening dinner); and The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island (Four nights, oceanfront room, couples massage, shrimping cruise, sea kayak tour, golf and much more).

Those interested in entering the contest should enter via Facebook at www.facebook.com/exploregeorgia, and @GeorgiaTourism on Twitter. Visit www.80daysofga.com to learn more.

About GDEcD The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.