The Tourism Department begins the month of August with Sharon Brown representing the CVB in Mobile for the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism. She will be joined by Amy Hudson, CVB state sales manager. The conference unites hospitality industry professionals from around the state for educational seminars and updates from the Alabama Tourism Department. Then it’s off to Buford, GA, for the Motorcoach Association of Alabama, Georgia, South Central Regional Meeting to drum up new group tour business. At the National Association of Motorcoach Operators in mid-August in Jacksonville, FL, tourism staff pursues new business from around the country. Then it’s on to the Motorcoach Association of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia Regional Meeting. The month concludes with a trip to Branson for the Student Youth Travel Association, a rapidly growing market for the Birmingham area. In local activities, Tara Walton will be assisting with the Glenn Beck tour at The Guiding Light Church. Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau – Tourism Dept

In pursuit of new meetings business, Barry Hoehn and Brent Cotton will be in San Francisco early in the month for Meeting Professionals International-World Education Congress. During that time, Mike Gunn will be in Mobile for the Alabama Travel Council board of directors meeting. Mike will be joined later in the month by Steve Pierson at the American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Expo in Detroit. ASAE is considered the top trade association in the country, representing every major American association. To gain even more visual presence, Birmingham will host the opening luncheon at ASAE. Mike Gunn, Brent Cotton and Chianti Cleggett travel to Pittsburgh at the end of August for Connect Marketplace, a major tradeshow for the social, military, educational, religious and fraternal meetings markets. Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau – Meetings

When you’re visiting your favorite Birmingham watering hole, look for the cool new IN coasters, courtesy of the CVB Marketing & Communications Department. The retro-look coasters urge patrons to post their Instagram pictures from where they’re socializing to #INBirmingham. In other department news, Vickie Ashford, director of travel media, has just hosted writers for AAA Publications and for USA Today. Her upcoming guests include Italian and Canadian journalists, along with an Alabama Tourism Department-sponsored tour for eight members of the Australian media. International is our middle name. IN Birmingham