Skip to main content

Turner College's Blair and Mansour Produce Economic Study for VisitColumbusGA

Expertise in the Butler Center for Research & Economic Development has confirmed what many in the Chattahoochee Valley already know—tourism in Columbus is big business. The Center’s annual study, conducted on VisitColumbusGA’s behalf, reveals visitors’ crucial role in driving local spending, job creation and tax revenue. “Thanks to [study author] Ben Blair and the staff at [Columbus State University’s] Butler Center [for Research & Economic Development], their annual impact analysis allows VisitColumbusGA to not only track specific travel and tourism numbers, but to report on the impact tourism has on Columbus,” stated Peter Bowden, president/CEO of VisitColumbusGA. “These are new dollars to the community, advancing the quality of life for the community.” Columbus State is a significant contributor to regional tourism and quality of life. Its 300-plus year-round arts and culture programs, educational and outreach centers, events featuring its 13 NCAA Division II sports teams, and other university activities undergird the community’s tourism sector. In addition, more than half of its student body hail from outside the area, bringing with them their families for visits and a heightened interest in the area. Facilities on the University's main campus and RiverPark campus frequently host events, sporting competitions, meetings and conferences attracting out-of-town visitors of all ages to the community. The university often partners with VisitColumbusGA and other groups to attract groups and conferences, as well as entertain them and area residents year-round. The Butler Center’s study shows that in FY24 2.07 million visitors traveled to Columbus for business and conferences, conventions, meetings, local attractions or visiting family and friends. Those visitors spent more than $377 million. Visitors generated more than $26 million in city lodging and sales tax revenues.
The tourism sector encompasses 4,491 hospitality jobs with a $151 million-plus payroll. Tourism generated $20 million in visitor-related county and state tax revenue to provide citizens with public services. If it were not for visitor spending, each Columbus household would have to pay an additional $639 in taxes to maintain those same level of services. A $21.75 return on each dollar VisitColumbusGA spends to market the city. “Our ongoing partnership with VisitColumbusGA is one of many examples of how the Butler Center promotes sustainable economic growth in the region, informs public policy and guides business decision-making,” said Fady Mansour, the Center’s director, who is also the Sarah T. Butler Distinguished University Chair of Business & Finance and an associate professor in the Department of Accounting & Finance. “I appreciate Dr. Blair’s thought leadership in this area and VisitColumbusGA’s trust in the Butler Center’s expertise.” The Butler Center for Research & Economic Development, based in the University’s D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology, serves clients ranging from nonprofit organizations and local governments to businesses and chambers of commerce. Mansor and his team collect and analyze economic data to understand local trends, then share their findings to inform local and regional decision-making. Resources like the Center’s Columbus Economic Outlook 2024 and other research endeavors have helped recruit and retain business and industry—such as Diamond Baseball Holdings' January 2024 decision to relocate its Double-A Atlanta Braves affiliate team from Mississippi to Columbus.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Four Turner College Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Teaching

CSU Head Women's Soccer Coach Jay Entlich recently released a list of CSU faculty who have been chosen by a player as a member of the CSU faculty who has impacted the player in a positive way along their journey at CSU. Four Turner College faculty were included on the list, along with the player who nominated each. Management professor Phil Bryant was named by Sophia Leal , a freshman midfielder from Oxford, Georgia. Sophia attended Eastside High School and was a two-time all-region selection during her high school career. Through the first 10 games of 2024, she has scored one goal and recorded three assists.         Next, management professor John Finley was named by Lizz Forshaw , a graduate student forward from Stockton, England. Lizz, who attended IMG Academy in south Florida, has scored four goals and recorded four assists this season. During her senior year in 2023, she scored three goals and recorded two assists. As a junior in 2022, Lizz scored three goals ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Turner College Grad Publishes Academic Study on Corporate Culture and Strategy

Former Turner College student Tamara Todorova , now an associate professor of economics at American University in Bulgaria (AUB), recently published a study on corporate culture and strategy. Todorova earned an MBA from the Turner College in 1996 and then went on to earn a doctorate in international economics from the University of Economics - Varna in 2001. She has been on the faculty at AUB since August of 2000. Todorova's study, which appears in the current issue of the International Journal of Business Performance Management , investigates how corporate culture helps to economize on the transaction costs of internal organization. As she explains, the dimensions of corporate culture that assist in this task include increasing trust and reducing intrafirm opportunism. Todorova's study demonstrates that setting common goals and a common direction reduces the sizeable costs of internal organization. Tamara's prior research appears in Economics of Transition , International ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hammer joins Turner College Finance Faculty

The Turner College's Department of Accounting and Finance welcomes Melissa Ingle Hammer , who joins the group as an adjunct faculty in finance.  Hammer graduated from the Turner College in 2005, after earning a BBA in finance. She later went on to earn an MBA from Auburn University, a Specialist Certificate in Conduct Risk from the University of Manchester, a Certificate in Team Culture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Certificate in Executive Presence from Cornell University. Hammer is the SVP of Fair Lending Product Management with RiskExec at Asurity. She previously worked as Compliance Manager of Fair Lending at Synovus, a senior regulatory consultant with Wolters Kluwer, and as VP of Compliance at TD. This semester Hammer will be teaching FINC 3135, Financial Institutions and Technologies. Turner Business  welcomes Melissa and wishes her a great first semester in the Turner College.
Post a Comment
Read more