COLLEGE PARK/ATLANTA, GA (May 20, 2014) - Under the new leadership of Cookie Smoak, the Meet College Park, Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau (Meet CPGA), announces that the destination marketing organization has generated over $12.9 million in economic impact for the city in just over seven months. These impressive proceeds add to the ultimate goal of establishing the city of College Park as a premiere meetings, conventions and tourism destination.

The 12.9 million dollar economic impact is due to the 25 meetings and conventions booked for dates from 2013 through 2016. Aligned with Meet College Park's primary purpose, this impact has created and continued to support local College Park businesses and has increased awareness of the community.

"We are proud to bring such substantial revenue to the city of College Park," says Cookie Smoak, President of Meet College Park, Georgia. "The remarkable response to Meet CPGA's sales and marketing activities is a testament to the unique opportunities that College Park has to offer residents and visitors alike. We are excited to take on some exciting new developments and are eager to see what the future holds for both the organization and community."

Home to the world's busiest airport, Georgia's second largest convention center, more than 5,000 hotel rooms, an eclectic mix of great restaurants, and located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, College Park, GA, has earned its spot as one of the South's premiere destinations for business meetings, conventions and tourism. Becoming the first official group to market and sell the College Park area, Meet CPGA was officially established in 2012 with a mission to fuel economic growth and development within the city of College Park and build awareness of the area's marketable advantages.

The organization has been fully staffed since February 2014, following the hiring of Gabrielle Dickson as marketing and project manager and Valerie Shellnutt as sales coordinator. Keeping the exciting momentum of the team's expansion, the Board of Directors is thrilled to publicize Meet CPGA's overwhelming progress in contributing over 12.9 million dollars to the city of College Park's economy.

"We are confident that Meet College Park's sales and marketing efforts are proportional to these outstanding results, so bringing Gabrielle and Valerie on board to complete the team is likely to result in continued success," Andria Towne, Vice President of Marketing, shares.

The persistent growth presents an opportunity for MeetCPGA to continue to have a major impact on the growing southern city. College Park continues to develop with multiple new projects on deck from now through 2016, such as the Delta Flight Museum, Porsche North American Headquarters featuring the Porsche Driving Experience, and three new hotels.