The buzz surrounding LakePoint can be heard from every corner of Bartow County. This development is certainly going to have a significant economic impact on our county and the surrounding region. As an attraction, the thing most enticing to Booth Museum staff is the estimated 3 million visitors per year. While the development plans for LakePoint include plenty of shopping, restaurants, hotels and activities to enjoy, the obvious hope on many minds in the hospitality and tourism industry is to get those 3 million visitors to leave LakePoint and also enjoy all the wonderful attractions, shopping, restaurants and hotels throughout the entire county. It is because of this desire that the Bartow County Hospitality Association was created in September 2011.

As director of Marketing for a world-class art museum, I'm always looking for ways to spread the word about Booth Museum. Partnering with the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Hospitality Association was created to do just that -- as well as to help increase awareness of all those in the hospitality industry in our county, and the economic impact it has on our local economy. Open to anyone in the hotel, motel, restaurant, shopping or related service industry, the Hospitality Association focuses solely on the needs of the hospitality industry and our visitors.

The group meets the fourth Thursday of every month at 8:30 a.m. for the exchange of ideas and information related to employment, education and training, taxation, governmental relations, community awareness, service and other issues of interest as they pertain to the tourism industry. This is important not only because of the exchange of ideas, but also because it keeps everyone informed as to what is going on in our area. In simple terms, it helps us to all be more hospitable to our guests.

For instance, if an out-of-town couple has just completed touring Booth Museum, it is not uncommon for them to inquire what else there is to "do" in the area. Knowing what other festival or special events are taking place or what stores are offering a sale or what hotel has a special package that weekend, helps us to answer that question and hopefully entice that couple to spend more time -- i.e. more money -- in Bartow County.

This effort takes us all working together -- hotels, restaurants, attractions, the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authorities, the CVB, shops, and more -- to make this work. Cartersville-Bartow County is such a wonderful place and it's up to ALL of us working together to help spread the news and enlighten people to all the wonderful places and activities there are. In addition to the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitor's Bureau, I'd like to thank the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority, Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development, and all those in the hospitality industry who are supporting the mission of the Bartow County Hospitality Association. I look forward to its continued growth and success in 2012.

Tara Currier, director of marketing for the Booth Western Art Museum, is the author.