Winston-Salem Targets Religious Groups for Tourism Dollars

By Brent Campbell FOX8 News
June 26, 2009

Read full story at http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-winston-salem-religious-tourism-090626,0,3045949.story

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With nearly 2,000 people in town for five nights, the western North Carolina conference of the AME Zion church is, in many ways, a Godsend to Winston-Salem's struggling tourism industry.

Hotel room sales are down 8 percent in the downtown Twin City Quarter, which includes Embassy Suites and Marriott. So in an effort to reverse that trend, the city's tourism arm has shifted focus from attracting individual and business travelers to youth sporting events, collegiate sports and religious organizations, among others.

"We've had a tough time of it since the fourth quarter last year," said Ron Stephens, of the Twin City Quarter. "Things tanked and tanked quickly, and then the first six months of this year have lagged greatly behind last year."

In a recent study by the Travel Industry Association, one-fourth of travelers said they would be more likely to spend money on a religious trip before an individual vacation.

"In these difficult economic times, it is good to know people of faith do not allow circumstances to determine their actions, particularly as it relates to things of God," said Dr. Seth Lartey, an official in the AME Zion denomination.

And it's that kind of commitment Winston-Salem is banking on.

"I think any sort of faith-based organization is important to everyone, particularly when things are not good," said Stephens.

Once the AME Zion conference concludes, the city will prepare for nearly 8,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, who will arrive over the next four weeks for the group's annual conference.
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