North Alabama Tourism News (click here to see all recent posts)

Twenty-seven individuals from across North Alabama have been named a North Alabama Elite Tourism Professional, a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) where tourism employees demonstrating outstanding customer service and hospitality in the 16-county North Alabama region were recognized in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week. The following individuals have each been named a North Alabama …

From AMLA President/CEO Tami Reist It goes without saying the coronavirus has had a heartbreaking effect on our nation. An important part of this recovery is a return of jobs, the successful reopening of retail businesses, and an influx of tax dollars into our communities so local governments can provide the services vital to their residents. These are the core …

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) is launching a new program this month that will help create a workforce pool for the hospitality industry while creating new career opportunities for North Alabama residents recovering from opioid addictions. Named “Second Helping”, the program serves to help those recovering from opioid addictions to reenter the work force while helping to fill …

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association is launching the North Alabama Privilege Passport program in January 2020 to help your visitation. The program allows you to offer a discount admission to consumers who sign up for the FREE program. AMLA has partnered with Bandwango to implement the program. Bandwango empowers destinations to uniquely appeal to various visitor types with engaging …

Governor Kay Ivey has appointed Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association President/CEO Tami Reist to the Hospitality and Tourism Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways (ACCCP) representing workforce development region one. The appointment was made at the first of December, 2019. Ivey noted that serving on the committee is an opportunity to help improve …

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) will host a pair of free seminars to round out the calendar year. “Using Instagram to Tell Your Brand Story” on will be held on Tuesday, October 15. The event will be held at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia and is open to all AMLA members. Kristen Waldrop and Beth …

Fourteen individuals and organizations were recognized for their accomplishments during this past year during the 2019 PEAK Awards Luncheon at the AMLA Annual Meeting in Decatur on Sept. 26. The program pays tribute to tourism leaders, attractions, festivals and organizations that set the bar for North Alabama’s $3 billion tourism industry. “The PEAK Awards showcase the best of the best …

A new slate of officers for AMLA were also voted on and approved at the 2019 Annual Meeting held in Decatur on Sept. 26. Elected Chair is Katy Norton, Marshal County CVB director. Incoming Chair is Jennifer Moore, Huntsville-Madison County CVB. Additional officers are Secretary Danielle Gibson, Decatur-Morgan County Tourism; Treasurer Sandy Thompson, Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, Athens; Past …

Registration is now open for the 2019 Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association Annual Meeting set for Thursday, September 26, 2019. The event will be held at the new Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur. Events begin at 9 a.m. with welcomes from local and state officials. The day-long conference will include three seminar sessions, the 2019 PEAK Awards …

The North Alabama tourism and travel industry achieved a record $2.92 billion economic impact on the region in 2018 according a study released recently by the Alabama Tourism Department. The figure of $2,926,299,074 represents an 8.5% growth over 2017’s $2,696,922,502. “We’re seeing dramatic increases in all categories of the industry across the region,” said Tami Reist, AMLA President and CEO. …