If you have to travel around town, you may be dreading this weekend. Local businesses are not. They are shouting for joy. With at least four different major events happening over the Labor Day weekend, area businesses will be bringing in the cash.
Clifford Tukes, of the original Gyro King, says he's getting ready for the expected crowds.
"It's going to be non-stop, like 14, 15 hours straight," said Tukes.
Tukes is prepping for the thousands of people that will converge on downtown Atlanta over the Labor Day weekend. With plenty of events occurring over the holiday weekend, the city stands to bring in a lot of cash.
For the first time, Chick-fil-A is hosting two kickoff games.
"You've got four teams coming in from out of town and they have the majority of the tickets, unlike the Chick-fil-A Bowl where we sell a lot of tickets locally. These are people coming from out of town," said Gary Stokan, CEO and President of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
The expected 135,000 college football fans are bringing about $50 million with them. The Chick-fil-A Bowl and kickoff games are two of the top five money-making conventions in the state. And rounding out that ranking is another guest this weekend – DragonCon.
"We're in downtown Atlanta. We take up five hotels. We've got almost 55,000 people expected this year. It's going to be an amazing event," said Dan Carroll of DragonCon
The attendees may dress up as their favorite science fiction or fantasy character, but their money is still good.
DragonCon usually adds about $40 million in revenue to the state. And when you add other events around town like NASCAR in Hampton, which organizers say is 49 percent out of town spectators, it only adds to the expected income for the area.
"Atlanta is kind of like the New York of the south, so for them to be able to come to some of these great restaurants we have, some of the great shopping we have in Atlanta and stay in beautiful hotels, it's a win, win, win for everybody," said Stokan.
Metro Atlanta boasts an $11 billion hospitality industry that sustains 230,000 jobs.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:56 AM EDT2013-06-18 09:56:03 GMT
Eager to cash in on the recent run of good news about the Stock Market, but you don't know how to get started? Here's how!
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Monday, June 17 2013 12:05 AM EDT2013-06-17 04:05:45 GMT
The loyalty cards on customer's key chains may be going out of fashion making way for the loyalty apps. There is a new one that has hit Atlanta called Front Flip.
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Friday, June 14 2013 8:56 AM EDT2013-06-14 12:56:09 GMT
Retailers got the go-ahead to pass along some extra charges to you, but not without some rules attached. You might not have noticed them just yet, but you should be on the lookout.
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Thursday, June 13 2013 7:16 AM EDT2013-06-13 11:16:10 GMT
You might think saving the environment has to cost a lot of money. But, Good Day Atlanta's Tacoma Perry found way to go green and save green at the same time.
You might think saving the environment has to cost a lot of money. But, Good Day Atlanta's Tacoma Perry found way to go green and save green at the same time.
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