Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau

What Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau does

Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism (operating under the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau) is the official government destination marketing organization for Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. It coordinates tourism development across four primary demand segments: sports tourism (tournament hosting and facility coordination), meetings and conventions (venue sourcing, attendance-building support, vendor connections), film and television productions (as the official Camera Ready Liaison for Rome, Cave Spring, and Floyd County), and leisure travel (visitor guides, welcome centers, and self-guided film-themed tours). The organization operates without proprietary technology platforms, relying instead on its website (romegeorgia.org), two physical welcome centers housed in a historic 1901 train depot and the Rome Area History Center, a hospitality membership network aggregating local hotels and restaurants, and structured partnerships with Berry College, Shorter University, and Georgia Reel-Scout.

The organization's product surface is asset-heavy: the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College (30 acres, 57 courts — described as the largest contiguous hard court facility in the world), Barron Stadium (5,360 seats), the Rome Downtown Racquets Center (22 pickleball courts plus 6 tennis courts), the newly opened Sennett Memorial Amphitheater (opened August 2025; 1,040 sq ft stage, 7,000 sq ft spectator area), the Roman Rose Trolley, the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat, and two gift shops featuring over 100 local artists. Self-guided tourism products include the Stranger Things of Rome Tour and a Rome Film Tour tied to over 45 productions (Stranger Things, Black Widow, Remember the Titans, The Mule, Six-Triple-Eight, among others).

Revenue is generated through three channels: recurring annual Hospitality Association membership dues from local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and service businesses; transactional gift shop sales; and per-event / per-hour venue and equipment rentals (trolley, riverboat, amphitheater at $200/event, rental packages starting at $350–$400 for 2-hour minimums) plus Freshtix ticket-sale commissions. The organization employs 13 full-time staff led by Executive Director Lisa J. Smith, Rome Sports Director Ann Hortman, and Communications Director Kristi Kent. No revenue, funding, or M&A activity is disclosed; operations are funded primarily through government appropriations and self-generated commercial revenue.

Name

Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau

Legal name

Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism

Website

https://romegeorgia.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism is the government destination marketing organization for Rome and Floyd County, Georgia, coordinating sports tourism, conventions, film productions, and leisure travel through welcome centers, venue rentals, and a hospitality membership network serving SMB hotels, restaurants, and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing and Tourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention Campus & District Operators (Integrated Venue Districts) (THAHAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Destination marketing organization
• Convention visitors bureau
• Sports tourism services
• Film commission services
• Meeting event planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Hospitality Association Memberships: Local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and service businesses pay annual membership dues to join the Hospitality Association, receiving exclusive benefits including listing in destination guides, website placement, social media promotion, and advocacy representation.
2. Gift Shop Sales: Revenue from selling Rome-themed souvenirs and locally-made products at welcome center gift shops, featuring items from over 100 local artists and makers.
3. Venue Rentals and Services: Generates revenue through rental of Roman Rose Trolley, Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat, and Sennett Amphitheater, plus commissions from event ticket sales through Freshtix platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau markets Rome and Floyd County, Georgia as a destination for leisure travelers, sports tournaments, conventions/meetings, and film productions. It operates a portfolio of attractions including guided walking tours (Stranger Things of Rome Tour, Rome Film Tour), managed sports venues and event facilities, heritage transportation (Roman Rose Trolley, Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat), welcome centers, and a gift shop. It also provides event planning and coordination services to groups and tournament organizers, and stewards the Georgia Reel-Scout location database for film scouting.

Product overview

Georgia's Rome (Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau) is the official destination marketing organization for Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. The organization operates a comprehensive tourism platform featuring self-guided tours (Stranger Things of Rome Tour, Rome Film Tour), sports tourism services and facilities (Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, Barron Stadium, Rome Downtown Racquets Center), event venues (Sennett Memorial Amphitheater), film production support (Georgia Reel-Scout Location Database), visitor services (Welcome Centers & Gift Shop), transportation (Roman Rose Trolley, Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat), and meetings/groups planning services. The portfolio also includes a curated visitor guide highlighting over 50 attractions and activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stranger Things of Rome Tour Ticketed guided walking tour of Stranger Things filming locations in Rome, GA, targeted at fans and cultural tourists seeking themed experiences.
• Rome Film Tour Ticketed guided tour showcasing Rome's film and television filming locations, aimed at cultural tourists and film enthusiasts visiting Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism.
• Rome Sports Services Sports event hosting and tournament coordination service that markets and books the destination's portfolio of sports venues for tournament organizers, athletic associations, and competition hosts.
• Rome Tennis Center at Berry College Managed tennis venue hosted by the bureau on the Berry College campus, available for tournaments, lessons, and recreational play.
• Barron Stadium Managed multi-purpose stadium in Rome, GA, available for football games, sports tournaments, and large community events.
• Rome Downtown Racquets Center Managed indoor racquet sports facility in downtown Rome, GA, available for tournaments, league play, and recreational use.
• Sennett Memorial Amphitheater Outdoor amphitheater venue in Rome, GA, available for concerts, performances, and community events.
• Ridge Ferry Park Pump Track Planned pump track recreational facility at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome, GA, designed for cycling, skateboarding, and active recreation.
• Georgia Reel-Scout Location Database Stewardship of the Georgia Reel-Scout film location database, providing production companies, location scouts, and producers with centralized access to filming sites in Rome and Floyd County.
• Welcome Centers & Gift Shop Physical welcome centers and gift shop locations in Rome, GA, providing visitor information, souvenirs, and branded merchandise to leisure travelers.
• Roman Rose Trolley Heritage trolley tour service operating in Rome, GA, providing narrated sightseeing tours of the city's historic districts and attractions.
• Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat Heritage riverboat tour service operating on Rome's rivers, offering narrated sightseeing cruises and themed excursions for visitors.
• Meetings & Groups Planning Services Event planning and coordination service for meeting planners, association conference organizers, and group tour operators planning conferences, corporate meetings, reunions, and group tours in Rome, GA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Social media reach of 58,000+ followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Film USAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia's Rome Film & Entertainment Alliance is a member of Film USA, a national non-profit trade organization of state and regional film commissions from across the USA, providing industry connections and best practices sharing.
• Location Managers Guild International (LMGI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnn Hortman of the Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism is a member of LMGI, working to support location professionals responsible for bringing productions to the community. Guild members are nominated and selected by location managers and scouts in the industry.
• Georgia Rome Hospitality Association MemberscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembership includes local hotels, motels, restaurants, attractions, and other local service industries. Members receive exclusive benefits including destination guide listings, website placement, social media promotion reaching 58,000+ followers, and advocacy representation on local issues.
• Berry CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerry College provides filming locations including the Ford Buildings (used as Pennhurst Mental Hospital for Stranger Things) and serves as home to the Rome Tennis Center. The college offers technical, technological, and creative talent for film productions.
• Shorter UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShorter University is located in Rome and offers technical, technological, and creative talent that can be sourced for film productions.
• Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Northwestern Technical College is located in Rome and offers technical, technological, and creative talent that can be sourced for film productions.
• Georgia Highlands CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Highlands College is located in Rome and offers technical, technological, and creative talent that can be sourced for film productions.
• Pam StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPam Studios is located in Rome and offers technical, technological, and creative talent that can be sourced for film productions.
• Georgia SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Georgia Sports for promoting sports tourism and tournament hosting in the Rome and Floyd County area.
• Sports ETAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Sports ETA for sports tourism industry resources and event promotion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Visit Columbus GA: Official DMO for Columbus, GA — directly comparable as another Georgia destination marketing organization operating welcome centers, marketing sports tourism, and hosting conventions in a mid-sized market.
• Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: Official destination marketing organization for Savannah, GA — comparable as a Georgia-based CVB promoting leisure travel, conventions, sports, and film production with a multi-channel marketing approach and member-driven revenue model.
• Explore Asheville (Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau): Destination marketing organization for Asheville, NC — comparable small-city CVB promoting heritage, outdoor recreation, and cultural experiences via welcome centers, website, and member partnerships.
• Pine Mountain Tourism Association: Tourism organization for Pine Mountain / Callaway Gardens area of Georgia — comparable as a Georgia destination marketing entity with welcome center, attraction marketing, and event hosting functions.
• Chattanooga Tourism Co. Official DMO for Chattanooga, TN — comparable as a regional destination marketing organization with similar scope across leisure, conventions, sports, and film, operating from a similar-sized market in the Southeast.
• Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau: Local CVB serving Bartow County, GA — comparable as a Georgia county-level destination marketing organization promoting leisure attractions, sports, and small-market tourism development.
• Georgia Film Office (Georgia Department of Economic Development): State-level film commission for Georgia — directly comparable as the parent film office that Georgia's Rome Film Alliance partners with for production attraction, permitting, and location services.
• Atlanta Film Office: Municipal film liaison for the City of Atlanta — comparable as a government-affiliated film commission offering location services, permitting, and production coordination in Georgia.

Others

• Sports ETA: National sports tourism industry trade association — adjacent enabling organization that Rome Sports partners with for industry resources, event promotion, and best-practices sharing in the sports tourism space.

Broad incumbents

• Explore Georgia (Georgia Department of Economic Development): State-level destination marketing brand for Georgia — broader incumbent that promotes all Georgia destinations including Rome/Floyd County, providing the statewide marketing umbrella that local CVBs sit beneath.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/romegeorgia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@visitromegeorgia
• Facebookfacebook.com/RomeGeorgia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visit-rome-georgia
• Instagraminstagram.com/RomeGeorgia
• TikToktiktok.com/@visitromegeorgia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau