Martha Lamm, executive director of the Nash County Travel and Tourism Bureau, was the special guest and featured speaker at the regular meeting of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club held Feb. 18 at the Gateway Convention Center.

She was joined by Leonard Veillette, a board member and principal at Veillette Advertising Design. Lamm was introduced by Rotarian Linda Snell, also a board member, and general manager of the Holiday Inn-Gateway. Rotary Club President George Ramey presided.

Contributed photo (ENLARGE)

From left, Leonard Veillette, Martha Lamm and George Ramey.

Lamm said Rocky Mount has emerged as a vital and significant tourism center despite challenges in the area with regard to textiles, tobacco, and other traditional economic activities.

This is both from the standpoint of providing services to the traveling public and well as accommodating destination tourists with the Imperial Center and Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

In addition, Rocky Mount has developed the reputation as the reunion capital as a result of being the favored site for numerous family and other reunions.

Lamm said the tourism office assists organizers of such events with planning, giveaways and other things.

From the standpoint of sheer economic impact, she said that Rocky Mount ranks second behind Fayetteville as the most active motel/travel oriented restaurant stop along Interstate 95.

Furthermore, Rocky Mount ranks sixteenth in that categories in the state as a whole.

In 2007, motel revenues in the area approached $24 million. The 5 precent occupancy tax is split between Nash County Travel and Tourism Bureau and support for the Imperial Centre and Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

Three-fifths of the money goes to the tourism office and the remaining two-fifths goes to the Imperial Centre and Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

The complex hosted 24 events in 2007 involving 300 teams.

Officials estimated that 86,000 people participated in one form or another at events held at the complex with approximately $3 million impact on the area.

This year, some 56 events are planned along with additional facilitates improvements involving trails, picnic shelters as well as provisions for fishing and canoeing. Also coming will be an emphasis of the growing sport of soccer.

In other news, Rotarian Faye Wiggs has been named manager of the new full service Holiday Inn at Winstead Park which is located next to the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. The hotel is scheduled to open on April 15.

The Rotary Club will next meet 1 p.m. Monday at the Gateway Centre.

Alan Matthews, vice president for business recruitment for the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, will speak.