George Page, executive director Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority, and Tim Riddle, general manager of the Valdosta-Lowndes Tourism Authority.

It’s a winning combination—great location, excellent facilities, and attention to details.

That’s the playbook that George Page, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA), has been using to recruit sports tournaments to the community. Page has been representing the VLPRA at national sporting association conferences since 2012, and it's paying off.

Last year, the VLPRA reported a $6 million economic impact based on 35 tournaments, with 16 requiring an overnight stay, resulting in approximately 8,000 room nights. In the past three years, the economic impact of sports tourism has reached approximately $16 million in Lowndes County.

Read more at South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine