The Office of Downtown and Tourism Development has created a summer loyalty spending card to encourage community members and visitors to shop locally. The summer months can be a slower season for tourism and retail. The goal of creating and promoting the summer loyalty card is to increase overnight hotel stays and spending in downtown shops and restaurants in Thomasville.
“As Tourism Director, it’s my goal to make sure that we are continuously thinking of ways to encourage people to come visit Thomasville,” said Bonnie Hayes, Director of Tourism Development. “The main idea of the loyalty card is for people to think of Thomasville and visit the downtown independent shops and restaurants.”
For every $20 spent, downtown merchants will sign off on your loyalty card. After spending $200, completed cards can be dropped off at the Thomasville Visitor’s Center. The cards will be accepted from June 1 to August 31.
As you turn in your loyalty cards, monthly prizes will be awarded to winners drawn at random, from Downtown Dollars to t-shirts, with a grand prize awarded at the end of August. “The grand prize will be an overnight stay at the new Downtown Courtyard by Marriott,” said Brandy Avery, Thomasville Main Street Manager.
The City of Thomasville Tourism and Marketing Departments are using the summer loyalty cards as part of their tourism campaign, “Treat Yourself in Thomasville.” This campaign kicked off in June with targeted digital ads, social media ads, and billboards placed in strategic locations.
“We know that Thomasville has assets that our visitors will enjoy, so we want to encourage people as they are doing their summer travels to think of Thomasville not only as a place to pass through but as their main destination,” said Hayes. “The summer loyalty cards are an opportunity for locals and visitors to enjoy everything that Thomasville has to offer and be rewarded for doing so.”
Stop by and pick up your summer loyalty card from the Thomasville Visitor’s Center located at 144 East Jackson Street. Cards can also be found in many downtown shops and restaurants. For more information, visit Thomasvillega.com or call 229-228-7977.