Jekyll Island Authority Board Boasts Bright Outlook at Annual Meeting

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) Board along with executive staff members of the JIA met for its regular monthly meeting. As the designated Annual Meeting, election of new board officers was held. Chairman Bob Krueger has been reappointed to an additional term as Board Chairman by Governor Perdue, Steve Croy was re-elected as Vice Chairman and Mike Hodges was reelected Secretary. Revitalization updates were briefly presented along with reports from the finance, personnel and marketing committees.

"I'm pleased to continue the important work of Jekyll revitalization," said Krueger. "We are in a critical stage, but with the support of this dedicated board, excellent staff and a superb plan I have no doubt that we will accomplish our goals and restore Jekyll Island to its proper place as a premier and unique public beach destination."

Revitalization construction plans on the Flash Foods gas and convenience store and Dairy Queen Grill & Chill restaurant are moving forward. Robert Williams, the Director of Maintenance and Construction for Flash Foods out of Waycross, GA, presented a revised construction plan at the board meeting.  Construction has not progressed as quickly as planned due to construction priorities within Flash Foods.  The construction is now slated for a completion by January 2011.

Good news was reported on the current state of the JIA's finances, giving this fiscal year a positive start.  Revenues for July 2010 exceeded July 2009 revenues by 9% and hotel revenue was up 23%. The largest increases for JIA operations were achieved at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Summer Waves Water Park and the parking fees collected at the Greeting Station.

"July is a crucial month for Jekyll financially," said Mike Hodges, Chair of the Finance Committee. "I'm pleased to see such a significant increase in Jekyll Island's earnings in spite of tough economic times."

In addition to the solid financial report, two of Jekyll Island's resorts were acknowledged for their recent awards. The Jekyll Island Days Inn & Suites was the recipient of the Smith Travel Research (STR) Best Performing Award for the Economy Chain Segment as the number one hotel out of 10,000 in its class. Pinkerton & Laws of Georgia, Inc. received the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) Excellence Award in the commercial $5-$15M category for the construction of the Jekyll Island Hampton Inn & Suites.

For the full agenda, summary and minutes of JIA Board Meetings visit http://www.jekyllislandauthority.org/JIABoard/Meetings.aspx

Located on Georgia's coast, Jekyll Island with its rich history and quiet, laid-back atmosphere has attracted vacationers for more than one hundred years. Jekyll Island offers a variety of amenities, including 10 miles of beach, a 250-acre Historic Landmark District, four golf courses, a large water park, 20 miles of bike paths, a tennis center, and an array of lodging options including hotels, cottages and campgrounds. Owned by the state of Georgia and managed by Jekyll Island Authority, the island's development is limited to just 35 percent of the available land area to preserve the critical barrier island ecosystem. Great lengths have been taken to honor this ratio as the highly anticipated revitalization of Jekyll Island moves forward. By 2012, the island will boast three new hotels, an all-new beachfront convention center with more than 78,000 square feet of function space, a beautifully redesigned entry corridor to the island, beach village shopping and dining area and many more enhancements. Please visit www.jekyllisland.com for more information or call (877) 4-JEKYLL.

SOURCE Jekyll Island Authority