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GACVB and member-partners in the news as well as tourism industry releases and resources (Destination marketing, management, and travel industry in the media)

May 2023

  • 5/24 A pathway to the past: Tybee Black History Trail dedicated, Savannah Morning News 
  • 5/22 Delta unveils newly expanded flight attendant training center by Atlanta airport, Fox5Atlanta 
  • 5/22 2 Georgia cities (Savannah and Atlanta) rank in top 100 best places to live in U.S., WSB
  • 5/12 What tourism ‘icon’ Bill Donohue said in looking back on storied career in Georgia, The Times (Gainesville)
  • 5/1 James Magazine: The Hospitality & Tourism Issue, InsiderAdvantage 

April 2023

  • 4/27 Could Atlanta's next big trail be along the Chattahoochee?, GPB
  • 4/27 Savannah | Chatham County: An Exciting Time : Manufacturing, Tourism, and Education, Georgia Trend
  • 4/26 $44M south Cobb trail along Chattahoochee sees groundbreaking, Marietta Daily Journal
  • 4/24 Columbus and Savannah on the Top 20 Memorial Day Weekend Destinations in the South, Southern Living 
  • 4/20 Visitors’ comments about downtown Macon and the Pleasant Hill neighborhood might surprise you, GPB

March 2023

  • 3/22 Joe Marinelli on Attracting Larger Conventions to Savannah, Georgia CEO
  • 3/1 James Magazine 2023 Most Influential Issue, InsiderAdvantage 

February 2023

  • 2/27 Augusta Regional Airport soaring with $3 million grant, Masters plans, upcoming changes, Augusta Chronicle
  • 2/27 2023 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs Announced, Augusta CEO 
  • 2/24 Fenders honored with state tourism award, The Northeast Georgian
  • 2/23 Wild Adventures moves closer to adding campground :: Park to apply to Ga. tourism act program, abc 27 WTXL/Tallahassee
  • 2/22 The state of tourism in White County discussed, Now Habersham

January 2023

  • 1/3 Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation leader [Mark McDonald] to retire; praised for decades of saving sites, Saporta Report

December 2022

  • 12/29 Georgia’s 2023 legislative session teed up by Wild Hog reunion, policy events as lawmakers return to Atlanta, Georgia Recorder
  • 12/29 Studio deal promises more movie and TV productions to be filmed in Columbus, Ledger - Enquirer
  • 12/29 Hotels, restaurants see windfall from Peach Bowl, New Year’s events, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 
  • 12/28 Mark Richt, Devin Hester [and William Pate, Atlanta CVB] among Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl's Hall of Fame inductees, Clayton News-Daily 
  • 12/20 Georgia legislative panel sounds call for state music promoter, revamped tax credit, Georgia Recorder
  • 12/14 Warner Robins continues annual luncheon to promote Middle Georgia tourism, WGXA News
  • 12/7 Marketing leader [Liz Crisafi, IHG Hotels] to speak at GS commencement, Statesboro Herald
  • 12/1 Atlanta to host first college football championship game under expanded playoffs, Capitol Beat

November 2022

  • 11/23 Georgia leaders pay tribute to Speaker David Ralston as he lies in state at Capitol, Georgia Recorder 
  • 11/7 Art that moves in Macon, Georgia Trend
  • 11/4 Park service seeks public input on Cumberland (Island National Seashore) plan, Brunswick News
  • 11/1 Georgia 500 - Georgia's Most Influential Leaders 2022, Georgia Trend
  • 11/1 Big developments coming to Kingsland, Brunswick News 

October 2022

September 2022

  • 9/29 The latest on Tropical Storm Ian and its impact on Georgia, The Georgia Sun
  • 9/29 KSU expert: Tourism in Cobb responsible for $3 billion, 35,000 jobs, MariettaDailyJournal MDJ
  • 9/28 Georgia Named No. 1 for Business for Unprecedented 9th Year, Georgia.gov
  • 9/27 Gov. Kemp, Emergency Management Officials to Activate State Operations Center Ahead of Tropical Storm Ian, Georgia.gov
  • 9/26 Cobb Travel & Tourism Takes a Look at the 2023 Hospitality Industry, Cobb Travel & Tourism
  • 9/26 New Hospitality Scholarship Honors Inman Hodges, Georgia Southern University
  • 9/19 Macon musicians meet with legislators to jump start Georgia music industry incentives, The Telegraph
  • 9/16 Tourism Alliance to increase tourism in South Georgia, WALB News 10
  • 9/15 Dougherty tourism returns to pre-COVID levels in 2021, bringing spending totaling $264 million, Albany Herald
  • 9/14 A new award shows Columbia County is making its mark in Georgia tourism, The Augusta Press
  • 9/14 Southeast Tourism Society Announces Executive Committee and Board of Directors, STS Press Release
  • 9/11 Johns Creek Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces New Executive Director, JC CVB Press Release
  • 9/9 Georgia lawmakers expected to consider boosting music industry tax credits, Capitol Beat
  • 9/7 Recent travel and tourism data shows increase for Thomasville, Fox31 WFXL.com
  • 9/1 Visit Dublin GA Announces inaugural Tourism Grant Program, Visit Dublin Press Release
  • 9/1 Dragon Con director anticipates fun, food and fanfare as Atlanta's largest convention returns, WABE.org

August 2022

July 2022 

June 2022

  • 6/30 Middle Georgia State could bring $1 million in tourism money with new grant. Here’s how, Macon.com/The Telegraph
  • 6/30 Clarkesville’s Main Street Director is right at home in his new job, Now Habersham 
  • 6/29 Wine Country Is in North Georgia, The New York Times
  • 6/29 2022 TravelBlazers: Collaborations and partnerships yield new destinations for tourists. Georgia Trend 
  • 6/28 STR Stats: Meetings Coming Back, But Still Lagging Leisure, Meetings Today
  • 6/28 No more tourist offseason: Savannah welcomes visitors seeking experiences year-round, Augusta Chronicle
  • 6/23 MPI Georgia Phoenix Awards Celebrate Exceptional Leaders Advancing the Meetings Industry 19th Annual Event Bestows 11 Top Honors to Members and Partners for their Innovation, Leadership, and Creativity in the Field, GA MPI Press Release
  • 6/22 U.S. Travel Association Taps Geoff Freeman as President and CEO, Meetings Today
  • 6/17 Tourism thriving on St. Simons, The Brunswick News
  • 6/15 Cobb Travel & Tourism Welcomes Kim Franz as Director of Programs and Events, Official CT&T Press Release
  • 6/6 Secretary Raimondo Announces New National Strategy to Reenergize U.S. Travel and Tourism, US Department of Commerce plus Fact Sheet  LINK to Strategy 
  • 6/1 Why You Need to Visit Savannah, Georgia, Right Now, AFAR.com Magazine

May 2022

  • 5/31 Jekyll Island, Georgia listed on Most Historic Golf Courses, Historic Hotels of America 
  • 5/31 This move helped ‘keep the doors open’ for some in tourism industry during pandemic, The (Gainesville) Times 
  • 5/30 The Okefenokee Experience: A tri-county effort to boost ecotourism around the swamp, SaportaReport
  • 5/27 VSU institute focuses on rural communities, Valdosta Daily Times
  • 5/25 Georgia Traveling Into Its Tourism Future, Op-ed by GDEcD Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Mark Jaronski Atlanta Journal Constitution
  • 5/24 Accent Creative Group Takes Home International Design Awards for Helen, Perry & Athens CVBs, Official Press Release
  • 5/20 Move over, Hawaii. Travel & Leisure says Savannah is near one of the best beaches in the U.S., Savannah Morning News 
  • 5/18 CORPORATE TRAVEL Amex GBT: Business travelers from large companies are flying again, Travel Weekly
  • 5/17 Kinchafoonee and Muckalee creeks added to Water Trails database, Albany Herald
  • 5/16 Meet the Savannah Bananas, who’ve captivated fans and MLB. ‘We exist to make baseball fun’, LA Times
  • 5/16 Gov. Kemp Announces More Than $415M in Awards to Address Negative Economic Impact Caused by COVID-19, Office of the Governor Press Release
  • 5/16 $150 Million Targeted for Georgia’s Hotels Will Get the Industry ‘Back on its Feet’, GHLA Press Release 
  • 5/10 Forsyth County tourism is on an upswing, even during global pandemic, Newsbreak.com  
  • 5/10 Gov. Kemp Signs Legislation to Strengthen Georgia’s Forestry Industry, Promote Conservation, and Protect Georgia’s Natural Resources, Georgia.gov
  • 5/7 Five Atlanta sites win Georgia Trust historic preservation awards, SaportaReport 
  • 5/1 Building a more resilient future; National Tourism and Travel Week Returns first week of May 2022, Destinations International 

April 2022

  • 4/29 Cobb Travel & Tourism Presents Nine Craft Beverage Makers with Bubbles & Brews Awards, Official Press Release
  • 4/29 Augusta's River Region Welcomes Second Quarter Conferences and Sports Events, Augusta CEO
  • 4/27 Cobb Travel & Tourism Celebrates the ‘Future of Travel’ During National Travel & Tourism Week, Official Press Release
  • 4/26 Visit Savannah CEO: The resurgence of the travel and tourism supports our community, Op-ed SavannahNow.com
  • 4/25 Jay Markwalter of the GACVB Provides Update on the Tourism Rebound Across the State, Georgia CEO
  • 4/18 Cobb Travel & Tourism’s Kaitlyn Parham, TMP Named One of Destinations International’s 30 Under 30, Official CTT Press Release 
  • 4/15 To find a huge museum of Western art, head to this small Southern town, Washington Post
  • 4/15 A Local's Guide to Savannah, Washington Post
  • 4/14 Southeast Tourism Society to celebrate 30 years of Marketing College®, Official STS Press Release
  • 4/14 Tourists Continue to Flock to the Golden Isles, The Brunswick News
  • 4/11 Fox Theatre Institute Brings New Life to Georgia Performance Venues, Georgia Trend
  • 4/6 Helen Fincher Hardman Celebrated for Contributions to the Nonprofit Sector : Ms. Hardman has devoted her career towards promoting tourism in Georgia, Marquis Who's Who
  • 4/1 UGA hospitality students to gain culinary experience at 2022 Masters, UGA CAES Newswire
  • 4/1 Jekyll Island on The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gardens List, Newsmaker Alert / Historic Hotels of America

March 2022

  • 3/31 GWCC Opens Andrew Young International Mall and Terminal, DiscoverAtlanta.com 
  • 3/21 Omnibus Spending Bill Includes $250 Million for Brand USA, USAE
  • 3/16 Recovery on Pace: "Shimo" Shimasaki on the Pace of Meetings Bookings, Meetings Today
  • 3/16 Southeast Tourism Society hosts Inaugural Domestic Showcase in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Official STS Press Release
  • 3/14 Butts County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet, Jackson Progress - Argus
  • 3/9 ATHENS, GA NAMED ‘THE SOUTH’S BEST COLLEGE TOWN 2022’ BY SOUTHERN LIVING, VisitAthensGA.com

February 2022

January 2022

  • 1/31 Visionary Cities, Georgia Trend
  • 1/14 Macon’s Tourism Industry Evolves Through Pandemic Challenges, MaconGA.org

November 2021

  • 11/19 Georgia’s historic performing arts venues receive financial assistance, (Georgia Trend)
  • 11/8 Decline in COVID-19 Spurs Cautious Holiday Travel, Study Shows (Longwoods International), USAE
  • 11/4 Destination Augusta Announces Position Promotion and New Hires, Official News Release 
  • 11/4 Georgia Audubon to restore bird-friendly habitat on Jekyll, The Brunswick News 
  • 11/4 Large donation helps Gainesville to connect Highlands to Islands trail sections, Gainesville Times 
  • 11/3 Braves beat Astros 7-0 in Game 6, winning first World Series since 1995, Fox 5 Atlanta
  • 11/1 Catching up with Mark Jaronski, Deputy Commissioner, Explore Georgia, GDEcD, Georgia Trend

October 2021

  • 10/31 Woodbine | Camden County: History Shapes the Future: Military, green energy and tourism, Georgia Trend
  • 10/29 Atlanta is only U.S. city on Lonely Planet’s top destinations for 2022, AJC
  • 10/25 GACVB's Jay Markwalter on Georgia's Tourism Industry, Georgia CEO video
  • 10/18 Atlanta CVB Leader Talks Recovery from COVID Pandemic: USAe
  • 10/15 Jennifer Bowen Gives an Update on Augusta Film Commission, Augusta CEO video
  • 10/8 Athens Beer Trail Launched, VisitAthensGa.com
  • 10/5 Tourism continues to be steady in Columbia County, WJBF 6
  • 10/2 Cobb hotel tax revenue returns to pre-pandemic levels, Marietta Daily Journal

September 2021

  • 9/30 Help! Wanted, Georgia Trend
  • 9/22 NATIONAL PARKS: Georgia's Ocmulgee Mounds May Be America's Next National Park, Conde Nast Traveler
  • 9/21 Statewide Support Behind Glynn County’s Nomination For American World War II Heritage Designation, The Georgia Virtue 
  • 9/8 Governor Appoints 20 to the Georgia Tourism Foundation, Augusta CEO
  • 9/2 Governor says nearly $6 million in COVID relief funds will go to Georgia state tourism agency, 13WMAZ.com
  • 9/2 Georgia tourism industry getting boost from federal coronavirus relief funds, Capitol Beat 
  • 9/1 Governor Kemp Directs $5.8 Million to Aid Georgia’s Tourism Industry, Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
  • 9/1 Governor Kemp Directs $5.8 Million to Aid Georgia's Tourism Industry, Georgia.org GDEcD 

August 2021

  • 8/23 Columbia County Tourism’s Serene18 Paddle Trail wins prestigious National Award, Columbia County CVB Press Release
  • 8/19 National Infantry Museum One Of 10 Stops On Georgia's World War II Heritage Trail, ChattVoice.com
  • 8/17 Jekyll Island Authority approves capital projects, cash reserve plans for unexpected revenues, The Brunswick News
  • 8/17 2021 Athens Music Walk of Fame plaques have been installed. Here's where to find them, Athens Banner Herald
  • 8/17 Discover Dunwoody recognized by international organization, The Champion
  • 8/10 Hartsfield-Jackson’s delayed hotel project set to get another extension, AJC
  • 8/3 Discover Dunwoody Receives (DMAP) Designation From Destinations International, Official Press Release
  • 8/2 Trazees Awards 2021, The Global Traveler Magazine (page 43 and page 19 interview Joe Marinelli, President Visit Savannah)

July 2021

  • 7/30 Augusta | Richmond County: Betting on Augusta: Workforce, housing and economic recovery. GeorgiaTrend
  • 7/30 Cobb Energy Center receives $5 million federal relief grant, Marietta Daily Journal
  • 7/26 Helen’s Oktoberfest is back for its 50th anniversary. Here’s what you need to know, Gainesville Times 
  • 7/26 Columbus State positively impacts the region’s economy, GeorgiaTrend
  • 7/23 Fanning Institute to assist seven more communities with leadership programs: Leadership development effort spans the state, University of Georgia / UGA Today
  • 7/20 SAVANNAH in THE WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES OF 2021: 100 extraordinary destinations to explore, TIME Magazine
  • 7/19 Chattahoochee RiverLands’ pilot project in Cobb receives Woodruff gift, Saporta Report
  • 7/17 The Thunderbird Inn Is First In Savannah, Georgia's Tourism Industry To Announce $15/Hour Minimum Wage, WFMZ.com
  • 7/15 National Trust Awards $3 Million in Grants to 40 Sites to Help Preserve Black History, National Trust for Historic Preservation 
  • 7/14 The outdoor activity that's helping local tourism during pandemic, staffing shortages, The Times/GainesvilleTimes.com
  • 7/12 49 Georgia counties receive arts funding, GeorgiaTrend
  • 7/9 Conyers CVB awarded Explore Georgia Tourism Recovery Marketing Grant, Rockdale Newton Citizen
  • 7/9 Georgia is now the best state for retirees, study finds... Grow.Acorns.com
  • 7/8 Georgia jobless rate ticks up in late June ahead of $300 benefits cut, Like others working in Georgia’s tourism industry, Hilda Thomason, general manager of the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Towns County, says... Georgia Recorder and NowHabersham.com
  • 7/7 Georgia Council for the Arts Awards More Than $2 Million in Grant Funding to Support Arts Throughout Georgia, Georgia.org
  • 7/7 Travel Coalition Releases Border Reopening Blueprint, USAE-news USTravelAssociation
  • 7/6 Civil rights tourism starts to regain footing in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • 7/5 City awarded Explore Georgia Tourism Recovery marketing grant, Thomasville Times-Enterprise 
  • 7/2 Have a Fun Holiday Weekend!, Georgia Trend
  • 7/1 2021 TravelBlazers: Partnerships Create New Tourism Opportunities, GeorgiaTrend online or Georgia Trend magazine digital version

June 2021

  • 6/25 Tourism numbers soar at a record pace, The Brunswick News
  • 6/24 LaGrange’s tourism industry sees modest turnaround, The LaGrange Daily News 
  • 6/23 Business travel faces long road to recovery from pandemic, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • 6/22 Brookhaven announces Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party; The Revivalists lead the concert lineup, Explore Brookhaven
  • 6/22 Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau Awarded Tourism Grant, Patch.com
  • 6/22 Topside Tap Trail Partnership Earns Cities Travelblazer Award, Patch.com
  • 6/11 Georgia tourism springs back to life, businesses struggle to regain staffing, The Current
  • 6/9 Global Traveler Announces Ninth Annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards, Global Traveler
  • 6/7 Augusta, Thomson getting state funds to help revive tourism, WRDW
  • 6/1 Business Travel is Coming Back, Wall Street Journal 

May 2021

  • 5/28 Heritage Trail receives TrailBlazer award, The Toccoa Record
  • 5/26 Roswell, Alpharetta And Sandy Springs CVB's Receive Georgia Association Of Convention & Visitors Bureaus' Travelblazer Award, Patch.com
  • 5/18 GACVB's Jay Markwalter Gives an Update on Tourism in Georgia, Georgia CEO video link 
  • 5/3 Georgia tourism officials working to help industry rebound from pandemic, Capitol Beat

April 2021

  • 4/26 GACVB Announces Partnership with Atlanta Magazine / Compass Media, GACVB Official Press Release
  • 4/26 Georgia Historic Preservation Division Adding Four Properties to the National Register of Historic Places, AllOnGeorgia.com
  • 4/21 Tourism continues to recover in Isles, The Brunswick News 
  • 4/20 LaGrange | Troup County: Creating a Sustainable Future, Georgia Trend
  • 4/15 Oconee County ranks tops in Georgia for small businesses, Capitol Beat
  • 4/14 Savannah | Chatham County: Unexpected Bright Spots: Tourism, new construction and the port, Georgia Trend
  • 4/12 GACVB Announces Partnership with Advance Travel and Tourism, GACVB Official Press Release 
  • 4/8 Explore Georgia: State Ready to Safely Host Meetings and Conventions, Georgia.org

March 2021

  • 3/29 Kemp set to visit Wild Adventures; park preps for new season, Valdosta Daily Times
  • 3/27 Gov. Kemp promotes tourism industry rebound during Jekyll visit, The Brunswick News
  • 3/25 Bill to streamline tax process for short-term rentals advances in Georgia Senate, The Center Square
  • 3/19 2020 was 'best year ever' for North Ga. drive-in theater: 'We did it without Hollywood', Athens Banner-Herald
  • 3/19 State Arts Grant Director Lilly to Lead Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia.org
  • 3/19 Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson was busiest U.S. airport in 2020, AJC
  • 3/12 Tourism up in the Golden Isles, The Brunswick News
  • 3/11 With Georgia’s Film Tax Credits Appearing Secure, Industry Continues To Bounce Back From Pandemic, WABE
  • 3/9 Economic development activity on the rise in Macon, Georgia Trend Magazine
  • 3/3 Explore Georgia Awards Grants to Support Tourism, Georgia.org
  • 3/1 Macon’s 2021 Cherry Blossom Festival is a go during COVID. Here’s how businesses feel, The Macon Telegraph

February 2021

January 2021

  • 1/26 Georgia Board of Natural Resources OKs nine outdoor recreation projects, Capitol Beat 
  • 1/26 Delta to bring 400 pilots back to work by summer, AJC
  • 1/20 Economic development agency seeking marketing funds to bring back Georgia tourism, Capitol Beat
  • 1/18 Trade shows attempt Atlanta comeback amid coronavirus surge, AJC
  • 1/14 Jekyll Island beckons with fun diversions, Georgia Trend Magazine
  • 1/13 Allegiant announces nonstop flight to New York from Savannah, Savannah Morning News
  • 1/1 Stimulus Bill Could Provide Long-Awaited Relief To Georgia's Independent Music Venues, GPB

December 2020

November 2020

October 2020

  • 10/29 Your European Vacation Was Canceled. How About a ‘Bavarian Village’ (Helen) in the Appalachians?, Wall Street Journal
  • 10/29 10 new GA communities become Rural Zones: New jobs and economic development are on the horizon, GeorgiaTrend.com
  • 10/19 2020 revenue won’t recover, but better days ahead, SavannahNow.com/Savannah Morning News
  • 10/5 Macon tourism industry sees slow rebound from COVID-19 lockdown, 13WMAZ.com
  • 10/2 Safety is key to restoring Georgia tourism amid coronavirus, in Augusta Chronicle

September 2020

August 2020