As a lifelong resident of Atlanta, I am excited to begin this year as president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, joining an industry that plays an integral role in the health of this city.
This year will bring unprecedented challenges in all industries, and hospitality is no exception. Our business will be affected as corporations reevaluate business travel, tourists modify their vacation plans, and conference attendees reevaluate their tradeshow attendance. We will adapt our sales and marketing approach to this new environment. On the sales side, we’ll implement new programs to attract short term business, boost tradeshow attendance, and seek to attract tradeshows in growing industry segments. We will create new marketing programs to drive leisure visitation.
Hosting four industry events in 2009 will create a Super Bowl year for Atlanta’s hospitality industry. Attendees at Meeting Planners International, the Society of American Travel Writers, Destination Marketing Association International and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events will all experience, first-hand, all there is to see and do in Atlanta. These events will give us an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Atlanta to the decision makers who book tradeshows and corporate travel.
Atlanta is steeped in momentum and this year will give us new news to share about our destination. Existing hotels are completing major renovations and five new boutique hotels are opening their doors. They will be joined by the 45 new restaurants that opened last year. And there are still more attractions and development due to open in the coming years.
The hospitality industry is the gasoline that drives Atlanta’s economic engine. We continue to move forward as we introduce an ever-growing city to our customers and book business for the future. I look forward to harnessing the power of partnership as we work together to make Atlanta a top destination for business and leisure travel.
William Pate
President and CEO
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau