Letter from President and CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors
Senior Leadership
About ACVB
Numbers that Matter
Hotel and Motel Tax Allocation
Meeting and Convention Sales
Servicing Events
Global Reach
Community Impact
Marketing Momentum
What Unites Us: ACVB Cookbook
Atlanta: A MICHELIN Destination
Center Stage for Sports
Making Headlines
111th Annual Meeting: Fearless Innovation
– Savoring the Past, Crafting the Future
25th
ACVB
Board
William Pate President and CEO
Bob Somers Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Committee
To our members, hospitality partners and colleagues,
This past year has been a remarkable success, setting the stage for an even more impactful 2025. As we look ahead, we’re excited to share some key achievements from 2024 that are paving the way for continued growth for years to come.
We continued to demonstrate our city’s ability to host major events, successfully executing 21 major citywide events - matching a historic high and driving hotel occupancy closer to pre-pandemic levels.
These citywide events and others attracted a mix of new and returning visitors to Atlanta. Among the notable industry events hosted were Global Business Travel Association’s convention, Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference and Travel South International Showcase.
We also secured several high-profile events that will shape Atlanta’s future. We learned Atlanta will host the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2031, and this exciting news was followed by the NFL’s announcement of the Super Bowl’s return to Atlanta in 2028. We were also working behind the scenes to prepare for the College Football Playoff National Championship, FIFA World Cup™ and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in 2025. These wins underscore Atlanta’s position as a premier destination for major sporting events and solidify our city’s appeal on a national stage.
We’re constantly striving to enhance Atlanta’s offerings, and 2024 brought significant progress on the culinary front. Our city’s dining scene received additional accolades in the MICHELIN Guide, increasing our one star restaurant count to nine.
Looking ahead, 2025 is off to an exceptional start with 19 major citywide events scheduled. We will also be gearing up for several events on the horizon including FIFA World Cup 2026™.
As Atlanta continues to flourish and invest in new developments, our team will always be at the forefront of driving new visitors, conventions and events to the city.
Bob Somers Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Committee
Andrew Wilson Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Kristin Delahunt Vice President, Destination Services
President and CEO
Sheretha Bell Senior Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy
Heather Kirksey Vice President, Public Relations, Corporate Events and Membership
Lopez Executive Vice President & Chief Sales Officer
Cynthia Mokotoff Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Jason Lusk Vice President, Sales
Negas Pierce Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer/ Chief Financial Officer
Pholeta Alexander Vice President, Technology & Facilities
Established in 1913, ACVB is dedicated to marketing Atlanta to tourists, convention attendees, meeting planners and business travelers.
ACVB Mission: Favorably impact the Atlanta economy by selling and marketing Atlanta globally as the premier conventions, events and leisure destination
ACVB Vision: To be the most welcoming, inclusive and easiest convention city to work with in the U.S.
This year was full of success and milestones for ACVB and metro Atlanta’s hospitality community, including Atlanta being named one of the best places to live in 2024 by Money.
21 310K
64%
major citywides hosted City of Atlanta hotel occupancy rate
700+
conventions and events were hosted and booked through ACVB
leisure & hospitality jobs supported by tourism
1.5M
room nights booked in 2024 for future years
Contract is between ACVB and Georgia World Congress Center (GWCCA)
Last 1% is dedicated to the ACVB Convention Marketing Fund
Atlanta is a trailblazer in selling and hosting meetings and conventions.
in-person site visits hosted for future business
face-to-face customer trade shows and events hosted or attended across the U.S.
hotel room nights secured through 21 major citywide events
The ACVB team maintained leadership positions with ASAE, Association Forum, Destinations International, IAEE, Maritz Travel, MPI, PCMA and U.S. Travel Association to further drive presence of Atlanta as a premier destination for meetings and conventions.
• More than 170 customer planning visits organized and hosted
• Three major industry events hosted including Global Business Travel Association, Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference and Travel South International Showcase
• Enhanced service support for nearly 50 mid-tier and citywide conventions/events and more than 200 groups total
ACVB is dedicated to creating a seamless and welcoming experience for meeting planners and their attendees, raising the bar for event planning.
To better understand how ACVB can improve destination services, a survey is distributed to meeting planners after each event.
The city of Atlanta and the team we work with to put on MODEX have been nothing short of phenomenal. It is apparent that Atlanta is as committed to our show’s success as we are, and we enjoy working with them. Atlanta is extremely accessible and having the GWCC in the heart of Downtown and walkable to nearby hotels, restaurants and attractions is great.
4.8/5
OVERALL SATISFACTION SCORE 84% REPORTED BEING VERY SATISFIED
Atlanta’s commitment to its clients is truly admirable. ACVB has been an exceptional partner, providing outstanding support, responsiveness and expertise to ensure the success of our conference. Its dedication and hospitality have made a meaningful impact on our event, and we sincerely appreciate their efforts.
Atlanta is a welcoming destination for international travelers and events. This year, ACVB’s international sales team worked diligently to secure more opportunities for global engagement in the years ahead.
1.3M
international visitors welcomed in metro Atlanta
159 5 $785M
international clients hosted from 15 countries on 18 FAM trips
spent by international visitors
international sales missions initiated, and four tradeshows attended
Atlanta hosted Travel South International Showcase from Dec. 1-4. This event brought more than 130 international buyers and journalists (along with more than 300 Southern suppliers) to the city for several days of city tours, appointments and events.
ACVB is actively engaged in giving back to the city and pursuing sustainable initiatives.
• The destination services team participated in Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) Celebrate Services Week, a weeklong activation of Atlanta event service professionals. Attendees engaged in team building and community service activities including Meals On Wheels Atlanta meal packing, a clothing drive for The Gateway Center and hosted an event services FAM day with representatives from Georgia World Congress Center and the city’s largest convention hotels.
• The team also supported Atlanta Police Foundation through volunteer opportunities and events including an APD Appreciation Event at Zone 5 precinct, Atlanta Police Foundation’s AtPromise Field Day and Atlanta’s Finest 5K.
• Launched Atlanta Sustainable Meetings website
• The team upcycled pole banners to create produce totes with Re:Loom during IEEE Super Computing 2024, and this project provided work hours and housing support for those in need
• Spearheaded a two-day donation initiative for the Coverings convention. By donating leftover tradeshow products to organizations like Habitat for Humanity, this effort helped reduce material waste
ACVB’s marketing team goes above and beyond to create innovative marketing initiatives that truly showcase Atlanta and its unique culture and offerings.
• Reached 50,000+ attendees at ACVB’s Atlanta Film Festival and Atlanta Jazz Festival activations
• Launched the first Kids Free September campaign with 12 participating attractions
• Completed production of second cookbook “Fearless Innovation: What Unites Us” and launched to local media
• Produced four 30-minute episodes for global syndication of Voyager TV travel series—Colors of Atlanta
• Continued partnership with Telemundo to produce and air second season of Atlanta con Sabor Latino with six 30-minute episodes
• Launched new destination campaign under ACVB vision and evolution of brand strategy
• Launched ClickTripz/Chime AI chatbot
• Enhanced navigation on DiscoverAtlanta.com
• Launched FIFA World Cup 26™ on DiscoverAtlanta.com
• Transformed Trip Planner app integration to DiscoverAtlanta.com
AWARDS
MEDIA PAID AND ORGANIC
WEBSITE TRAFFIC
Earned a NATAS Southeast Chapter Emmy Award for season one of Atlanta Con Sabor Latino
DISCOVER ATLANTA ENEWS
216.6 MILLION 9.3 MILLION 40% AVERAGE
IMPRESSIONS
DISCOVER ATLANTA APP
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
347,211 13.4 MILLION 5.1 MILLION 4.1% AVERAGE 383,919 387,952
ENGAGEMENTS
IMPRESSIONS
VISITS
5,854 AVERAGE
MONTHLY OPEN RATE
MONTHLY CTR
MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS
APP PAGE VIEWS
TOTAL USERS
SESSIONS
ACVB, in partnership with chef and author Taria Camerino, published “Fearless Innovation: What Unites Us,” the second edition of the cookbook series celebrating Atlanta’s diverse culinary scene.
This second cookbook continues the journey, acknowledging the considerable impact our diverse immigrant population has had on what is being served in our restaurants today. What differentiates the Atlanta’s Food Story series from other cookbooks is the rich narrative that delves into the intersection of food, culture and history in Atlanta.
Andrew Wilson, vice president and chief marketing officer, ACVB
Atlanta’s 2024 MICHELIN Guide Ceremony took place Oct. 28 at Georgia World Congress Center. During the ceremony, 14 more restaurants were added to the MICHELIN Guide including four more One Star restaurants – bringing the total to nine One Star restaurants and 57 total recognized in the Atlanta guide’s second year.
The culinary scene in Atlanta continues to shine a light on the tastes of the South, while also offering a diversity of international cuisines to foodies. Our anonymous Inspectors continue to be impressed in the talent they have witnessed firsthand throughout the local restaurant community.
Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of MICHELIN Guides
Sports Business Journal: Atlanta is No. 4: Best Sports Business Cities, Event Hosting
Food & Wine: Atlanta Offers Southern Comfort, Soul Food, and Global Flavors for Football Fans
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Atlanta is on the clock for College Football Playoff title game
AP: The Super Bowl will return to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2028
Atlanta’s passion for sports continues to shine brightly as the city hosts a diverse range of events from intense college rivalries and thrilling club tournaments to exciting youth competitions.
ACVB played a role in booking and supporting the coordination of many of these events to ensure their success. This year also marked the announcement of Super Bowl LXII in 2028 and 2031 NCAA Men’s Division I Final Four coming to Atlanta.
Looking ahead, Atlanta is already preparing to host several returning sporting events and two new ones in 2025 - FIFA Club World Cup™ and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.
ACVB is also leveraging 2025 as an opportunity to prepare for FIFA World Cup 2026™ by working behind the scenes on campaigns to showcase Atlanta as a soccer city.
• CHEERSPORT Nationals
• Copa América
• Big South National Qualifier
• Lil’ Big South
• Aflac Kickoff Game
• Cricket Celebration Bowl
• Southern Regional Volleyball Association (SRVA)
• SEC Football Championship Game
• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
ACVB’s PR team is constantly securing news headlines across domestic, international and convention trade media to showcase Atlanta’s vibrant culture and offerings for visitors and meeting planners.
How To Plan The Perfect Nature-Focused Atlanta Getaway
Signia by Hilton Debuts Georgia World Congress Center HQ Hotel
This Southern U.S. City Was Just Named the Best in the Country for Celebrating Christmas, According to WalletHub
Atlanta city guide: What to do and where to stay in Georgia’s sprawling cultural hub
Savoring the Past, Crafting the Future
The 2024 annual meeting featured a panel discussion with Ligaya Figueras, senior editor, Food and Dining, Atlanta JournalConstitution; Freddy Money, culinary director, Atlas and The Garden Room; and Adam Noyes, CEO, Proof of the Pudding. The panelists discussed what sets Atlanta’s gastronomy apart from other destinations and looked ahead to the future of this craft.
ACVB brings hospitality professionals together from across the city at its two largest events — annual meeting and Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame.
The Annual Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame ceremony recognizes individuals who have spent their careers establishing Atlanta as a prominent destination for meetings and tourism.
This year, ACVB inducted:
• Dr. Brian L. Davis, Georgia Aquarium
• Bobby Donlan, New York Prime Steakhouse
• Donata Russell Ross, Concessions International
• Mark Vaughan, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
• ACVB also awarded Dart Transportation & Staffing, LLC as Member of the Year
ACVB is committed to its members and strives to provide them with the best possible resources and opportunities to leverage business opportunities.
Hosted quarterly Connects for networking between members throughout metro Atlanta’s hospitality community
new members* retention rate 99 97%+
Reintroduced Member Spotlight to create monthly opportunities for members to engage face-to-face with ACVB staff to provide updates on their services and products
ACVB has been instrumental in our business amplification with incoming conventions. They make sure customers know our name and are familiar with our product.
— Samantha Alexander, sales and special events manager, Porsche Experience Center Atlanta
ACVB’s partnership has enabled our participation in familiarization (FAM) tours and site visits, providing opportunities to showcase our services to potential event planners. Subsequent follow-up from these events have resulted in securing multiple bookings from groups that regularly conduct business in Atlanta.
— Stephen Chester, owner, ATL-Cruzers
*ACVB defines new members as someone who is an active dues paying member, non-trade and someone who has not been a member in the past two years
Officers
Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Committee
Bob Somers
Vice Chair, Advisory board
Kris Reinhard
Vice Chair
Ramon Reyes
Vice Chair
Chair, Atlanta Convention
Marketing Fund Committee
Ken Bernhardt
Vice Chair
Chair Compensation Plan and CEO Contract Committee
Erica Qualls-Battey
Treasurer
Chair, Finance & Human Resource Committee
Stan Wilson
Secretary Chair, Board Cultivation Leona Barr-Davenport
Executive Committee
Teri Agosta
General Manager
Ed Baker Executive in Residence Georgia State University
Marc Balizer
Managing Director BlackRock
Debby Cannon Director, School of Hospitality
Georgia State University – Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality
Daryl Evans Consultant
Hector Gallardo VP, National Sales Coca-Cola Company
Sharon Goldmacher
President communications 21
Sheffield Hale President & CEO
Atlanta History Center / Margaret Mitchell House
Brad Koeneman
General Manager
Hilton Atlanta
George McKerrow, Jr. Co-Owner
Ted’s Montana Grill
Derrick Morrow General Manager Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Nancy Oswald Co-Owner/Director of Marketing
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Frank Poe Executive Director
Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Derek Schiller President, Business
Atlanta Braves
Steve Smith Sr. Consultant Pendleton Group
Armand Vari Partner
Jacoby Development Inc.
Dexter Warrior Managing Partner & COO T. Dallas Smith & Co.
Cynthia Alford Managing Director Destination South Meetings and Events
Natalee Anderson Director, Private Events and Tours Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Joselyn Baker President Grady Health Foundation
Deisha Barnett President, Global Communications UPS
Ken Baye Co-owner Stoddard’s Guns
Kimberly Beaudin CEO
Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame
Dr. M. Brian Blake
President
Georgia State University
Riley Blount
Vice President of External Affairs AT&T
Tom Boyer
General Manager The Westin Peachtree Plaza
Shannon Brown Owner
Gus’s Fried Chicken
Pinky Cole CEO & Founder Slutty Vegan ATL
Tony Conway, CMP Founder and CEO
Legendary Events
Dan Corso President Atlanta Sports Council
Tim Dahlen General Manager
The Candler Hotel
Dennis DeLoatch
Executive Vice President and General Manager
Carey Atlanta Executive Limousine and Transportation
Reggie Dominique Managing Director Loews Atlanta Hotel
Jennifer Dorian President and CEO
Public Broadcasting Atlanta
Amanda Dyson-Thornton
Executive Director
Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Dr. Meredith Evans Director
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Stephanie Fischer President and CEO
Georgia Restaurant Association
Alex Gonzalez
Chief Innovation Officer
Metro Atlanta Chamber
John Grant, Jr.
Executive Director
Cricket Celebration Bowl and Cricket MEAC/ SWAC Challenge
Kevin Green
President and CEO
Midtown Alliance
Jo Ann Herold
Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Georgia State University
Robert Hope President Hope Beckham Espinosa
Sean Hyslop President Sysco Atlanta
Dr. Leonard Jackson Director and Professor of Hospitality Management Kennesaw State University
Mark Jaronski
Deputy Commissioner, Explore
Georgia Georgia Department of Economic Development
Richard Jones President
Presenting Atlanta
Robert Kamerschen Shareholder Greenberg Traurig
Andrella Kenner Founder/CEO/President CI2 Aviation, Inc.
Stacey J. Key President and CEO
Georgia Minority Supplier Development
Julia Lauria Vice President of Athlete Branding SportsTrust
Yola Marshall Vice President, Global Sales
Americas IHG Hotels & Resorts
Brian P. McGowan President Centennial Yards Company
John Metz
CEO and Co-Founder
Sterling Spoon Management Services
Mercedes Miller Executive Director
Georgia International Convention Center
Peter Moraitakis
Senior Vice President and COO United Distributors, Inc.
Stan Morrell
Senior Vice President, Entertainment, Guest Experience, Special Events and Sponsorships
Stone Mountain Park
Adam Noyes SVP
Proof of the Pudding
Eric O’Brien Partner
Jackson Spalding
Mark O’Brien President and CEO LakePoint Sports
TK Petersen CFO
The Gathering Spot
Frank Phair Vice President of Operations, Hotels
Legacy Ventures
Fred Rich CEO CTN Global Chauffeured Transportation
A.J. Robinson President Central Atlanta Progress
David Rubinger Publisher Atlanta Business Chronicle
Andrew Saltzman EVP & Chief Revenue Officer Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
Kris Shea VP, Business Development Juice Studios
Jessi Shover
Sr. Manager, Meetings & Events Georgia-Pacific LLC
Kelvin Slater Owner Slater Hospitality
John Smith Chairman & CEO Icon Parking
Jim Sprouse Executive Director
Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association
John Stephenson Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects Chick-fil-A
Amber Stewart Marketing Director CentraArchy Restaurants
Gary Stokan President and CEO Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
George Terpilowski General Manager InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
Pat Upshaw-Monteith President & CEO Leadership Atlanta
Dan Vargas CEO Dortch Vargas Amigos
Allan Vella President Fox Theatre
Dave Walens CEO Exploring, Inc.
John Woodward Vice President, Global Commerce Metro Atlanta Chamber
