Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Name	Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Type	Nonprofit
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Region served	Metro Atlanta
Leader title	President & CEO

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau is a city-focused destination marketing organization based in Atlanta, Georgia that promotes tourism, meetings, and conventions across metro Fulton County, Georgia, DeKalb County, Georgia, Cobb County, Georgia and surrounding counties. It acts as a central resource for meeting planners, leisure travelers, cultural institutions such as the High Museum of Art, sports franchises like the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta United FC, and attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Centennial Olympic Park. The bureau coordinates with civic institutions such as Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia World Congress Center, and the City of Atlanta to attract national conferences, trade shows, and festivals such as Dragon Con and Atlanta Film Festival.

History

The bureau traces its roots to mid-20th century civic booster movements that paralleled efforts by organizations like the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. Formalized in the early 1970s during urban renewal initiatives linked to projects such as the development of Centennial Olympic Park and the hosting of the 1996 Summer Olympics, the organization evolved alongside key Atlanta institutions including Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it partnered with performing arts organizations like the Alliance Theatre and venues such as the Fox Theatre to expand conventions tied to film festivals and cultural expositions. In the 21st century the bureau adapted strategies used by peers such as the Visit Dallas and Visit Orlando bureaus, integrating digital marketing and data analytics while collaborating with regional economic development entities like the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Organization and Governance

The bureau operates as a nonprofit destination marketing organization governed by a board of directors drawn from hospitality and civic sectors including representatives from hotel companies like Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, and Hilton Worldwide, convention venues such as the Georgia World Congress Center, and transportation stakeholders including Delta Air Lines. Executive leadership coordinates with municipal officials from the Office of the Mayor of Atlanta, county commissioners from Fulton County, Georgia and DeKalb County, Georgia, and legislative staff from the Georgia General Assembly. Financial oversight involves partnerships with the Atlanta Hotel Association, municipal tourism taxes overseen by city finance departments, and grant relationships with philanthropic institutions including the Woodruff Arts Center and regional foundations such as the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Services and Programs

The bureau provides services for meeting planners, exhibitors, and leisure travelers, including site selection assistance for venues like the Georgia World Congress Center and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, housing coordination with chains such as Sheraton Hotels and Resorts and boutique properties in neighborhoods like Buckhead (Atlanta). Programs promote attractions such as the College Football Hall of Fame, Oakland Cemetery, and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park while offering visitor guides, digital toolkits used by organizations like Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and convention services that link to suppliers like Aramark and SMG (company). The bureau also administers marketing campaigns, research services with partners such as STR, Inc. and Tourism Economics, and training initiatives in hospitality workforce development with educational institutions including Georgia State University and Emory University.

Major Events and Conventions Hosted

The bureau has facilitated major events spanning pop culture, technology, sports, and trade: large-scale fan conventions such as Dragon Con; music events tied to the Atlanta Jazz Festival; industry gatherings including SXSW-style conferences and regional chapters of DEF CON; book and literary festivals like Decatur Book Festival partnerships; and medical and scientific meetings linked to institutions such as Emory Healthcare and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has coordinated national association conventions for groups like the American Library Association, corporate incentive events for companies including The Coca-Cola Company and Home Depot, and large-scale sports tournaments hosted at State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium including NCAA regional competitions and MLS cup matches.

Marketing and Economic Impact

Marketing initiatives leverage partnerships with media outlets such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, broadcast partners like WABE (FM), and tourism platforms akin to TripAdvisor to target domestic and international visitors from feeder markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Toronto. Economic impact studies commissioned by the bureau estimate direct tourist spending affecting hospitality chains including Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide, foodservice operators such as Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and The Varsity, and cultural institutions like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The bureau’s campaigns support hotel occupancy tax revenue administered by City of Atlanta Office of Revenue and contribute to the regional tax base that sustains transportation projects such as MARTA expansions and airport improvements at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

The bureau partners with civic and cultural stakeholders including the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Atlanta Regional Commission, and neighborhood business associations in Midtown Atlanta, Downtown Atlanta, and Old Fourth Ward (Atlanta). Community engagement programs support workforce pathways with partners such as Goodwill of North Georgia and hospitality training with Atlanta Technical College, while sustainability initiatives align with organizations like the Southeast Tourism Society and environmental nonprofits including the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Collaborative projects include public art promotion with the High Museum of Art and event safety coordination with public safety agencies like the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.

Category:Organizations based in Atlanta