24th Annual Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame will Induct Three New Honorees

October 9, 2023

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) will recognize three new individuals during the 24^th annual Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 1 at The Fox Theatre. The event will honor Tracy Gates, David Marvin and Frank Poe.

“Our three new inductees have had an immeasurable impact on not only our visitors, but also those who call Atlanta home,” said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. “We are proud to welcome these individuals to the Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame and celebrate their contributions to the destination.”

Gates is owner and head chef at the iconic Busy Bee Café which was founded in Atlanta in 1947. Many of the city’s civil rights leaders were known to enjoy a meal at Busy Bee Café, and the restaurant continues to be a beloved spot among visitors and locals alike. Gates’ father passed down the restaurant to her in 1987 and she’s been expanding the Busy Bee brand every day since. Her passion for supporting the community and delivering authentic soul food was recognized when Busy Bee Café won a 2022 America’s Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation, making it the first restaurant in Atlanta to earn this accolade.

Marvin serves as chairman and founder of Legacy Ventures, the company he launched in 1994. He has grown Legacy Ventures into a best-in-class hotel management, restaurant management and development company. Marvin started his business in the heart of Atlanta’s convention and entertainment district, making significant investments to the area and turning Marietta Street into a popular destination for convention attendees, leisure travelers and residents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Legacy Ventures manages hospitality properties in five states including five hotels and 10 restaurants in Downtown.

As executive director of Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) for more than a decade, Poe is a respected and accomplished leader in the convention, hospitality and tourism industry. Under his leadership, the state-owned convention center has expanded to create more than 1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space and has added Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and GWCCA’s new headquarter hotel Signia by Hilton Atlanta to its campus. With Poe at the helm, Atlanta has continued to attract large-scale conventions such as Big South National Qualifier, International Production and Processing Expo and International Woodworking Fair.

In addition to honoring the 2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame inductees, ACVB will present the fifth annual Spurgeon Richardson Member of the Year Award. The award honors Spurgeon Richardson, the longest-serving CEO of ACVB and his many contributions to Atlanta’s hospitality industry. This year’s winner is Sensational Baskets.

Atlanta Business Chronicle, Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company serve as presenting sponsors for this year’s Hospitality Hall of Fame. Individual tickets or tables are available for purchase at DiscoverAtlanta.com/HHOF.