Andrew Clark Joins ACVB as Digital Marketing Manager 

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announces the hiring of Andrew Clark as digital marketing manager. Clark is responsible for evaluating ACVB’s content strategy and executing initiatives across digital platforms. He will also create written and visual content to drive engagement, keeping Atlanta top of mind with business and leisure travelers. 

Prior to ACVB, Clark served as the general manager at Hite Digital Atlanta where he was charged with overseeing marketing campaigns for clients. Clark is a graduate of Assumption University with a degree in international business. 

ACVB Hires Marcail Bayer as National Sales Manager

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announces the hiring of Marcail Bayer as national sales manager.

Bayer joins ACVB to sell and market Atlanta as a premier destination for group meetings requiring 251 to 1,200 rooms on peak night, focusing on the Midwest market. She will also represent ACVB at trade shows and coordinate the participation of the organization’s partners.

Prior to ACVB, Bayer served as the complex convention sales coordinator for Legacy Ventures where she was charged with responding to leads and conducting site inspections. Bayer is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin with a degree in global studies management. While living in Wisconsin, Bayer was involved in the Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee.

The MICHELIN Guide arrives in Atlanta

• Atlanta becomes ninth MICHELIN Guide destination in North America
• MICHELIN Guide inspectors are already in the field, finding culinary gems

The MICHELIN Guide has landed in the Peach State, as Michelin and Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) today unveiled the Michelin Guide Atlanta.

Food and travel enthusiasts have a lot to explore in Atlanta: the heart of the South. It’s a culturally diverse city, which makes for a vibrant culinary scene. Atlanta boasts everything from fine dining experiences to creative takes on Southern staples to local favorites.

The first MICHELIN Guide Atlanta selection will be revealed in the fall, and it will feature world-class restaurants in the metro Atlanta area.

The famously anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors award the iconic MICHELIN Stars – one, two or three – to unparalleled cuisine. The Guide is also renowned for its Bib Gourmand selection, highlighting restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices. The MICHELIN Green Star is given to restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy. Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by the inspectors.

“We want to recognize that Atlanta is a culinary powerhouse, with a long list of styles and flavors for foodies to enjoy. One might immediately associate the city with Southern cuisine, and rightfully so, but there is much depth here that should not go overlooked,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “Atlanta is brimming with innovation and talent, which is evident in the dining scene, according to our anonymous inspectors.”

The MICHELIN Guide’s famously anonymous inspectors are already in the field, making dining reservations secretively and paying for all their meals to ensure they are treated the same as any other customer.

“Atlanta’s culinary scene is rich in diversity and constantly evolving but has long been one of the most underappreciated assets in our city,” said William Pate, president and CEO of ACVB. “We are proud of the recognition the MICHELIN Guide will bring to our destination as it highlights our local chefs and cuisine.”

The MICHELIN Guide is constantly observing the evolution of culinary destinations around the world. Michelin works with Destination Marketing Organizations, or tourism boards, to promote the travel industry in the respective locations; however, the MICHELIN Guide selections process remains completely independent. While selections remain fully independently determined by anonymous inspectors, the MICHELIN Guide is working with ACVB on marketing and promotion activities only.

The 2023 Atlanta restaurant selection will join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels later this year and will feature the most unique and exciting places to stay in Atlanta and around the world. The selection features over 6,000 hotels in more than 130 countries, with options for all budgets. Each hotel has been chosen by MICHELIN Guide experts for its extraordinary style, service, and personality — and each can be booked directly on the MICHELIN Guide website and app.

History and methodology
The upcoming Atlanta restaurant selection will follow Michelin’s historical methodology, based on five universal criteria, to ensure each destination’s selection equity: 1) quality products; 2) the harmony of flavors; 3) the mastery of cooking techniques; 4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; 5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking a great meal. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage tire sales by giving practical advice to French motorists. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by inspectors in the very beginning, now applied in destinations around the world.

Michelin published its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have since been added in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; California; Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida; Colorado; Toronto; and Vancouver.

Telemundo Atlanta and Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Co-Produce Cinematic-Style Series Highlighting Latin Culture and Flavors in Atlanta

Atlanta con Sabor Latino (Atlanta with Latin Flavor) Series to air on Gray’s Telemundo Affiliated Stations across the United States Starting June 17th, 2023.

Telemundo Atlanta and Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announce the upcoming launch of Atlanta con Sabor Latino (Atlanta with Latin Flavor), a highly creative, bilingual lifestyle series showcasing Latin culture and cuisine through intertwined stories from Latinos who call Atlanta home.

Atlanta ranks as the 22^nd largest Hispanic DMA with 939,190 Hispanics in population and nearly 243,000 Hispanic households according to Nielsen. The vibrant Hispanic population represents 13% of the population in the Atlanta DMA with the median age of 27 among Hispanics.

“The positive and deep impact of the Latino culture can be seen at every turn in Atlanta whether it is food, music, art, or business and we want viewers to truly experience the rich Latin influence that Atlanta has to offer,” said Maria Bastidas, VP / General Manager of Telemundo Atlanta and co-Executive Producer of Atlanta con Sabor Latino.

“Attracting the growing Latin traveler community is an important part of our strategy, and this partnership with Gray Television is instrumental in providing bilingual content highlighting everything Atlanta has to offer,” said Andrew Wilson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, ACVB. “Producing this series with Telemundo Atlanta also gives us tremendous audience reach and serves as a complement to our Hispanic traveler web and social media content.”  

Atlanta con Sabor Latino, a 6-part cinematic-style episodic series intended to drive audiences to visit and experience Atlanta, will launch the week of June 12 across 27 Telemundo stations listed below. The weekly 30-minute episodes will air on weekends in 27 Telemundo Affiliated markets as follows:

“To be able to provide expansive reach through Gray’s network of affiliated Telemundo stations across various regions throughout the U.S. is an effective way for advertisers and partners to reach the fastest growing segment of the population in multiple markets with one shot,” said Susan Sim Oh, Vice President of Strategy and Operations for Gray’s Telemundo Station Group.

Gray is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets. Gray’s footprint includes the largest Telemundo Affiliate Station Group consisting of 42 markets.

ACVB is the official destination marketing organization for the city and serves to favorably impact Atlanta’s economy through conventions and tourism. The organization produces the city’s official guide for travelers and locals on all things to do involving arts, culture, history, restaurants and more. Visit discoveratlanta.com and #discoveratlanta on social media.

Premier League Announces Summer Series is Heading to Atlanta

The Premier League announced its first-ever preseason tournament in the United States will take place this July, with six clubs traveling to take part in matches and events in five major East Coast cities including a doubleheader at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium July 26.

The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The effort to bring Premier League matches to Atlanta for the first time is led by Atlanta Sports Council, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, AMB Sports & Entertainment and the City of Atlanta. U.S. fans will have the opportunity to watch a world-class lineup of Premier League players and managers in action. The tournament will comprise high-profile matches and preseason training camps and will be supported by a range of events for fans and local community groups.

“We are delighted to be bringing six clubs to the USA in July for the first-ever Premier League Summer Series,” said Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive. “Our clubs have incredible supporters in the U.S. who passionately follow their teams throughout the season. We have seen this dedication first-hand from the tens of thousands who have attended our Mornings Live fan events and are excited to be building on this by bringing live Premier League action to five cities this summer. We are currently enjoying one of the most competitive Premier League seasons of all time at both ends of the table and I am sure we will see some thrilling matches during the tournament.”

“Atlanta is widely known for hosting world-class sporting events, and we are thrilled to welcome several of the English Premier League’s top clubs to our city,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These matches will draw new visitors to Atlanta, and we look forward to showcasing all that our city has to offer.”

“We are thrilled to bring four of the world’s premier soccer clubs to compete in Atlanta as part of this very special event,” said Dan Corso, president, Atlanta Sports Council. “We believe our city is the country’s top destination to hold international sporting events and look forward to continuing to work with our partners locally and with the English Premier League to create a remarkable experience for all involved. In addition, this event fits in nicely with our city’s continued preparation to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will provide tremendous exposure with the matches being broadcast in 880 million homes and 180 countries.”

“We’re really excited for Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the City of Atlanta to be chosen to host this event,” said Garth Lagerwey, president and CEO, Atlanta United. “As an organization, we see this as another step in Atlanta becoming a premier destination for the biggest club and international competitions that our sport has to offer. This will be a great opportunity to showcase our world-class stadium to a new audience, and like many fans in our region, we’re looking forward to hosting these teams and other top competitions in the future.”

“We are honored to have the opportunity to host the first Premier League match in the City of Atlanta’s history,” said Tim Zulawski, president, AMB Sports + Entertainment. “The vision for Mercedes-Benz Stadium is to attract the world’s largest events and offer quality entertainment for not only the citizens of Atlanta, but the entire Southeastern U.S. We look forward to welcoming a new soccer fan base to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for these two matches.”

The first Atlanta match will feature Brentford FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC, slated for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff, followed by the return of former Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron as Chelsea FC faces Newcastle FC, scheduled for an 8:15 p.m. start. For all the latest tournament and ticket information, visit premierleague.com/SummerSeries.

Charlene Lopez to become Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Chief Sales Officer in 2024

Charlene Lopez, veteran hospitality sales leader and vice president of sales at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), will be promoted to executive vice president and chief sales officer for the organization beginning Jan. 1, 2024. She will succeed Mark Vaughan who announced his plans to retire at the end of the year.

In this role, Lopez will be responsible for efforts to increase visitation to Atlanta through the development and implementation of all sales programs for ACVB. She will oversee trade show sales, in-house sales, international tourism sales and convention services, establishing strategy for each and ensuring their objectives align with the corporate strategy. Lopez will also maintain partnerships with hotels and convention facilities and serve as the sales liaison to ACVB’s executive committee and board of directors.

“Charlene knows our destination and team and has a history of success at ACVB,” said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. “She has been preparing for this opportunity her entire career, and I am confident she will take our sales and services teams to the next level.”

“Charlene’s leadership, dedication and commitment to Atlanta’s hospitality industry has been instrumental in positioning Atlanta as one of the country’s most popular destinations,” said Vaughan. “I am incredibly proud of her and look forward to her success in this role.” 

Lopez will be the highest-ranking woman in the organization’s history, serving as the first female C-level executive since ACVB was established 110 years ago. She joined ACVB in June 2012 as sales manager, national accounts, focusing on association and corporate business. She was promoted to director of citywide sales in September 2019 and became vice president of sales in July 2021.

Her career also includes roles with Omni Hotel at CNN Center as director of sales, associate director of sales at Hyatt Regency Atlanta and associate director of sales, sales manager and business travel manager at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.

Lopez is chair of the Industry Partner Alliance committee for American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and sits on Maritz’s DMO Customer Advisory Board. Previously, she served as director of sponsorship for Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) Southeast chapter and was a board member for International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ (IAEE) Southeast chapter.

Originally from San Antonio, Lopez is a graduate of Texas A&M University and received a master’s degree in human resource management from Tarleton State University. She and her husband Chris have five children.

ACVB Adds to Sales and Destination Services Teams

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announces the hiring of Lani Garner as citywide sales executive and Shannel Ortega as destination services executive.

Garner joins ACVB to sell and market Atlanta as a destination for prospective trade shows and group meetings. She will be responsible for generating leads and subsequent bookings for trade show and national account sales requiring 1,201 rooms or greater on peak night. Garner previously served as senior director of industry relations at SECO International.

Ortega is charged with managing groups utilizing a minimum of 250 hotel rooms on peak night. She will serve as the liaison between the sales department, meeting planners, ACVB member companies and trade associations to ensure the satisfaction of groups coming to Atlanta. Before joining ACVB, Ortega served as client solutions manager at Freeman.

Mark Vaughan to Retire from Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mark Vaughan, executive vice president and chief sales officer at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), will retire from the organization at the end of the year. He made the announcement during ACVB’s March board of directors meeting.

Vaughan’s decision comes after nearly two decades with the organization, serving as executive vice president of sales since September 2005. His oversight includes trade show and in-house sales, convention services and international sales. Vaughan was promoted in 2011 and added chief sales officer to his title. During his tenure, convention bookings increased from 1.3 million room nights to 1.7 million annually, while total visitation grew from 32 million to 57 million prior to the pandemic. ACVB’s sales team earned numerous awards under his leadership including multiple Stella Awards recognizing quality service and innovation to meeting professionals.

“Much of Atlanta’s growth and success as a destination has occurred under Mark’s leadership,” said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. “His efforts during the last two decades have generated tremendous economic impact and job growth for our industry and our city.”

During Vaughan’s time at ACVB, Atlanta has also been among the top convention cities in the country in leads and bookings. Vaughan’s teams have secured and serviced hundreds of major citywide conventions and sporting events including two NCAA Men’s Final Four tournaments (2013 and 2020), Super Bowl LIII (2019), two College Football Playoff National Championships (2018 and 2025) and FIFA World Cup (2026).

“Mark’s impact reaches far beyond Atlanta,” said Pate. “As a national hospitality leader, he has served as a board advisor to several organizations and a mentor to many individuals. It will be difficult to imagine our industry without him.”

Vaughan served on the board of directors for American Society for Association Executives (ASAE), ASAE Foundation, Association Forum and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He was also a member of the Federal Reserve Bank’s Tourism Advisory Council and chair of Atlanta Sports Council. In 2017, he was chosen for ASAE’s Class of Fellows, recognizing his individual accomplishments and contributions to ASAE and the association sector.

Prior to joining ACVB, Vaughan worked for Marriott International for 23 years in a variety of marketing and sales positions. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Vaughan attended Eastern Kentucky University where he met his wife Cheryl. They have three children.

ACVB Announces Two New Managerial Hires 

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announces the hiring of Daniel Treuman as destination services executive and Tanya Hamel as national sales manager.

In his new role, Treuman will manage groups with a minimum of 250 hotel rooms on peak night. He will serve as the liaison between the sales department, meeting planners, ACVB member companies and trade associations to ensure the satisfaction of groups coming to Atlanta. Treuman previously served as senior event manager at Atlanta Marriott Marquis where he planned operational aspects of meetings and conventions for the property.

Hamel is responsible for selling and marketing Atlanta as a premier destination for groups utilizing 51-1,200 hotel rooms on peak night, focusing on the Midwest, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia markets. She will also represent ACVB at trade shows and coordinate the participation of the organization’s partners. Before joining ACVB, she served as senior sales enthusiast at Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown.

Somers to Serve as 2023 ACVB Chair

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) board of directors elected Bob Somers as its chair in 2023. Somers is senior vice president of global sales for Delta Air Lines.

“Bob’s extensive experience in the travel industry, combined with his leadership skills, makes him the ideal choice to chair our board of directors,” said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. “He has a broad knowledge of what makes Atlanta an attractive travel destination and I look forward to his insights on how to grow our business.”

Somers began his career at Delta in 1983 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in Delta’s sales and marketing divisions. He joined ACVB’s board in 2017 and began serving on the organization’s executive committee in 2022. Somers is a member of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and was honored with the GBTA Allied Member of the Year award in 2016. Business Travel News also named him one of its 25 Most Influential Business Travel Executives in 2016.

“It’s an honor to be chair of the board as we kick off another exciting and busy year for our booming city,” said Somers. “As an Atlanta native, it’s been remarkable to see the change and growth within the hospitality industry over the years. I’m confident that the momentum will continue throughout 2023 and beyond, and I look forward to supporting the future success.”

ACVB’s chair is elected by the board of directors following a nomination by the organization’s executive committee.