The challenge now for people like Marinelli and Sheridan is not just to encourage the return of visitors and conventions, but to compete for that business. No one’s popping corks yet, but as millions of Americans get vaccinated and cities reopen, 2021 is looking vastly better. I can’t overstate how badly the industry in Boston has suffered.” Ad B Further north, “Cape Cod, the Vineyard, Nantucket, the Berkshires-they all did well,” says Martha Sheridan, the president and CEO of the Greater Boston CVB. Savannah’s Tybee Island, where the 2017 film version of Baywatch was shot, had a near-record year, according to Marinelli. International travel disappeared, the convention business shut down, leisure travelers stayed away and many city residents who could go elsewhere left-if you could work remotely, why not work somewhere safe and scenic? Those who could afford to headed for more outdoor-oriented options-second homes, resort communities, mountains, anything on the water. And in a number of cities, the protests-and, sometimes, violence-around the Black Lives Matter movement for social justice fostered the perception that cities had become places of chaos, disease and death. The coronavirus, of course, had the biggest impact few wanted to be in densely populated areas, or planes, or hotels, during a pandemic. After a decade in which visitation around the United States rose like an endless bull market, 2020 set the wrong kind of records. That philosophy characterized the American travel industry last year. Related Travel Tech: 8 Must-Have Gadgets for Your Next Vacation But how could Marinelli promote visitation to a city in lockdown? Ad A And in Savannah, a beautiful city with an inviting blend of history, character and culture, tourism is the single biggest industry. There isn’t a city in the country that doesn’t depend on visitation for revenue, tax dollars and jobs, so these organizations are important. Visit Savannah’s mission-like that of similar organizations in every state and big city around the country-is to drive visitation to its city through tourism, business travel and conventions. For Joe Marinelli, the president of Visit Savannah, the city’s convention and visitors bureau (CVB), the cancellation was not just a huge economic hit, but a warning sign of things to come. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in Savannah, a weekend festival that brings in millions of dollars of revenue for the city’s bars, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions. Patrick’s Day celebration because of the threat of coronavirus.
In early March 2020, Van Johnson, the mayor of Savannah, Ga., decided to cancel the city’s annual St. Perhaps the biggest change? They’re finally showcasing the history of all the people who built them. A round the country, cities are recovering from a devastating year for business travel and tourism.