Greetings,

VisitColumbusGA is off to a strong start in fiscal year 2027.

VisitColumbusGA partnered with Explore Georgia for the “Georgia, the Whole Day Through” activation at the Georgia World Congress Center during the 2026 FIFA World Cup games in Atlanta. Over the last eight match days, more than 70,000 visitors walked through the experiential activation promoting cities across our state. Our team members engaged with 1,219 visitors, fans, volunteers, and attendees as they stopped by our table.

Thanks to our Community Engagement and Special Projects Manager, Joel Slocumb, for setting us up for success with this activation. We appreciate our partners who joined us for the “Georgia, the Whole Day Through” FIFA World Cup activation and enhanced the experience for guests.

VisitColumbusGA deepened our partnership with the Columbus Botanical Garden during a team building volunteer project. After chatting with the Garden’s leadership about strengthening our collaboration, we toured the grounds, met volunteers, and painted a room under renovation. VisitColumbusGA is proud to partner with attractions, businesses, and vendors who welcome visitors to our city.

VisitColumbusGA believes in celebrating the people who make Columbus a great place to visit! Our Sales team is personally thanking our hotel partners for their continued support. With our first stops down, we have many more to come.

Fiscal year 2027 is starting off with strong momentum, community collaboration, and enhanced exposure for VisitColumbusGA and our partners at the high-profile 2026 FIFA World Cup. We intend to continue strengthening our partnerships with you and growing Columbus’ recognition together.

VisitColumbusGA’s President and CEO, Ashley Woitena, and our Director of Marketing and Communications, Danielle Ackerman, attended the 2026 Destinations International (DI) Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. Delivering practical insights and actionable ideas, the DI Annual Conference is among the largest and most prestigious conferences in the tourism industry. Over three days, VisitColumbusGA leaders engaged with peers on redefining revenue growth, building community trust, and delivering measurable results.

Ashley and Danielle also attended in-person DI committee meetings alongside their conference sessions. Ashley sits on the Community Alignment committee, a strategic advisory body focused on strengthening the connection between destination marketing organizations and their stakeholder communities. Danielle attended a panel of Portland-based travel writers discussing how destinations can better work with travel media, hosted by the PR & Communications subcommittee.

After gleaning industry-leading insights from their DI committee sessions, general sessions, and networking opportunities, VisitColumbusGA leaders brought back actionable ideas and best practices for marketing Columbus as a premier destination in the Southeast.

Columbus recently welcomed two large groups to the Fountain City—America’s Ideal Miss and the Georgia Alabama Partnership for Sustainability (GAPS). We partnered with the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts to host more than 150 delegates, aged 4 to 27, from across the United States who competed for the 2026 America’s Ideal Miss Premier National titles.

The Columbus Convention and Trade Center partnered with us to welcome the GAPS 2026 Disaster Resilience Across the Chattahoochee Valley Conference. Director of Sales, Tonja Ray-Smith, greeted the group on behalf of VisitColumbusGA.

We appreciate each partner who helps host, lodge, feed, and entertain conference attendees. You help us welcome large groups and showcase Columbus as an outstanding option for meeting planners.