Visit Macon

Our community has suffered a great loss with the passing of Josh Rogers. Josh was truly a champion for Macon, and the impact he has made will endure for years to come. ?? Please keep Josh's family and our friends at NewTown Macon in your thoughts.

We are devastated to share that NewTown’s visionary leader, Josh Rogers, passed away Sunday evening. Our hearts go out to Josh’s wife and children and we ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If you have visited downtown Macon, you have seen Josh’s life’s work. Since his first role at NewTown as a college intern, Josh has been dedicated to revitalizing the heart of Macon. His ingenuity, empathy for others, and desire to see all Maconites thrive and prosper are why downtown Macon’s storefronts are full with locally owned and operated businesses that reflect the diversity of our community; why over 1000 residents live in a walkable and safe urban core; and why tourists and other downtown professionals are flocking to Macon to experience the magic of Macon. Downtown Macon’s revitalization is nationally recognized and award winning because of Josh and his tireless efforts to create a downtown that benefits Maconites – now, forever, and always. Through Josh’s leadership at NewTown Macon, downtown has been transformed. But perhaps most importantly is how he transformed and inspired those around him, pushing us all to be more creative, to seize opportunities, and to work harder so that Macon is the place of our dreams and the place we’re all proud to call home. Josh taught us that when we work together, we get things done. When we get things done, together, we all win. Josh brought so many wins home for Macon, and we all live in a better community because of him. We will not lose the incredible momentum Josh put into place and will continue to uphold the values of our founders. We appreciate your grace and understanding during this difficult time.

Ocmulgee Mounds Could Become One of Only 64 National Parks in the USA! Did you know Ocmulgee Mounds is already part of the National Park System as a National Historical Park? The NPS manages 431 units, including national parks, monuments, preserves, historic sites, seashores, and more. Currently, Ocmulgee holds the designation of National Historical Park, but the legislation moving today in both the House and Senate could elevate it to the prestigious status of National Park! National Parks are rare—there are only 64 in the entire United States—and this legislation would make Ocmulgee Mounds Georgia’s first National Park, preserving its cultural, historical, and natural legacy for generations to come. Watch this video to learn more about the National Park Service, how it operates, and what this historic change would mean for Ocmulgee Mounds and Middle Georgia. Add your name today to show your support and help Ocmulgee Mounds achieve this incredible milestone! ?? https://lnkd.in/gStzUb_T #OcmulgeeMounds #NationalPark #NPS #ONPPI #AddYourName

Tuesday, November 19: Congress considers the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Act in both the House and Senate! This bill would establish Georgia’s first National Park & Preserve with overwhelming support from Macon, Middle Georgia, Tribes, and conservation groups. ???? Tune in to watch history in the making via livestream: https://lnkd.in/ejwyhyRd ?? 9:30 AM Senate: Room 366, Dirksen Senate Office Building ?? 2:00 PM House: Room 1324, Longworth House Office Building #OcmulgeeMounds #NationalPark #ONPPI #Georgia

Join us in celebrating Marisa Rodgers, Director of Marketing at Visit Macon, as she has been named one of Ragan Communications and PR Daily Top Women in Marketing, Class of 2024, an esteemed recognition that celebrates the most accomplished, innovative and influential women making an impact in the marketing world today!! "We are thrilled to honor Marisa as one of Ragan’s Top Women in Marketing, Class of 2024,” said Brendan Gannon, Senior Marketing Manager for Ragan’s Award programs. “Her leadership, creativity, and dedication to driving impactful marketing strategies truly set her apart." Since joining Visit Macon in just over a year, she has initiated marketing campaigns such as a brand refresh, secured funding for a new website that saw record breaking engagement metrics and also drew in Zaxby's Franchising LLC's to partner on a national Milkshake Tourism campaign, and the number of media features on Macon continues to increase under her leadership with the FY24 year recording over 60 pieces of coverage!(And the list could go on and on with the successes Visit Macon has seen thanks to her leadership). As Marisa enjoys her time in the bustling Big Apple at a celebration lunch for this year's Top Women in Marketing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering commitment to ensuring Macon, Georgia, shines by accurately telling the story of Where Soul Lives. Congratulations, Marisa! ?? Keep inspiring us all. Learn more here ---> https://lnkd.in/gQnz6N3Q

Visit Macon hosted our Annual Meeting at the Museum of Arts and Sciences on the evening of October 30th. We were delighted to see such an amazing turn out from our partners and county and community leaders! During the meeting highlighted our biggest FY24 accomplishments and announced the 2024 Tourism Award recipients! ?? Congratulations to the following award recipients: ??Otis Hughes Tourism Spirit Award: Scott Mitchell, Owner of the Bohemian Den, Sweet Eleanor's and Founder of Macon Pride ??Visit Macon’s Steven Fulbright Soul of Macon Award: Emily Hopkins, Vice President of External Affairs + Main Street Manager for NewTown Macon ??B. J. Cain Top of the Line Award: Ivy Dockery, Guest Services at the Tubman Museum ??Macon Partner of the Year Award: The Knight Foundation Visit Macon also proudly announced two new awards. The 2024 Hotel of the Year Award was given to the Hilton Garden Inn, and its 2024 Restaurant of the Year Award recipient as H&H Restaurant.????? Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gqkXNaFk

Visit Macon will be attending this year's National Tour Association Travel Exchange in Huntsville, Alabama from November 17th to the 20th. Be sure to schedule an appointment with our fantastic Visitor Services Manager Naomi Peterson!

We are thrilled to announce that Visit Macon has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Readers’ Choice Award by ConventionSouth! ?? This honor recognizes our dedication to exceptional service and quality facilities, distinguishing us as one of the top meeting sites in the South. We are proud to be a six-time recipient and want to give a huge thank you to everyone who voted for us as well as our fantastic sales team, Visit Macon Director of Sales Charlotte Moody and Sports Development Manager Alex Wood! Special thanks to our wonderful partners who continuously elevate Macon's hospitality to new heights! ?? Read Now: https://lnkd.in/gGy9JKkR #VisitMacon #ReadersChoice2024 #ConventionSouth #MaconGA #MeetingsIndustry #HospitalityExcellence

We took Macon, Georgia on the road this week and it was an incredible thing to do, see and get to be a part of! ????? Visit Macon, with the Georgia Music Foundation and the Macon Music Revue, enticed countless colleagues, journalists and prospective visitors to (first) witness these incredible musicians do what they do best, and then to plan their next opportunity to visit “Where Soul Lives” and walk where so many music legends have walked before! The band started the week opening up the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Governors Tourism Conference in ATL at the Mercedes Benz/Signia World Congress Center, then rocked the Opening Ceremonies of the Online News Association Conference at the invitation of the Knight Foundation (as Macon is a Knight City!) Then, we closed this whirlwind week by taking the Macon Music Revue to Nashville for a special Macon, GA Breakfast & a Show at #AmericanaFest2024 in the iconic AMERICAN LEGION POST 82! We had Macon on full display with the help of Moonhanger Group and H&H, The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House, the Otis Redding Foundation, CAPRICORN RECORDS, 1009 the Creek F M, Sam Stephens of Creekside Mornings, and Terminus Horns! We left with countless requests to make this an annual element of AmericanaFest and a mission to get this immersive musical experience out to as many locations on the map that we can dream up! Macon Music Revue is a preservation band celebrating the history of Macon, but it’s collaborations like this that are the future and a huge contributor to Macon’s resurgence! This city is truly an incomparable example of how a music city and a live music/nightlife economy can be the cherry on top of all the work Macon, Georgia’s leaders are putting into this rebirth, resurgence and putting Macon back on the map for visitors! #visitmacon visitmacon.org

Articles like Fodor's Travel "How to Behave When Visiting Sites of Remembrance" are pivotal, not just for enlightening our tourists but for shaping our national consciousness.?Director of Advocacy for the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Preserve Initiative Tracie R., is featured in this piece speaking on the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. Read Now: https://lnkd.in/gSuh67wF “People must understand reverence of sites, of history,” says the Muscogee Nation’s Tracie Revis, Director of Advocacy with?The Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, which advocates for the creation of Georgia’s first national park. The park is a prehistoric American Indigenous site and the largest archaeology dig in American history. For many Americans who have been steeped in Western history, there must be recognition that Indigenous cultures prevailed long before colonialism—and still exist. This article is more than just a guide for visitors; it’s an essential read for locals eager to learn how to honor our local sites, even those with a sobering past. Amidst the shadows of history, there are rays of light as communities like Macon work tirelessly to recount our stories with honesty and respect.