The Savannah CVB and the Trade Center contracted with OCG to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the sales and marketing effort for attracting meetings and conventions to Savannah. The primary focus was on meetings and conventions that would use the Trade Center. Other entities involved in the analysis included: the city of Savannah, the 4 primary downtown hotels and the Trade Center Authority.

OCG conducted:

1. An in depth review of existing documents: including contracts, by-laws, budgets, marketing plans, reports, policies and procedures, booking policy, staffing ratios and other relevant documents;
2. Individual interviews with appropriate political and community leaders, board chairs, representatives of the tourism industry, and others;
3. On-site observations of sales efforts of the CVB, the Trade Center and the hotels;
4. Toured the destination product.

Following the data-gathering phase OCG created a report of findings and a Marketing Accord that detailed recommendations regarding:

• Clarification of marketing responsibilities
• Accountability measures and performance targets
• Resource requirements
• Role and scope of each marketing department/division
• Cooperative strategies
• Contract language

The Accord has been signed by each entity and is in the process of full implementation.

Contact person:
Anthony Schopp, President
Savannah Area CVB
101 E. Bay St.
Savannah, GA 31401-1201
Phone: 912-644-6437
aschopp@savcvb.com