Savannah CVB Press Releases

Lynx “America’s Privateer” in the Midst of Fundraising Campaign

May 03, 2012 -

Goal to raise $200,000 in 200 days in celebration of the War of 1812 Bicentennial

Savannah, GA (May 3, 2012) – The Lynx Educational Foundation, operators of 'America's Privateer,' War of 1812 replica tall ship Lynx, announced last month a capital campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness for both the Foundation and national armed forces charity, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

The 122-foot square top-sail schooner Lynx, which sailed into Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday, officially launched the "$200,000 in 200 days" campaign on Saturday, April 14 when the ship was rededicated to her mission at Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. The goal of the campaign is aimed at raising $200,000 between April 14 and October 31, 2012, or a total of 200 days, in honor of the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Through a public donation program, the Lynx Educational Foundation looks to achieve this goal and share the funds raised with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Lynx is scheduled to participate in various War of 1812 celebrations throughout the sailing season, as well as this weekend's TALL SHIP CHALLENGE along Savannah's riverfront. Visitors to the ship will have the opportunity to make a donation in person. In addition, those interested in contributing online are encouraged to log onto the Lynx website at www.privateerlynx.com.

"Our quality of life endures through the efforts of modern-day heroes who continue to defend liberty, freedom, and justice for all," Jeffrey Woods, Executive Director, Lynx Educational Foundation said. "Let us not to forget those who fought for our nation's freedom and those who continue to defend it today. We need all hands on deck to join in our journey and help support America's Privateer Lynx and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund."

About the organizations –

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a national leader in supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, while providing over $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation and for those who have been severely wounded.

Lynx operates under the auspices of the Lynx Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach early American history. The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard the American Privateer Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement through teamwork and the discipline of sail training.

Kids Cove Adventure �" Fun for TALL SHIPS’® Smallest Sailors

Apr 19, 2012 -

SAVANNAH, GA — One of the most exciting elements of the Savannah TALL SHIPS Challenge® is the Kids Cove Adventure! Located on Savannah's riverfront in Morrell Park, this designated children's area will be the center of play for three days during the festival.

Planned for children up to age 12, the Kids Cove Adventure will feature nautical-themed games, educational programs, arts and crafts and entertainment, and will be conveniently adjacent to where Theodore Too Tugboat, the beloved Canadian children's books and TV character, will be docked for tours.

Head to the Kids Cove Adventure area Friday, Saturday and Sunday for:

Planet Ocean in Motion, presented by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Savannah's Ocean Exchange, which is an interactive and educational hub where children can learn about the local and global ecosystems while interacting with native sea animals in a touch tank.

Group artisan vendors, including small boat-building and races, craft-painting and knot-tying.

Large bouncing inflatables including a pirate maze and dolphin castle.

Paddleboats short, small voyages in an inflatable pool.

Sandbox treasure hunt, scavenge the sands for exciting surprises.

Neighboring access to the Savannah River Street Pirate's Ship where children and parents can opt to board this historic pirate vessel, and even go for cruises.

Musical entertainment, staged and relevant for the festival, both live and recorded.

Puppet People performances Saturday and Sunday (shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.)

Dining and Beverage Area Satisfying both adult and children's dishes and drinks and a dining area established.

In the Kids Cove Adventure, your little ones will have plenty to keep their minds and bodies busy during the Savannah TALL SHIPS Challenge® weekend. So bring the entire family out to enjoy what is sure to be one on the most spectacular festivals the city has seen, the 2012 Savannah TALL SHIPS Challenge®. Find the Savannah TALL SHIPS Challenge® on Facebook at Savannah Tall Ships or follow us on Twitter at @SAVTallShips.

###

Visit Savannah serves as the official destination marketing organization for the Savannah area tourism industry and is committed to driving economic prosperity in the greater Savannah community through increased overall visitation and related spending while continuing to build upon Savannah's image as a world-class destination.

SCAD unveils exhibitions featuring fine jewelry, fashion and furniture for SCAD Style

Apr 17, 2012 -

SAVANNAH, Ga.—The Savannah College of Art and Design is pleased to present five exhibitions of work by distinguished visiting artists and talented SCAD professors, students and alumni in association with the university's famed SCAD Style.

SCAD Style, scheduled for April 16-20 at the university's locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, and Lacoste, France, is an engaging series of lectures, exhibitions and film screenings featuring renowned artists, designers and industry professionals that students and the public are invited to attend. The series highlights several of the university's programs of study, including fashion, fibers and building arts.

Each of the following SCAD Style exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.

Savannah
"Town & Country: Jewelry from the Natural and Synthetic Worlds"
Now through June 3, 2012
Reception: April 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
Pinnacle Gallery, 320 E. Liberty St.

Presenting artists from the U.S., Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and Vietnam, this exhibition explores the ways in which today's jewelry artists translate a breadth of materials, both organic and synthetic, into unique interpretations of their surroundings. These avant-garde works range from the wearable to the conceptual and are inspired by both natural and urban environments. Artists featured in the exhibition include Sara Borgegard, Sam Tho Duong, Iris Eichenberg, Jantje Fleischhut, Caroline Gore, Jiro Kamata, Katja Prins and Ted Noten. Pieces featured in the exhibition are courtesy of the renowned gallery of international contemporary art jewelry, Ornamentum,

"Cotton Inc."
Now through May 4, 2012
Reception: April 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
Alexander Hall Gallery, 668 Indian St.

"Cotton Inc." showcases the finalists and winners of the annual Cotton Incorporated Design Competition where students from the fashion and fibers disciplines collaborated to create unique designs. Preliminary sketches, process books, digital presentations and final projects are exhibited in this collective undertaking.

"Design Thinking II"
April 18 – June 15, 2012
Reception: April 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
Pei Ling Chan Gallery, 322 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.

"Design Thinking 2012" is a curated design exhibition showcasing the outstanding breadth of SCAD's School of Design professors, students and alumni. The show highlights designers as artists who are receptive to a synthesis of open source practicality, luxury, conceptual thinking and creativity.

Atlanta
"Mimi Plange: Scarred Perfection"
Now through June 1, 2012
Reception: April 19, 6-7 p.m.
Trois Gallery, SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St. NE

Fashion designer Mimi Plange's Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, "Scarred Perfection," evoked awe and wonder from fashion insiders and challenged conventional perceptions of beauty. Inspired by Benin cultural traditions of body modification, SCAD's presentation of Plange's collection showcases her deliberate focus on detail and her intensive use of repetition in pleats, ruffles and ornamentation. A rich color story of crimson, black and gold transforms this fashion collection into a bold and dreamy experience.

Lacoste
"Jean Prouvé: Sélections"
Now through June 16, 2012
La Galerie Pfriem, Rue Trophime

"Jean Prouvé: Sélections" brings together an intimate collection of objects including chairs, a lamp and table that highlight the internationally acclaimed modern designer's innovative practices and exemplify his impact on modern and contemporary design. The exhibition is realized in collaboration with Vintage 20, a Manhattan-based firm specializing in mid-century European furniture and decorative art that showcases museum quality works from pioneering designers.

For more information, visit scadexhibitions.com. Media inquiries may be directed to 912.525.5225 or snelson@scad.edu.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu.

The Picton Castle Sets Sail for Savannah

Apr 13, 2012 -

LUNENBURG – She's circled the world five times, introducing hundreds of people to the challenges and rewards of traditional sailing, and this summer the Barque Picton Castle is on the East Coast sailing with the Tall Ships fleet and preparing for her next voyage – to the islands of the South Pacific.

Sailing from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia this fall, the ship's itinerary reads like an ultimate travel guide or the locations of Mark Burnett's Survivor series – places like Panama, the Galapagos, Pitcairn Island (famed hideout of the HMS Bounty mutineers), ports throughout French Polynesian including Mangareva, Tahiti, Huahine and Bora Bora, a half dozen calls in the lovely Cook Islands, plus visits to Samoa and Tonga.

It's hardly new territory for the 179-foot square rigger, which has crossed the Pacific five times as part of her famed, 30,000-mile circumnavigation voyages. But this eight-month voyage, which ends in Rarotonga, Cook Islands in May 2013, allows much more time for exploration.

"The reality on a world voyage is that we have a year or 14 months to get around the entire globe, so for every tropical island paradise we visit, we have to bypass another, or two, or three," says Picton Castle's captain, and founder of her award-winning sail training program, Daniel Moreland.

"On this voyage we are taking the time to see even more of this fascinating part of the world. We'll sail to places where the ship has lots of history and reconnect with our old friends, but we'll also be visiting new places and making new friends, all while taking full advantage of the finest trade wind ocean you could ever wish to explore under sail and learning and ways of a ship and the sea."

Along the way, the Picton Castle and her crew will also be distributing donated books and educational materials, even medical supplies, to needy island communities. In fact, that's part of the voyage preparation the ship will be doing as she sails the East Coast this summer and you can get involved.

"As we travel this summer, we will be accepting donations of children's books and good used reference and text books, as well as general school supplies like paper, pencils, crayons and art supplies," says Capt. Moreland, "We'll pack them in the hold, organize them when we get back to Lunenburg and then distribute them to schools as we sail around the Pacific."

It's outreach work the ship has been involved with since her conversion to a tall ship in the mid-1990s, says the skipper. And it's a great way for organizations like schools and clubs, even individuals, to divest of unused books and materials in a way that truly helps others and doesn't add to landfills.

The Picton Castle will also continue to deliver the same deeply-engaging sail training program that earned Capt. Moreland the 2011 Sail Trainer of the Year award from Sail Training International. The program focuses on seamanship skills and teaching trainee sailors to become crew members by involving them fully in the operation of the ship – standing watches, taking the helm, setting and taking in sail, assisting with ship's maintenance and helping in the galley.

Trainee berths for sailing legs of as little as two weeks are still available for this summer's program. No previous sailing experience is required. Plus, applications are now being accepted for the South Pacific voyage.

The Picton Castle will be visiting Savannah, GA, May 3-7; New York City, May 15-19; Greenport, NY, May 24-28; Norfolk, VA, June 7-12; Newport, RI, July 6-9; Halifax, NS, July 19-23; Port Hawkesbury, NS, July 25-26 and Pictou, NS, July 28-29.

For more information on the ship's sail training program, opportunities to sail as a trainee or to donate supplies for educational outreach, please contact the ship's office at (902)
634-9984 or visit www.picton-castle.com

Visit Savannah Announces Video Contest Winners

Apr 09, 2012 -

SAVANNAH - Last fall, Visit Savannah released its "Come to Life in Savannah" video. Created to garner a viral buzz on the popular social media site You Tube, the video was met with both positive and negative reviews from the public.

Visit Savannah then issued a challenge, giving would-be filmmakers a chance to help create a video that shows the fun and quirky side of Savannah. Competing for cash and other prizes, 15 groups submitted entries that were narrowed down to five by a taskforce of tourism and film industry experts and released to the public for voting.

Now, the public has spoken, and the winners have been decided thanks to the more than 2,500 votes received. Receiving the most votes and winning cash prizes are:

First Place: "You've Got to Come to Savannah" by Michael Jordan

First Place $7,500

Second Place: "Choose Your Savannah" by Mary Siceloff and HD Savannah

Second Place $5,000;

Third Place: "Savannah is the Place to be" by Christopher Heady

Third Place $2,500

"We knew that everyone's view of how to promote our city would vary," said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. "However, we also learned through this process that creating a video with the intent of it going viral on the Internet is certainly not as easy as everyone thought."

Visit Savannah plans to promote the winning videos via their social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, which reach more than 80,000 people.

"We have enjoyed engaging the community in our efforts to help promote tourism to Savannah via video," Marinelli said. "It's been a fun exercise for all, and by posting the five finalists on our Website and YouTube, we now have more video distribution channels than ever before. With video marketing growing in popularity we fully expect to do more promotional tourism video's in the future, so stay tuned."

Volunteers Sought for Savannah Tall Ships Challenge®

Mar 13, 2012 -

Volunteers Sought for Savannah Tall Ships Challenge®

SAVANNAH—Savannah Tall Ships Challenge®, hosted by Savannah Riverfront and Visit Savannah, is recruiting volunteers for the five-day festival scheduled May 3-7. Guaranteed to be one of the most colorful and spectacular ticketed festivals our city has ever seen, the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® will feature 14 domestic and international tall ships as well as performances, reenactments, pirates and more.

To help make this event both successful and a positive experience for all attendees, Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® is soliciting hundreds of volunteers. We invite you to donate your time and skills with us on this special occasion in Savannah's maritime history.

Specialty volunteer opportunities include Docents, who will assist with ship tours and Ship Liaisons, who will work directly with the captain or first mate all five days of the festival, advising him/her of the day's activities or helping crew members with personal emergencies. Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® also needs general volunteers for ticketing, crowd control, Kid's Cove Adventure Area and more.

For more information click the "Volunteers" link at www.SavannahTallShipsChallenge.com and download a volunteer form. You may scan the form and e-mail it to: Volunteer@SavannahTallShipsChallenge.com, or fax it to the Savannah Riverfront office at 912.234.4904. For more information, contact Kenda Williams at 429.409.8946 or e-mail her at Volunteer@SavannahTallShipsChallenge.com.

Find the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® on Facebook at Savannah Tall Ships or follow us on Twitter at @SAVTallShips for updates about this once-in-a-lifetime event.

###

Visit Savannah serves as the official destination marketing organization for the Savannah area tourism industry and is committed to driving economic prosperity in the greater Savannah community through increased overall visitation and related spending while continuing to build upon Savannah's image as a world-class destination.

January Tourism in Savannah Rakes in Record Tax Revenues

Mar 07, 2012 -

SAVANNAH— Visit Savannah reported that January kicked off a promising year for tourism with record hotel/motel tax collections, amassing a 21 percent increase overall from the same month a year ago.

January 2012 collections were also 6.7 percent higher than in 2008 — Savannah's next highest January on record.

"The milder temperatures in January helped boost hotel room sales up 5.5 percent over January of last year," said Visit Savannah President, Joseph Marinelli. "That, and a slight increase in hotel rates market-wide, led to a nice boost in visitor traffic for the month."

In addition to Savannah's mild winter, an increased popularity of January's annual events and a number of meetings, conventions and sports groups contributed to the big gains that launched the New Year.

"We were also very fortunate to have two Georgia association conventions come to Savannah in January," Marinelli said. "And the Savannah Tire Hockey Classic saw record attendance for the fourth year in a row."

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Georgia Music Educators Association held annual conventions in Savannah, and each group reported strong attendance and hotel room night pick-up again this year.

The Savannah Tire Hockey Classic alone drew more than 11,000 people and the Coast Georgia Soccer Association boys and girls tournaments saw an estimated total of 5,200 attendees.

"We were pleased that January performed as well as it did," said Charlie Brazil, General Manager of Old Town Trolley of Savannah. "Many snowbirds from Florida headed north early and stopped to visit Savannah on their way."

Georgia visitor information centers have reported travelers saying they stayed or were planning to stop in Savannah as they head to and from Florida.

Visit Savannah officials hope that January's strong showing will set the tone for the rest of the year.

####

Visit Savannah Announces Video Contest Finalist

Mar 05, 2012 -

The videos are in and voting is open.

Last fall, Visit Savannah responded to both positive and negative public feedback from a destination marketing video of General Oglethorpe's conga line through downtown by sending out a challenge through our social media channels. For cash and prizes, Visit Savannah asked the public to create a tourism video that highlights Savannah's sassy spirit and Southern charm.

"We've really had a lot of fun with this project," said Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli. "Our 'Come to Life in Savannah' video got a lot of attention last fall, and currently almost 20,000 viewers have seen it on YouTube and the reaction to it has been extremely favorable. Now this response contest has given the community and others the opportunity to try their hand at producing a tourism video to promote our city."

Visit Savannah pulled together a task force of industry professionals to review the 15 submissions received. The panel narrowed it down to five but is looking for public input to help determine the winners.

"It's fascinating to see how others 'see' Savannah and translate that into video," said Marinelli. "We have certainly learned that it is not easy to create a video that will one day go viral."

View the videos through a link on the Visit Savannah Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/visitsouth.savannah.

Finalists were:

You've got to come to Savannah — Michael Jordan

This fun, smile-inducing, relaxing video features a great musical montage of picturesque Savannah with cameos from some of Savannah's best known citizens.

Choose Savannah — Mary Siceloff

Choose your Savannah in an interactive video that allows visitors to choose how they want to explore Savannah.

Uncle Teddy Presents "Savannah's the Place to Be" — Christopher Heady

When Uncle Teddy meets a magic feather that has never been to Savannah, it prompts the catchy song "Savannah's the Place to Be" as Uncle Teddy explores the destination.

Running on Full — Scott Copeland

A running tour of the sights and sounds of Savannah.

Savannah in 100 Blinks — Jason Harper

An adventure through Savannah captured in 100 blinks of an eye.

Prizes include: First Place $7,500; Second Place $5,000; Third Place $2,500 Fourth and Fifth Place will each receive a one-night stay at the Savannah Riverfront Marriot with breakfast for two and complimentary ice cream courtesy of Leopold's Ice Cream.

Via a link on the Visit Savannah Facebook page, you can vote American Idol style for each video once per day by clicking "Love it" or "Leave it" after each view. Vote every day between March 5 and midnight on March 31. Be sure to have your friends to chime in as well!

"We appreciate the response that we've received and hope that everyone will vote to tell us which is their favorite of the five finalists that have been selected," said Marinelli.

###

2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® set for May 3-7

Feb 22, 2012 -

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Historic Riverfront and Visit Savannah will host the 2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® May 3-7. This unique experience will welcome some of the most majestic Tall Ships the world has to offer and is guaranteed to be one of the most colorful and spectacular ticketed festivals our city has ever seen. More than 15 Tall Ships have confirmed to participate to help Savannah celebrate our rich maritime and nautical history and recognize the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Kicking off on May 3 with the opening ceremonies in downtown Savannah's Historic Riverfront, visitors will be able to view all the ships and board many during the five-day festival which will also include performances, reenactments, sea shanties, stilt walkers, pirates and more.

The full schedule even allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy their own private sailing excursion on participating ships with the Sail-Away Excursion package or have dinner with the Captain at the Captain's Dinner to be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. The 2012 Savannah Tall Ships® will culminate with the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® Parade of Sail up the Savannah River on Monday, May 7.

"On May 3, Savannah will be privileged to witness the majestic sight as 15 Tall Ships sail into Savannah for five days," said Joe Marinelli, President of Visit Savannah. "The Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® offers everyone a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see up close these historic ships in our beautiful historic city."

Although in its first year in Savannah, The Tall Ships Challenge® is an annual event organized by the American Sail Training Association alternating in a three year cycle between the Great Lakes, the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of North America. The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to witness beautiful Tall Ships from the age of sail and provides a unique opportunity for the participants to interact with the crews of different vessels in friendly rivalry as they race from port to port.

For more information, a schedule of events a updated list of the Tall Ships scheduled to participate and to purchase tickets for the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge, visit www.savannahtallshipschallenge.com.

Tickets are available online or at the Savannah Civic Center Box Office, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or by phone at 912.651.6557.

Find the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® on Facebook at Savannah Tall Ships or follow us on Twitter at SAVTallShips.

###

African American History Month Celebrated at For Pulaski

Jan 31, 2012 -

African American History Month at Fort Pulaski

Savannah, GA – Fort Pulaski National Monument will observe African American History Month throughout the month of February. There will be programs focusing on African Americans in the Civil War offered every Sunday in February with special cultural presentations offered on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

Every Sunday throughout the month of February, Fort Pulaski National Monument will offer a living history demonstration and talk at 1:00 PM, featuring a member of the 1st South Carolina Infantry – one of the Union's first African American regiments. The role of African Americans at Fort Pulaski and in the Civil War will be discussed and a demonstration of musket firing will be provided.

The 2012 theme for African American History Month is "Black Women in American Culture and History." To recognize women in coastal Georgia of African ancestry, there will be a poignant presentation by master griot Lillian Grant-Baptiste at 2:30 PM on Sunday, February 12. Ms.

Grant-Baptiste will use the art of storytelling to passionately retell stories of faith and freedom of the Gullah people. She will skillfully demonstrate how storytelling was used both as a tool of resistance and reconciliation. Young and old alike will be energized and mesmerized by the magic and mystic of Gullah Storytelling.

"Rice, Riddum, N' Rime" – A Journey into our History and Culture, Live and in Living Color will be offered on Sunday, February 26 at 2:30 PM. This program will feature a musical opening and storytelling by Kala Jojo, a folklorist, musician, and educator. Known as "The Tall Storyteller", Jojo offers living lessons through traditional folktales and poetry embellished with a myriad of African rhythms. The program will continue with a living history presentation by The African Spirits of Day Clean" by Jamal Touré.

Touré is a Djeli (living historian or griot), who can comment on the lives of African people at home and in the diaspora. Kala Jojo will return to provide a musical finale.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. An entrance fee of $5.00 per person is charged; ages 15 and under are free. Call the park at (912) 786-5787 for details, or visit the park's official website at www.nps.gov/fopu.

2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® to feature children’s beloved TV and book character ...

Jan 30, 2012 -

2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® to feature children's beloved TV and book character Theodore Too Tugboat

An expected 15 Tall Ships will also participate in the five-day festival

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The 2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge®, scheduled for May 3-7, will feature beloved TV and book character Theodore Too Tugboat.

Theodore Too Tugboat, who resides in Murphy's Cable Wharf in Halifax, Canada, was originally created by Andrew Cochran, who came up with his brilliant idea one afternoon while walking along the harbor front where he saw two tugboats and a container ship positioned so they appeared to be having a conversation. This prompted him to tell his son bedtime stories of the possible adventures and conversations the tugs might have in the harbor.

These bedtime stories soon became the basis for a children's television show on the CBC network. As the show grew in popularity, so did the requests for more Theodore, leading to the development of Theodore merchandise and eventually the creation of a life-sized replica of the friendly tug.

Today, Theodore Too is the official Safe Boating Ambassador for the United States and Canadian Coast Guard and spends much of his time touring the Eastern Seaboard visiting friends and fans.

The 2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge, is a five-day festival featuring at least 15 Tall Ships on Savannah's Historic Riverfront. Visitors will be able to view all the ships and board many during the five-day festival, which will also include performances, reenactments, sea shanties, stilt walkers, pirates and more.

The full schedule even allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy their own private sailing excursion on participating ships with the Sail-Away Excursion package or have dinner with the Captain at the Captain's Dinner to be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. The 2012 Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® will culminate with the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® Parade of Sail up the Savannah River on Monday, May 7.

Although in its first year in Savannah, The Tall Ships Challenge® is an annual event organized by the American Sail Training Association alternating in a three year cycle between the Great Lakes, the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of North America. The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to witness beautiful Tall Ships from the age of sail and provides a unique opportunity for the participants to interact with the crews of different vessels in friendly rivalry as they race from port to port.

For more information, a schedule of events and a list of the Tall Ships scheduled to participate visit www.savannahtallshipschallenge.com.

Tickets will be available beginning Feb. ? online or at the Savannah Civic Center Box Office, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or by phone at 912.651.6557.

Find the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® on Facebook at Savannah Tall Ships or follow us on Twitter at SAVTallShips.

###

Savannah Stopover Confirms Initial Lineup For 2012 Festival (Savannah, GA) Savannah Stopover, ...

Jan 30, 2012 -

Savannah Stopover Confirms Initial Lineup For 2012 Festival

(Savannah, GA) Savannah Stopover, a division of MusicFile Productions, LLC is pleased to announce the first installment of forty confirmed bands for the 2012 Festival.

The festival, in its sophomore year, will take place March 7th-10th, 2012 and primarily draws on bands making their way to Austin's prestigious SXSW Music Festival, which begins March 14th.

The following bands, hailing from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Sierra Leone, Japan, Ireland, and the UK, will be making their way to the Savannah Stopover Music Festival: The War on Drugs, The Love Language, Caveman, Grimes, Prince Rama, Jukebox The Ghost, Oberhofer, The Men, Little Tybee, Zambri, Quilt, The Knocks, Royal Baths, DIVE, Born Gold, Turbo Fruits, Pond, Eternal Summers, The Big Sleep, Savoir Adore, Deleted Scenes, Secret Mountains, Delicate Steve, Grandchildren, Dinousaur Feathers, Cheyenne Marie Mize, Spanish Prisoners, Sleepy Vikings, Country Mice, Idiot Glee, Hooded Fang, Janka Nabay, Jon Lindsay, The Loom, The Minutes, The Suzan, Tops, River Whyless, Young Empires, and Christ,Lord. A second wave of bands will be announced prior to February 1st. Over Seventy bands will perform.

Savannah area bands will also be showcased throughout the weekend. Local bands who wish to play the festival can submit through Jan. 27th via SonicBids. and will be notified by February 1st, 2012.

The festival takes place in Savannah's famed Historic District. All confirmed venues are conveniently located within walking distance of each other including The Jinx, Hang Fire, Congress Street Social Club, LiveWire Music Hall, Blowin' Smoke, The SpareTime, The Telfair Museum, The Jepson Center for The Arts and The Ships of the Sea Museum Garden. Additional venues may be announced.

The festival kicks off March 7th with an Opening Night art reception and concert at The Jepson Center for the Arts. The Eckberg Atrium at the Jepson Center will display posters from the Festival's Band Poster Competition with the winners announced that evening. Artists interested in participating can find more information here.

Glassnote Records rising stars Oberhofer will headline the opening night concert in adjacent Telfair Square with support from Brooklyn's Dinosaur Feathers and Perth, Australia's Pond. Tickets for the opening night event are $15 or free to Full Festival and VIP Pass Holders.

Tickets for all Festival events are currently available through ShowClix: Day passes for 3/8, 3/9 or 3/10 are $30, four-day passes which include the opening night event are $75, and VIP passes are $120, which allow festival-goers access to all events, including private after parties and special events throughout the weekend. Local Savannah ticket locations will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit:
www.savannahstopover.com
http://www.facebook.com/SavannahStopover
https://twitter.com/#!/SavStopover

Savannah Media Contact: Blake Olmstead, Dollhouse PR, blake_olmstead@yahoo.com

Festival Music Press Contact: Ashley Ayers,Tell All Your Friends PR, ashley@tellallyourfriendspr.com

Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon Exceeds Economic Impact Projections

Jan 20, 2012 -

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon Exceeds Economic Impact Projections

•   Study reveals Rock 'n' Roll Marathon generated over $32 million for local economy
•   2012 event to benefit American Cancer Society and will include KiDS ROCK event

Savannah, GA – January 20, 2012 – November's inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon produced more than $32 million in total economic impact, including $17.9 million in direct visitor spending, according to a study conducted by the San Diego State University (SDSU) Sports MBA program.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon lived up to its billing as the biggest event is Savannah's history, just as former Mayor Otis Johnson proclaimed," said Joseph Marinelli, President of Visit Savannah. "Tens of thousands of first time visitors came to our city, fell in love with its beauty and the hospitality of our people, and will come back again in the future. Our metrics were very strong for that weekend. From hotel room sales to hotel/motel tax collections, we had our strongest November on record."

The Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon took place Saturday, November 5, 2011 and was an instant hit with runners from across the country, attracting participants from all 50 states and 21 countries. The SDSU report showed that the event generated 21,117 hotel room nights and more than $1.3 million in new tax revenue and other tourism-related fees collected by local municipalities.

"With more than 88% of the participants coming from out of town, the economic impact study confirms the value of this new event for Savannah and its potential to draw new visitors to the city," said Malain McCormick, Event Director. "The results of the study highlight the strong partnership that exists between the marathon and the local community. It translates into producing not only Savannah's largest sporting event, but is also a regionally significant event for local participation, tourism, national publicity and charitable fundraising."

The race attracted a sold-out field of 23,000 entrants and 30,349 total visitors from out-of-town. The positive impact was seen in a variety of areas and industries including:
•   Visiting runners alone brought over $17.9 million in direct spending from outside the region, including expenditures on food, travel, lodging and entertainment.
•   Race organizers, sponsors and visiting vendors spent $1.6m on local expenditures.
•   The $32m total includes an indirect and induced economic impact of $14.4m.
•   95.51% of participants said that the event was the reason for their trip to Savannah in November, and that it did not replace another planned trip.
•   Of the 30,349 visitors, each travel party stayed in the region for an average of 2.51 nights.

"Many area businesses saw big numbers from the Marathon participants and visitors, but others did not do as well as they expected to," added Marinelli. "The question, and the challenge, is to find creative and innovative ways to capture more market share in the future. With the event committed to our city for many years to come, the opportunities certainly are there to do so."

The 2012 Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon is slated for Saturday
November 3, and will benefit the American Cancer Society as well as add a children's run, KiDS ROCK, on Friday, November 2. In 2011, more than $1.2 million was raised for a variety of local and national charities through the marathon and half-marathon.

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is organized by San Diego-based Competitor Group, Inc., which also produces twenty-seven other events around the world. Registration for the 2012 Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society is already underway at RunRocknRoll.com.

About Rock 'n' Roll Savannah
The second Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society will take place on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Open to runners and walkers from novice to professional, live bands entertain participants along each mile of the scenic course that winds through Savannah's historic neighborhoods. Adding to the excitement, hundreds of local high school cheerleaders will be competing in the "Spirit on Course" competition by motivating athletes all the way to the finish line.

Race weekend festivities begin Thursday with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. The Health & Fitness Expo is open to the public and will feature over 80 exhibitors with the latest in endurance sports gear and nutrition products. The 2012 event will add a children's run KiDS ROCK on Friday, November 2. Event weekend concludes with a post race finish line concert. For more information, visit Competitor.com or follow us on Twitter @RunRocknRoll.

###

Visit Savannah Embraces America's First-Ever Unified Consumer Brand and Identity

Nov 17, 2011 -

[SAVANNAH, Ga…] "Welcome to the United States of Awesome Possibilities," as described by Brand USA, a non-profit travel association with the mission of promotion increased international travel to the United States.

Savannah, like many popular destinations in the U.S., recognizes that boosting international tourism is a lever for creating jobs, growing exports and driving economic growth. Brand USA Inc. will serve as the first nationally coordinated program governed with marketing the U.S. abroad.

"I am very excited about the new Brand USA campaign and efforts to attract more international visitors to our country," said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. "In today's world, there simply are too many vacation destinations for people to consider traveling to and the United States has lagged in its tourism marketing efforts globally. I am optimistic that this new effort will help to make us competitive again."

For proof that Savannah is getting noticed globally, in 2010, international travel to the United States supported 1.8 million jobs. The average overseas visitors spent more than $4,000 per trip in destinations across the country.

Brand USA hopes to rekindle the world's love affair with America the Place, America the Spirit, and America the Dream. Though creative marketing efforts and brand reinforcement, Brand USA plans to remind the world that this country is filled with boundless possibilities and awesome experiences.

In 2011, Savannah made its debut on Travel + Leisure Magazine's World's Best list keeping company with Bangkok, San Francisco and Rome.

"International visitors are finding Savannah more than ever before," said Marinelli. "From the impact of SCAD and the Georgia Ports, to the overall popularity of our city as a Top 10 place to visit, Savannah's appeal as a U.S. destination is catching on quickly. That is why Visit Savannah continues to increase its sales and marketing efforts in Europe, the Pacific Rim and hopefully soon in South America."

For more information on Brand USA, log on to www.TheBrandUSA.com or contact Erica Backus at 912.644.6405 or EBackus@VisitSavannah.com.

###

Visit Savannah serves as the official destination marketing organization for the Savannah area tourism industry and is committed to driving economic prosperity in the greater Savannah community through increased overall visitation and related spending while continuing to build upon Savannah's image as a world-class destination. (Visit Savannah is the largest business unit of the Savannah Chamber.)

Visit Savannah Launches New Mobile Website

Oct 31, 2011 -

Visit Savannah has launched a new mobile website that will offer Savannah's more than 11 million tourists a year easy access to information on VisitSavannah.com via smart phone technology.

When a user goes to www.VisitSavannah.com from a mobile device, the website detects how it is being accessed and re-directs users to the new mobile website.

"The timing for our mobile site launch could not be more perfect," said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. "With more than 23,000 runners and their families in town this week for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, our site is poised to bring both the trip planning and tour guide experience to the finger tips of our visitors."

"Our new mobile site will provide information on our partner restaurants, tours, shopping and entertainment options as well as accommodations." Marinelli went on to say that smart phone users want easy-to-navigate links, suggested itineraries and interactive maps while exploring new destinations. That is the goal of the new VisitSavannah.com mobile site.

Highlights of the new site include:
•   Options for those planning a visit verses visitors that are already here
•   A mobile itinerary builder called "My Savannah"
•   Interactive directional maps
•   Full color images of Savannah's historic icons

According to a 2010 study conducted by Pew Research, 65 percent of adults access the Internet on their mobile devices. Analysts predict that cell phone Internet browsing will surpass computer web browsing before 2015.

For more information on Visit Savannah's new mobile website, contact Erica Backus at EBackus@VisitSavannah.com or 912.644.6405.

Tybee Island Announces Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Shuttle, Accommodations Still Available for Race ...

Oct 25, 2011 -

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. – Tybee Island, an island paradise located just 20 minutes east of historic Savannah, will feature a convenient shuttle to and from the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & Half-Marathon, which will take place in downtown Savannah on Saturday, November 5.

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon shuttle will depart from 4th Street between Jones Avenue and Butler Avenue and from Butler Avenue between 15th Street and 14th Street on Tybee Island at 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on November 5. The return shuttle will make continuous pick-ups from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the finish line at Forsyth Park in Savannah.

Tybee shuttle tickets are $22 for a one-way ticket and $25 for a round-trip ticket. Until October 31, shuttle tickets can be purchased online at http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/savannah

Tickets will not be sold on-site on race day.

"We're delighted that the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is providing a convenient shuttle for runners who would like to stay on Tybee Island and enjoy the best of both worlds , combining the fun of the marathon in Savannah with the relaxed beach atmosphere of Tybee Island," said Lindsay Fruchtl, marketing director for the Tybee Island Tourism Council. "The marathon is going to be a great event. We invite race participants to explore the wide range of accommodations on Tybee Island, which offers easy access to the marathon in downtown Savannah and the best of the beach."

Although many Savannah hotels are already sold out for the race weekend of November 5-6, Tybee Island still has availability at select hotels, B&B's and vacation rental companies. For more information about accommodations on Tybee Island, please visit www.TybeeVisit.com.

ABOUT TYBEE ISLAND:
Tybee Island, Georgia, an island paradise located just 20 minutes east of historic downtown Savannah, is an ideal year-round coastal destination for couples, families, meetings and more. Steeped in tradition and history, Tybee Island is home to several notable forts, informative museums, a historic lighthouse complex and miles of pristine beaches. Rich in relaxed style, Tybee Island also features a blend of eclectic art galleries, charming shops and exceptional restaurants. For more information about Tybee Island, please visit www.TybeeVisit.com online or call 912.786.5444.

ABOUT THE ROCK 'N' ROLL SAVANNAH MARATHON & HALF MARATHON:
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is growing its Southern roots with a running tour of one the country's most scenic cities at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon & Half Marathon on Saturday, November 5. Savannah's charm and rich history will be highlighted to more than 15,000 participants from across the country. The sold-out event will offer participants a unique race experience with musical entertainment along both courses. Local bands, cheerleaders and thousands of spectators will create a party-like atmosphere and provide motivation for both runners and walkers.

For more information about the event, please visit

###

Savannah College of Art and Design to open contemporary art and design museum Saturday, Oct. 29

Oct 24, 2011 -

Savannah College of Art and Design to open contemporary art and design museum Saturday, Oct. 29

Opening day admission free to the public to mark occasion

WHAT: In the heart of historic downtown Savannah, Ga.—named by Travel + Leisure as one of "America's Favorite Cities" for 2011—the Savannah College of Art and Design is opening the expanded and newly re-envisioned SCAD Museum of Art.

This contemporary art and design museum joins past and present by uniting the ruins of the Central of Georgia Railroad 1853 depot, a National Historic Landmark and the only surviving antebellum railroad complex in the country, with 65,000 square feet of new space.

The SCAD Museum of Art will feature inaugural exhibitions by several of the nation's top artists:

•       Bill Viola, "The Crossing"
Co-commissioned by SCAD in 1996, "The Crossing" premiered in Savannah and has since been exhibited around the world. Rich in metaphor and grounded in shared spiritual beliefs of East and west, this canonical video art celebrates Viola's signature ability to convey complex themes with scale and sound.

•       Liza Lou, "Let the Light In"
As meticulous as it is magnetic, Liza Lou's work never fails to draw a crowd. In "Let the Light In," Lou creates sculptures and reliefs that reference common objects such as ropes, book pages and fencing that, when layered or made into multiples and then cloaked in brilliant glass beads, evoke themes of containment, labor and repetition.

•       Kendall Buster, "New Growth: Stratum Field"
Commissioned by SCAD for the debut of the SCAD Museum of Art, "New Growth: Stratum Field" is a site-specific sculptural installation designed and constructed to converse with the resonant features of the museum's 290-foot south-facing gallery. Recalling Buster's most iconic structural forms, this work explores biological architecture in all its many incarnations.

•       Kehinde Wiley: Selected Works
The monumental and life-size portrait paintings of acclaimed artist Kehinde Wiley transpose elements of contemporary culture onto Baroque and Renaissance decorative backdrops.

The SCAD Museum of Art also will feature selections from the Evans Collection of African American Art, one of the largest and most significant collections of African American art in the United States, and the André Leon Talley Gallery, which celebrates style and design in its myriad forms.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29, 12 noon-5:00 p.m.

WHERE: SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd., Savannah, Ga. 31401

COST: To mark the occasion of the opening, SCAD is offering free admission to the museum for one day only, Saturday, Oct. 29. After opening day, the museum will charge an admission fee.

For additional information, visit the SCAD Museum of Art web site at www.scadmoa.org or call 912.525.7191. Media inquiries, including image and interview requests, may be directed to Sunny Nelson at 912.525.5225 or 912.713.4275.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees in distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu.

###

Savannah the No. 5 American Downtown

Oct 11, 2011 -

Savannah the No. 5 American downtown

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 2:07pm EDT

Enlarge Image

Forsyth Park, Savannah

Savannah, Ga., has one of the best downtowns in America, according to the editors of Livability.com.

In its ranking of the top 10 U.S. downtowns, Savannah is lauded for its current most-famous resident chef and its history.

"Southern charm aside, Savannah has something that people crave: Paula Deen," Livability.com said. "And if her comfort food and world-famous restaurant alone don't entice you, the city's downtown has much more in store. It's gorgeous, steeped in history, buffered by the beautiful Forsyth Park and perfectly placed by the Savannah River. River Street is a popular downtown destination, lined with restaurants, galleries and boutiques."

TRIPADVISOR PRESENTS 2011 TRAVELERS' CHOICE FOOD AND WINE DESTINATIONS AWARDS

Oct 06, 2011 -

Savannah Listed Among U.S. Best

NEWTON, Mass. – October 4, 2011 – TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its 2011 Travelers' Choice® Food and Wine Destinations awards. Seventy outstanding destinations across the globe have been honored in the inaugural awards, with Top 10 lists named for the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, South Pacific, and India.

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from travelers around the world. The Travelers' Choice Food and Wine Destinations award winners were determined based on the most highly rated food and wine destinations by travelers in TripAdvisor reviews.

"TripAdvisor's community of millions have helped us determine award-winning destinations for a topic near and dear to travelers' hearts and stomachs," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "The Travelers' Choice Food and Wine award winners are remarkable spots around the world that satisfy all tastes."

"The culinary and cuisine experience of Savannah is finally being recognized for what it is, one of the best food cities in America," said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. "From our favorite home-town celebrity TV family to the talented and dedicated emerging new chef's and restaurant owners to Savannah's classic perennial favorites, we have a destination that people are interested in traveling to for dining out. Once again, when you look at Trip Advisor's top ten lists, our city is again in the highest echelon of U.S. places to visit that are famous for their unique and special culinary experience."

2011 Travelers' Choice Food and Wine U.S. Destinations:
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Napa, California
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5. San Francisco, California
6. New York City, New York
7. Savannah, Georgia
8. Santa Fe, New Mexico
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Asheville, North Carolina

For more information, contact Erica Backus at 912.644.6405 or EBackus@VisitSavannah.com

###

Visit Savannah is the destination sales and marketing organization for Savannah area. Formerly the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Savannah works to create a competitive distinction for Savannah in the visitor marketplace, attracting leisure visitors, conventions and meetings.

Visit Savannah Wins Gold Service Award for Seventh Consecutive Year

Oct 06, 2011 -

[SAVANNAH, Ga …] Visit Savannah has been awarded Meetings & Conventions Magazine's 2011 Gold Service Award. This marks the seventh consecutive year this honor has been bestowed on the Visit Savannah and the hospitality community.

The Gold Service Award honors destination marketing organizations from around the country that excel in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals.

The Visit Savannah was awarded the honor based on a survey of the more than 80,000 readers of Meetings and Conventions Magazine who made their selections based on professionalism of staff; support of hotels and site inspections; assistance with ground transportation planning; guidance on local attractions and liaison with local members and services.

"Our staff is honored to have again been selected for this prestigious award for the seventh consecutive year," said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. "When this type of recognition comes from your customers and the professionals in your industry, it confirms to us that our team is doing what it takes to be the best that we can be. We are also extremely fortunate to have a special place like Savannah to do what we do."

"To continually provide quality service to clients sets these superior bureaus apart. All our Gold Service winning CVBs know the value of creating a lasting impression can never be understated," said Kirk Lewis, Meetings & Conventions' Publisher. "The 2011 Gold Service winners continually excel in many valuable areas of service, impressing not only their clients but also the demanding readers of M&C."

"Visit Savannah and our community of hospitality partners are honored to once again be recognized for this award by the meeting planners we serve, said Jeff Hewitt, vice-president of new business for Visit Savannah. "It speaks to the level of service and the genuine spirit of 'southern hospitality' that our destination extends to all our visitors."

For more information please contact Erica Backus at 912.644.6405 or EBackus@VisitSavannah.com.

###