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The 2025 Georgia Tourism Awards were presented at the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Annual Conference. The conference was held February 2 – 5 in Gwinnett, GA. The Georgia Tourism Awards celebrate industry achievements and those who have excelled in leadership, creativity, initiative, innovation, customer service, and partnership.

The Georgia Tourism Award recipients were recognized as part of a special ceremony, co-sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Access Atlanta. Award winners are as follows:

2025 Georgia Tourism Award Winners

Paul Broun Marketing Initiative

This award recognizes the entity that demonstrates an effective and unique marketing initiative. Given in memory of Senator Paul Broun of Athens who was a huge supporter of tourism. He was elected in 1963 and served many years in service to Georgia. He served as Chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee and played a vital role in the development and appropriations of tourism funding.

● Visit Woodstock GA Website Redesign: Budget category under $1 million

● Cobb Travel and Tourism-Bubbles and Brews: Budget category over $1 million

Larry Allen Tourism Leadership Award

This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in leadership skills and abilities. Given in memory of Larry Allen, who was General Manager of Stone Mountain and exemplified all around friendship, support and leadership in the tourism industry.

● Lisa Anders, COO of Explore Gwinnett

Al Burruss Creative Expression

This award recognizes an individual or entity that develops a creative community public relations initiative. Representative Al Burruss of Marietta was the majority leader and a huge tourism advocate. He was instrumental in using his creativity and energy to get the TourismDivision its first major appropriation in 1985 of $2.5 million which was a drastic increase from the $300,000 allocated in prior years.

● Roswell Brew Talks: Budget category under $1 million

● 31-81 Official Lifestyle Brand fo Jekyll Island: Budget category over $1 million

Paul Nelson Outdoor Recreation and Preservation This award was established in 2013 to honor Paul Nelson. Paul had a passion for Georgia’s state parks and devoted his professional life to sustaining and improving the state’s natural resources. He spent most of his career working for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, where he last served as assistant director of its parks, recreation, and historic sites division.

● Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation

Tom Kilgore Lifetime Achievement

This award recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding lifetime commitment towards

tourism. Named for Tom Kilgore, legislator from Douglasville, who was an early advocate and

champion of tourism. Tom was one of the architects of the Hotel/Motel Tax legislation. In 2011,

the Governor’s Tourism Conference Lifetime Achievement Award and the GACVB Tom Kilgore

Award were combined to form the current Tom Kilgore Lifetime Achievement Award.

● Paul Cramer, The Classic Center

Bill Hardman Sr Tourism Champion Awards

This series of awards was renamed in honor of Bill Hardman Sr. in 2014 in recognition of his tireless support and guidance to the entire tourism industry. There are four categories under the Tourism Champion umbrella in which a Tourism Champion award may be given: Private Sector, Partnership, Product Development, and Government. Award recipients are individuals and organizations that have taken leadership roles in developing tourism opportunities in communities across the state.

Private Sector Champion Award: This award is given to an individual within the private sector who has worked tirelessly to spread the message and garner support for Georgia tourism. The first recipient of this award was Phil Jacobs, President, Georgia BellSouth. As founder of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s tourism committee, Jacobs has long been a proponent of the state’s tourism industry as a viable, promising tool for economic development.

● Sophia Smith, Little Light Coffee Co. | Middle Georgia Coffee Crawl

Partnership Champion Award: This award is given to an alliance that collaborates to increase visitation and tourism expenditures in Georgia. The first recipient of this award was Georgia Department of Transportation which partnered successfully with GDEcD and provided the official state maps for distribution at Georgia’s Visitor Information Centers.

● Cartersville Bartow County Tourism | Welcome to Museum City Destination Com Corner and Kiosk

Product Development Champion Award: is given to a partner agency or individual for outstanding work
 in attracting capital investments for tourism projects. The first awardrecognized Nancy Cobb, OneGeorgia Authority, which leveraged the state’s tobacco settlement funds to attract capital investments for tourism projects in the state’s rural areas.

● Richmond Hill Convention and Visitors Bureau | Henry Ford’s Southern Town Driving Trail Governmental Champion Award: This award is given to an individual or group who has shown extraordinary support of tourism through their legislative or organizational efforts.

● Representative Matthew Gambill Destination Marketing Visionary Award:

● Norm Easterbrook, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Further details about the individual projects can be found in the awards ceremony script and the separate visual presentation. Photographs from the awards luncheon are also available through GACVB.

Trilogy Investment Co. (TIC), a leading real estate investment and development firm specializing in build-to-rent (BTR), for-sale and lot development, alongside Seed Capital Investments of Duluth, Georgia, announces the strategic acquisition and integration of Blue River Communities (BRC) into its new homebuilding company, Rêve Homes. This evolution aligns with TIC’s vision to expand its presence and capabilities in the real estate sector, leveraging innovative approaches to development, construction and investment optimization. 

Rêve Homes specializes in new home construction with a primary focus on the single-family residential market. The company is poised to meet the demands of the Build-to-Rent (BTR) and for-sale housing. Rêve Homes has seven (7) communities under development totaling 700+ lots with projects underway in Clarke, Cobb, Bartow and Henry Counties of the Atlanta metro region, Huntsville, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida.

“The integration of BRC into our Rêve Homes brand marks a significant milestone in TIC’s broader strategy to deliver homes that meet the evolving needs of today’s buyers and renters,” said Jason Joseph, CEO and Partner of TIC. “The vertical integration creates an amazing opportunity to control the quality of our homes while reducing redundant costs across each development. What were once not viable investments now become opportunities to engage, create, and move our developments forward in a meaningful way.” 

Greg Duriez, formerly with BRC, serves as the CEO, President and Partner of Rêve Homes. He has an impressive 35-year tenure in the new home construction industry and has worked for various large national and regional home builders. Duriez is set to lead Rêve into its next phase of growth. The homebuilding company will focus on market-rate single-family detached homes and townhomes priced from the $300,000s to $600,000s. 

“It’s an opportune moment to leverage my experience and contribute to a company with an upward growth trajectory,” said Duriez. “TIC has proven to be a major player in BTR and land development. Rêve Homes is the natural next step in the company’s evolution, and I am excited to be a part of the story.” His addition to the team responds to current market demands for BTR and for-sale housing, fostering partnerships with BTR investors and addressing the ongoing housing shortage. 

Rêve Homes will have first-hand access to sought-after newly approved and developed communities given TIC’s robust land pipeline, strong financials, seasoned industry partnerships and experienced leadership team.  

Previously, Duriez has grown and led homebuilding teams in Georgia, North and South Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida, Texas and Alabama. His expertise will be instrumental in guiding Rêve Homes’ strategic expansion throughout key markets.

TIC owns or is under contract for additional sites in locations, including Charlotte, Raleigh, North Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Asheville and Savannah. This expansion and growth reflect the company’s commitment to building relationships and providing high-quality housing solutions for ever-increasing demand.

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Project Manager for Secure Records Solutions Marshall Jones discusses the Japanese business philosophy Kaizen and how it can help improve your business.

Piedmont Park Conservancy announces that tickets are now on sale for the highly anticipated 28th Landmark Luncheon, set to take place on Thursday, April 24 from 11 am. – 1 p.m. at the Promenade in Piedmont Park. This year’s event will feature “The Big Reveal,” unveiling the Park’s first Comprehensive Plan in 25 years, including the community-driven vision that will shape the future of Atlanta’s most beloved greenspace.

As excitement builds for the Landmark Luncheon, community members are encouraged to take part in the final in-person and virtual input sessions to ensure their voices are heard before the plan is finalized. These remaining opportunities allow Atlantans to review and provide feedback on the proposed enhancements including topics such as entrance upgrades, Lake Clara Meer improvements, nature play experience suggestions, Active Oval enhancements, expansion concepts and Park connectivity, maintenance and beautification.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
FINAL In-person session at Dockside (near 12th Street entrance)

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1 – 2 p.m
Reserve your spot: Virtual Community Input Meeting

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 – 7 p.m.
Reserve your spot: Virtual Community Input Meeting

Thursday, April 24, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
28th Landmark Luncheon’s “The Big Reveal”

Virtual Interactive Platform

Open for input now through March 8.

WHERE: Dockside in Piedmont Park (in between Lake Clara Meer & the 12th Street Gate)
1071 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

WHY: Final chance to explore plans and share vital feedback to ensure this historic greenspace continues to flourish as Atlanta’s common ground since 1904!

HOW: Tickets for Landmark Luncheon will sell quickly. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit piedmontpark.org.

To learn more, schedule a media interview with Piedmont Park Conservancy President and CEO Doug Widener or to attend the in-person session, please contact Caroline Day or Sara McDonald Barksdale at ppc@emailbrave.com.

Artificial intelligence is making its way into one of life’s biggest financial decisions. About 1-in-3 prospective homebuyers (32%) are using AI tools as part of their homebuying journey, according to a survey released today by Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender.

The nationwide survey of nearly 900 prospective buyers found that searching for and virtually touring homes are the two most common uses of AI.

The survey also revealed that 40% of prospective buyers interact with AI once a day or more.  However, they were split on how comfortable they are with this technology becoming a part of everyday life, with 31% more concerned than excited, 29% more excited than concerned and 28% equally excited and concerned.

“With digital assistants and smart home devices gaining broader adoption in everyday life, AI tools are becoming a valuable resource for home shoppers,” said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United. “However, some buyers need balance – leveraging AI as a helpful tool while maintaining the human touch to guide and reassure buyers through life’s biggest investments.”

Searching and touring homes are the most popular tools homebuyers use
Today, most home shoppers start their home search online. The survey shows nearly 40% of buyers are using AI to both find and view homes.

At 38%, searching for homes for sale in the location they want to live ranked as the most common way home shoppers used AI. This was followed closely by virtual home tours, which were used by 37% of those who reported using AI tools.

Buyers find AI can help to educate and dream
About a third of buyers who use AI tools (32%) use them to estimate monthly payments or to check property values. About the same percentage (31%) use AI as a mortgage calculator to determine how much they could afford or be preapproved for; for tips and tricks to make homebuying easier; and to learn about the latest housing trends.

Nearly 3-in-10 use AI to input specific criteria they are looking for in a home to find available homes (29%) and to shop for the best mortgage rates (28%).

The survey also found that 27% of respondents used AI to visualize potential renovations or changes to a home.

Who’s using AI
The survey revealed that younger home shoppers are more likely to use AI than their older counterparts, which suggests this emerging technology could play an even larger role in the process as younger generations reach homebuying age. 

Among those who use AI once a day or more, 60% are Gen Z and 47% are millennials. Just over a third of Gen X (36%) and 18% of baby boomers reported using AI once a day or more.

To view the full survey, visit https://www.veteransunited.com/education/ai-homebuying-survey/

Greg Weider shares his experiences as a volunteer with DeKalb County CASA and offers ways to support their mission.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is now accepting applications for two local planning programs: the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) and the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP).

The application period for both programs close end of day February 28, 2025. The last day for application assistance is February 21.

Since 2000, the LCI grant program has invested more than $23 million in planning studies and over $360 million in transportation projects to assist 126 communities throughout the Atlanta region re-envision themselves as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services. CDAP provides technical assistance to local governments to improve quality-of-life in their communities by improving access to resources such as healthy food, affordable housing and creative placemaking.

“The LCI program is an innovative concept that makes metro Atlanta a better, safer and healthier place to live,” said Anna Roach, ARC’s Executive Director and CEO. “Last year we celebrated 25 years of LCI. I can’t wait to see how our region benefits from LCI projects throughout the next 25.”

The ARC board has allocated $600 million through 2050 for transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies. Upon completion of the studies, communities will be eligible to apply for federal transportation and funding for projects such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and smart corridor improvements that help implement their visions.

The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars, and this year ARC may award up to $1.8 million in LCI grants. The grants cover 80% of the budgeted cost of each study, with the recipient committing to a 20% match. Applicants must be a local government, transit agency, or Community Improvement District (CID) with an existing LCI area. LCI studies must address at least one of the program’s four priority issue areas, which are:

• Creative Placemaking

• Housing Affordability

• Green Infrastructure

• Smart Technology

ARC’s CDAP provides planning assistance to local governments, CIDs, and non-profits across metro Atlanta to undertake local planning activities that advance the goals of the ARC’s regional planning initiatives. CDAP matches technical planning help and expertise with projects in communities who need it. The applicant can select ARC staff assistance, partner assistance, or grant assistance. Applicants requesting grant assistance must have a proposed project that has a transportation/land use nexus, and non-profits are not eligible for grant assistance.

CDAP is seeking applications for projects that focus on one or more of the following CDAP priority areas:

• Access to Healthy Food

• Creative Placemaking

• Impacts of Climate Change

• Historic Preservation

• Housing Affordability

• Smart Technology

Examples of past CDAP projects include housing assessments, cultural and creative placemaking, minor land use plans/studies, training facilitation, and trail studies. This year, ARC hopes to see more partnerships with Community-Based Organizations. To get an idea of what is possible through this program, potential applicants can view CDAP’s guidebook and CDAP past projects.