Jeff Hewitt, CDME, describes himself as innovative, driven and dedicated. Learn more about him.
How I got here: After 15 years and nine cities on the hotel side, Savannah is my third DMO in 20 years. I got here because this is where I wanted to be.
Impressive stats: Tourism in Savannah generates $3.1 billion in direct spending and we host 14 million visitors per year. In nine years, our team has grown room night contributions from 80,000 to 255,000.
Specific improvement I’ve made: I recently introduced a new pricing model for convention center rental that simplifies and streamlines our process. We are now more user friendly and more competitive than ever before.
What I am working on now: We’ve been building the case for an expansion of our convention center that would double its size and add a second headquarter hotel. We’ve gained the governors support and we hope to make an announcement that will include a groundbreaking date in the very near future.
What I do outside of work: Beyond an occasional game of golf or walk on the beach, I’m a home improvement nerd. I don’t think there’s much I can’t fix or build.
