Last week, the Visit Savannah team held a reception at Arco Cafe & Lounge to honor Jeff Hewitt’s retirement. The event brought together board members, industry partners, and Hewitt’s family and friends to recognize his career and contributions.
Speakers at the gathering shared their memories of working with Hewitt and highlighted his professionalism and leadership in Savannah’s meetings and conventions sector.
Visit Savannah President and CEO Joseph Marinelli said, “Thank you for 16 years of unwavering loyalty, institutional wisdom, and steady leadership.” He added that Hewitt’s guidance shaped Visit Savannah’s culture, strengthened partnerships, and helped establish Savannah as a leading destination for meetings. Marinelli noted that Hewitt’s influence will continue through those he mentored and the standards he set.
During his time as Chief Sales Officer, room night production increased from 80,000 in 2010 to more than 315,000 in 2024. The city’s hotel room inventory also doubled during this period alongside the expansion of the Savannah Convention Center.
Visit Savannah and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce expressed their appreciation for Hewitt’s service. They stated that his legacy is part of Savannah’s success and will have a lasting impact.
The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of businesses across different industries. It supports community development through programs such as Leadership Savannah, which offers workshops and networking opportunities (source). The organization advocates for its more than 2,300 members by providing business resources, hosting events to foster connections among members (source), offering relocation assistance (source), and promoting regional economic growth (source).
