Since before either the mayor or the governor issued orders to shelter in place and avoid contact outside of the home, Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee’s communications team have been planning ahead for the time when restrictions are lifted and the first signs of recovery are apparent.

Visit Savannah has prepared a marketing campaign directed at locals, encouraging them to “Rediscover Our City” as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by health and government officials. The campaign will include creative spots and social media assets with bucket list items for Savannah-area residents to check-off including ideas like “say hi to old friends at favorite restaurants,” and “grab a to-go lunch to enjoy in a square.”

Visit Savannah president Joseph Marinelli says he’s extremely proud of the campaign his team has created. “Recovery post-COVID 19 must begin at home and we want to be a big part of jump-starting the local economy,” he says.

Marinelli says that Visit Savannah has three objectives for the campaign. First, to provide a boost to the lagging area economy and to get locals out around town to support area businesses and attractions. Area residents patronizing those businesses will help them to get re-staffed sooner. Second, to unify the message among local media outlets and channels so that one message, “Rediscover Our City,” resonates in strong way to support the economy. And finally, to leverage Visit Savannah’s leadership in the local marketplace as a strong marketing organization with the ability to drive traffic to local businesses that the community knows it to be. Visit Savannah’s mission is to inspire overnight visitation, meaning its advertising and communications efforts take place out-of-market, so Savannah-area residents don’t typically see them.

According to Marinelli, Visit Savannah has hopes that the campaign will help the Savannah area come together as more than a place on a map, but as a community, filled with people who live and work together for common goals. “The ‘Rediscover Our City’ campaign provides a gentle reminder to those of us who live in the area to be supportive of our friends and neighbors who want to get their jobs and businesses back, and to enjoy all that our spectacular community has to offer.”