In a region that relies on tourism -- more than 13 million visitors come to Savannah each year -- it is critical for tourism leaders and those in the hospitality, retail, and restaurant industries to stay on top of cutting-edge technology.

For that reason, several Savannah tourism and technology experts -- Greg Kelly, executive director, Savannah Airport Commission; Michael Owens, president and CEO of the Tourism Leadership Council; and Russ Clark, co-director of the Georgia Tech Research Network Operations Center -- will address Georgia Tech-Savannah’s “Learners and Leaders” series on Thursday, May 4, at 7:30 a.m. Together they will share how the application of technology is revolutionizing the tourism industry.

“The average traveler visits approximately 22 travel-related sites prior to booking a vacation and 70 percent of business travelers check into flights and hotels via their mobile devices. Simply put, technology is guiding today’s tourists,” said Diane Lee, director of Georgia Tech-Savannah.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from local experts about how tourism-related businesses can leverage the power of technology to bring in tourists.”

Participants will learn about cutting-edge technology for today’s tourists, strategies for success, common challenges (and how to overcome them) and resources.

The talk, which will include remarks followed by an interactive discussion, will take place on the Georgia Tech-Savannah campus at 210 Technology Circle. Breakfast and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m.; the program will run 8-9:30 a.m. Cost, including breakfast, is $15.

Georgia Tech-Savannah’s Learners and Leaders series is an effort launched in 2014 to help companies in the coastal region stay current. To date, members of the coastal community have heard speakers on topics of relevance to the business community, including mobile apps, coaching and mentoring, leadership and logistics. To register or learn more about upcoming programs, go to pe.gatech.edu/Sav-Learners or email savinfo@pe.gatech.edu for details.