NEWS

The Southern Legislative Conference planning committee was in Savannah last week, putting the finishing touches on plans for its 2027 annual meeting—and making sure Visit Savannah President and CEO Joseph Marinelli remembers a few promises along the way.

When the group arrived for dinner with Marinelli and Visit Savannah Sales Director Jennifer Thompson, committee members were sporting matching T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase, “Because Joe Said So.” The good-natured reminder referenced commitments Marinelli made last fall when the group selected Savannah for its 2027 conference.

Scheduled for next July, the Southern Legislative Conference is expected to bring more than 2,500 attendees to Savannah. The annual gathering is produced by the Council of State Governments Southern Office, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization serving state governments across 15 Southern states.

The 2027 conference will be hosted by Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns and will give lawmakers and government leaders from across the South an opportunity to experience Savannah’s hospitality firsthand.

And judging by those T-shirts, Joe’s promises haven’t been forgotten!