Athens, Ga. (August 26, 2025) – Visit Athens GA, The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau, is now accepting nominations for its annual Athens Hospitality Awards, which shine a spotlight on the people who help make Athens a welcoming and memorable destination. 

Each fall, Visit Athens recognizes individuals and partners who go above and beyond in serving visitors and strengthening Athens’ reputation as a premier travel and meeting destination. 

This year’s awards include four distinct honors: 

  • Partner of the Year Award – Presented to a CVB partner in the local hospitality industry who demonstrates the value of collaboration and shared success. (Selected by Visit Athens; not open for nomination.) 

  • Classic Host Award – Recognizes an individual who has brought a new convention, meeting, or event to Athens-Clarke County that generated a meaningful economic impact. (Selected by Visit Athens; not open for nomination.) 

  • Hospitality HEROES Award – Celebrates front-line service employees who consistently deliver outstanding service to guests. Nominees are evaluated on attitude, workplace knowledge, communication skills, and their ability to exceed visitor expectations. (Open for public nomination.) 

  • Louis Griffith Hospitality Leadership Award – Honors a management-level professional whose vision and leadership have had a lasting impact on the Athens-Clarke County hospitality industry and the broader community. (Open for public nomination.) 

Call for Nominations 

Visit Athens invites residents and visitors to nominate outstanding hospitality professionals for the Hospitality HEROES Award and the Louis Griffith Hospitality Leadership Award. All nominees must work in Athens-Clarke County at the time of nomination and award. Nominations must be submitted by September 15 via the brief online form. 

Award recipients will be announced at the Visit Athens Annual Meeting on October 30, 2025, at Live Wire Athens. 

“Each year, these awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the individuals and partners who are the foundation of Athens’ hospitality success,” said Katie Williams, the Executive Director of Visit Athens. “Their dedication not only enhances the visitor experience but also contributes directly to the economic vitality of our community.” 

For more information, contact Hannah Smith, Director of Marketing & Communications, at hsmith@VisitAthensGA.com.  

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About Visit Athens GA 

Visit Athens GA is the official destination marketing organization for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. We engage the creative energy of Athens to activate curiosity, inspire experience, and advance our community’s quality of life and economic opportunity for all. We increase the economic impact of the hospitality and visitor industry by attracting individual visitors, groups, and meetings and conventions to Athens.       

A list of prior winners is available here.

The Athens Hospitality Awards Logo may be downloaded here.