Miscellaneous
This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority While the pandemic has made it difficult for the tourism industry globally, people like Michael Owens of the Tourism Leadership Council are trying their best to right the ship locally to help with Savannah jobs and the economy. But before the pandemic, Owens was one of the figureheads bringing Savannah's tourism and growth to where it is today. On this episode of Difference Makers, Owens talks about his youth in Savannah, coming back, what he has seen through the explosion of tourism in town and what he expects to follow this pandemic. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer (7:00): Downtown Savannah in the 1980s (18:14): Coming back to Savannah and his current work (26:20): Looking at the explosion of tourism in Savannah and what caused it Editorial: Kudos to Savannah’s tourism industry (SMN, June 3, 2019) (35:10): The effects of the pandemic on tourism in Savannah and what's next Savannah occupancy rates at historic lows, hospitality industry facing mass layoffs amid COVID-19 pandemic (SMN, March 25, 2020) How Savannah’s conventions industry lost millions wake of COVID-19 pandemic (SMN, June 18, 2020) Analysis: The local impact in the Savannah metro area of a global pandemic (Beacon, July 7, 2020) Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.