Destination Augusta is celebrating its 25th anniversary on December 16, 2021. As the official destination marketing organization for the City of Augusta­­, the organization strives to develop and promote the community, inspiring people to have unforgettable experiences. Since beginning operations, the organization has welcomed millions of visitors to the city providing a soulful, funky, historic experience. 

Destination Augusta has grown from a very modest tourism marketing and promotion entity to a high-level, nationally respected, and accredited branding and destination management organization. It takes the lead role in the area’s tourism and hospitality industry, which generates more than $1.1 billion in visitor spending and sustains more than 20,000 jobs in Augusta’s MSA.

"We have achieved this milestone through creativity, perseverance, and the hard work and dedication of so many professional staff members, the many leaders on our Board of Directors and committed partners and stakeholders. We now rededicate ourselves to 25 more years of leadership, innovation, and collaboration, which are the building blocks to our success,” said Bennish Brown, President and CEO of Destination Augusta.

A Brief History

Originally established in 1980 as a department of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, the organization received its Certificate of Incorporation as a “Domestic Nonprofit Corporation” by the Georgia Secretary of State office on December 16, 1996.

In the Articles of Incorporation, it states that “The purpose of the corporation is to provide for the encouragement, solicitation, promotion, procurement and servicing of conventions, conferences, seminars and the development of tourism through the attraction of visitors to Augusta-Richmond County and surrounding area; to foster better public understanding on the part of individuals and businesses in Augusta-Richmond County and surrounding area of the importance of the convention and visitor industry to the local economy; to effect cooperation between businesses and industries servicing visitors, conventions, and other meetings.”

The organization has celebrated a series of milestones in its 25-year history, which have an enormous impact on Augusta’s River Region. See the 25 Year Timeline of Milestones here.