William Pate is President and CEO of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) and responsible for maintaining tourism as one of the city's top economic drivers. The industry brought nearly 56 million visitors to metro Atlanta in 2018, generating $16 billion in visitor spending and sustaining approximately 300,000 jobs.

William and Jamie touch base and discuss the impact of the pandemic on Atlanta and the hospitality industry post-COVID. William recounts his experience during the cancellation of Atlanta’s would be hosting of the Final Four and how he harnesses calm when leading through a crisis. The two wrap with predictions on the rest of the year and a ‘big bang’ view of what maybe all of this means.

Follow Jamie @jsimsatl on Instagram and Twitter. Follow @discoveratlanta to keep up with William, the ACVB and all things Atlanta.

Learn more about the WITH/agency and WITH/studios at thewithagency.com. You can find more about the ACVB at www.atlanta.net.

Disclaimer: Jamie is a board member of the ACVB.