Wednesday, February 12, 2025
“Do the Right Things, the Right Ways, with the Right People”
As VisitColumbusGA prepares to bid farewell to our leader of 29 years, Peter Bowden, 23 of those years as CEO, we’d like to take time to reflect on his incredible time of service to the hospitality industry in Columbus, Georgia.
In Bowden’s tenure at VisitColumbusGA, the organization responsible for promoting Columbus as a tourism destination, the city has hosted more than 30 million visitors creating an economic impact of $6.5 billion dollars. Originally hired as VisitColumbusGA’s Olympic Coordinator, he was re-assigned as Deputy Director shortly afterward and oversaw numerous marketing and sales activities until he was appointed President/CEO in May 2003. In this role, he oversees the destination marketing efforts, including promoting conventions, trade shows, and tourism.
Bowden’s career has spanned an immense period of growth and economic development for the city. Over the past several months, industry leaders have reached out to congratulate Bowden and share their thoughts about his remarkable servant leadership, his undeniable impact across the tourism industry, and his successful career at VisitColumbusGA.
Among the first to speak at the celebration of Bowden’s legacy was Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on this earth,” said Bishop. “You have paid your rent, and have paid it well. Retirement will give you opportunity to embark on new and exciting adventures, but I know you will continue to serve others because of your servant’s heart. During your time at VisitColumbusGA, you have helped to improve the quality of life for people in Columbus, and have made an immense impact on the economic vitality of the entire Chattahoochee Valley region.”
Bishop went on to discuss Bowden’s excellent leadership during the most challenging period of his career, “Your work to help keep Columbus and the region afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic required great skill and intellect,” Bishop said. “During your career, you demanded excellence of yourself and others, and you are leaving VisitColumbusGA in good hands because of your leadership.”
Bowden was also honored with remarks by Mark Jaronski, a former marketing executive at Disney who is now Chief Marketing Officer of Explore Georgia, the state’s tourism office. “I have been moved by Peter’s consistent leadership, his actions, and most importantly, the values he has demonstrated through his long career in this role. There is no doubt he has helped transform Columbus into a vibrant, multi-faceted destination with universal appeal with significant economic growth and high quality of life.”
Jaronski mentioned his first trip to Columbus, where he was personally escorted around town by Bowden and shown all of the city’s attractions and largest assets. “Peter showed me every inch of this destination. I saw the culture, the history, and all of the outdoor experiences, but none of it could rival his enthusiasm for showing off his hometown.”
Jaronski said his initial impression of Bowden made a lasting impact on him. "No matter how much money a place spends on attractions, it is the people who deliver the brand promise. Peter has been a relentless champion for Columbus, and a leader in every aspect in Georgia’s tourism industry. When talking with leaders in our industry, there is absolutely no doubt that Peter has brought immeasurable value for this destination and this city.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also took time to celebrate Bowden’s contribution to the tourism industry. “In his 29 years at VisitColumbusGA, Peter has played a prominent role in the transformation into a destination on so many traveler’s must see list,”Governor Kemp wrote. “Tourism continues to grow in importance for so many communities around our state. In 2023, Georgia welcomed 171 million visitors who spent $43.6 billion dollars while they were here. That success would not be possible without the diligent efforts of Peter Bowden and many others working around the state to deliver memorable experiences for visitors and telling the stories of communities in this state worth seeing. Peter, please accept my deepest thanks for all you have done to make tourism in Columbus and the state of Georgia a success.”
Bowden has been a highlight in the life of his colleague and friend Jay Markwalter, Statewide Tourism Director for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “For most of us in the industry, it’s hard to remember when exactly we met Peter,” said Markwalter. “No one even really uses his last name, because for many of us, it’s always just been ‘Peter.’ When I started in the industry, Peter was so highly-regarded as a leader that I kept hearing his name over and over. ‘What does Peter think?’ or ‘Where does Peter stand on this issue?” Or “What’s going on with Peter and his team?” When I got to know him, I certainly understood why there was just Peter. Across the industry, everyone knows that in Columbus tourism, in Georgia tourism, in Southeast tourism, it’s just Peter. He has kept the visitor economy at the economic development table. Period. And for that, our industry cannot thank him enough.”
Markwalter continued, “Peter and his team’s passion for this community is unparalleled,” In 2021, I got to host an event for the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitor’s Bureau with Peter and his team. Putting on that event was truly one of the best produced events our state-wide industry has ever seen. It was off-the-charts on the surveys of everyone’s experience here.”
“Peter is also a steward beyond belief of the visitor tax dollar,” offered Markwalter. “He is strategic in all that he does, every goal he sets with his team, and the purpose of everything he and his team do is to be good steward of the guest dollar. He is one of those leaders that strives to the right things, the right ways, with the right people. That is Peter Bowden to me.”
On February 4th, Bowden was honored with a Lifetime Member Award by the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. During his career, Bowden has won countless tourism awards from leading organizations across the Southeast, and is a two-time recipient of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians Award.
Bowden, however, would tell you the most important and rewarding thing about his career has been his relationship with his staff. “I’ve got some great people that I work with and I’ve been fortunate enough to lead,” said Bowden in a recent interview. “After the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to ensure my team was set and equipped for the future, and that the financial security of our organization had plenty of time to rebound post-pandemic before I retired. My team is an exceptional group of leaders, and the market has bounced back much, much quicker than any of us projected. So, having achieved both those goals, I feel it is the right time to step back and let new leadership take this organization to the next level.”
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