ATLANTA (Oct. 9, 2023) – Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB)
will recognize three new individuals during the 24th annual Atlanta
Hospitality Hall of Fame ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 1 at The Fox Theatre.
The event will honor Tracy Gates, David Marvin, and Frank Poe.
“Our three new inductees have had an immeasurable impact on not only our
visitors, but also those who call Atlanta home,” said William Pate,
President and CEO, ACVB. “We are proud to welcome these individuals to
the Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame and celebrate their contributions
to the destination.”
Gates is owner and head chef at the iconic Busy Bee Café which was
founded in Atlanta in 1947. Many of the city’s civil rights leaders were
known to enjoy a meal at Busy Bee Café, and the restaurant continues to
be a beloved spot among visitors and locals alike. Gates’ father passed
down the restaurant to her in 1987 and she’s been expanding the Busy Bee
brand every day since. Her passion for supporting the community and
delivering authentic soul food was recognized when Busy Bee Café won a
2022 America’s Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation, making it
the first restaurant in Atlanta to earn this accolade.
Marvin serves as chairman and founder of Legacy Ventures, the company he
launched in 1994. He has grown Legacy Ventures into a best-in-class
hotel management, restaurant management, and development company. Marvin
started his business in the heart of Atlanta’s convention and
entertainment district, making significant investments in the area and
turning Marietta Street into a popular destination for convention
attendees, leisure travelers, and residents. Headquartered in Atlanta,
Legacy Ventures manages hospitality properties in five states including
five hotels and 20 restaurants Downtown.
As executive director of Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA)
for more than a decade, Poe is a respected and accomplished leader in
the convention, hospitality, and tourism industry. Under his leadership,
the state-owned convention center has expanded to create more than 1
million square feet of contiguous exhibit space and has added
Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and
GWCCA’s new headquarters hotel Signia by Hilton Atlanta to its campus.
With Poe at the helm, Atlanta has continued to attract large-scale
conventions such as Big South National Qualifier, International
Production and Processing Expo and International Woodworking Fair.
In addition to honoring the 2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame inductees,
ACVB will present the fifth annual Spurgeon Richardson Member of the
Year Award. The award honors Spurgeon Richardson, the longest-serving
CEO of ACVB and his many contributions to Atlanta’s hospitality
industry. This year’s winner is Sensational Baskets.
Atlanta Business Chronicle, Delta Air Lines, and The Coca-Cola Company
serve as presenting sponsors for this year’s Hospitality Hall of Fame.
Individual tickets or tables are available for purchase at
DiscoverAtlanta.com/HHOF [1].
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About Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Established in 1913, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is the
official destination marketing organization for the city and serves to
favorably impact Atlanta’s economy through conventions and tourism.
Visit discoveratlanta.com [2] and @discoveratlanta on social media for
more information.
