Visit Columbia County, Ga

What Visit Columbia County, Ga does

Visit Columbia County, GA is the official Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and government-affiliated destination marketing organization for Columbia County, Georgia. It promotes travel, tourism, and visitor services across the county's five communities — Appling, Evans, Grovetown, Harlem, and Martinez — anchored by natural assets including Clarks Hill Lake (1,200+ miles of shoreline, 70,000+ acres), the Savannah River, the Augusta Canal, and Wildwood Park, which houses the International Disc Golf Center. The organization serves leisure tourists, families, sports tourists, film productions, meeting planners, and prospective new residents with free trip-planning resources, an events calendar, lodging directories, a Visitor Center inside Savannah Rapids Park, and a Mobile Visitors Center Van.

The organization's digital platform runs on the Simpleview CRM and includes the VisitColumbiaCountyGa.com portal, a business-partner extranet, and the events and lodging directories. Its flagship branded products are the Playlist of Adventure tourism campaign (an original album, music video, and interactive itinerary quiz at PlaylistOfAdventure.com), the Serene18 Paddle Trail (an 18-square-mile paddling trail system across five routes, now augmented by a gamified Digital Passport), and the Bombasin Land Trail for hiking and mountain biking. Strategic partnerships anchor event-based demand, including the Professional Disc Golf Association's Champions Cup and Major League Fishing's 2027 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4, alongside recurring appreciation events with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Visit Columbia County operates as a non-profit government-funded destination marketing organization rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue derives from hotel/motel tax collections and government allocations rather than direct fees, and all visitor resources are provided free of charge. The organization employs approximately 5 staff members, is governed by an 8-member Board of Directors drawn from local business and community leadership, and reports its economic impact through visitor-spending data published by the Georgia Department of Economic Development — $201.6 million in visitor spending in 2023, a 7.6% year-over-year increase.

Name

Visit Columbia County, Ga

Legal name

Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Website

https://visitcolumbiacountyga.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Visit Columbia County, GA is the official government-funded Convention and Visitors Bureau for Columbia County, Georgia, promoting tourism across five communities via a Simpleview-powered website, the Playlist of Adventure campaign, the Serene18 Paddle Trail, and flagship sports tourism partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAAGAD

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access)

SECONDARYTHAAAGAF

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access)

SECONDARYTHAJACAH

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Tourism promotion
• Visitor information services
• Travel planning resources
• Convention bureau services

Headquarters

HQ city

Martinez

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism Marketing (Indirect): As a Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Columbia County operates as a government-funded destination marketing organization. Funding is derived from hotel/motel tax collections, which are reinvested to promote tourism and generate visitor spending that supports local economy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Visit Columbia County, GA operates as the official Convention and Visitors Bureau for Columbia County, Georgia. The organization provides tourism marketing, visitor information, trip planning resources, event promotion, and lodging directories to attract visitors and drive economic activity across five communities (Appling, Evans, Grovetown, Harlem, Martinez). Its core offerings include the Playlist of Adventure campaign, Serene18 Paddle Trail, Bombasin Land Trail, free visitor guide, Mobile Visitors Center, and online event calendar.

Product overview

Visit Columbia County, GA operates as the official tourism marketing organization for Columbia County, Georgia. The organization offers a comprehensive digital platform providing visitor information services including curated activity and attraction listings (Serene18 Paddle Trail, Bombasin Land Trail), lodging directories (hotels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, vacation rentals), and an events calendar. The flagship product is the Playlist of Adventure tourism campaign featuring an original soundtrack album and interactive quiz. Additional offerings include the free visitor guide (digital and physical), Mobile Visitors Center service, and online resources for trip planning including restaurant directories and shopping guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Playlist of Adventure Tourism Campaign A branded tourism marketing campaign featuring an original soundtrack album inspired by Columbia County experiences, an original music video for 'LET'S CRUISE' featuring Redford and the Bennys, and an interactive personality quiz at PlaylistOfAdventure.com that generates personalized visitor itineraries based on interests and travel style. Available on streaming platforms and pressed onto vinyl record.
• Serene18 Paddle Trail A paddling trail system covering 18 square miles of waterways including Clarks Hill Lake, the Savannah River, and the Augusta Canal, with a digital passport for gamified exploration offering rewards (free t-shirt) upon completion of all five routes. Designed for visitors and residents seeking outdoor recreation and water-based experiences.
• Bombasin Land Trail A land-based trail system for hiking and biking featuring scenic routes through Columbia County's natural landscapes, branded within the destination's outdoor recreation portfolio.
• Visitor Guide Free downloadable or physical visitor guide providing information about Columbia County attractions, places to stay, restaurants, and activities. Available to all visitors at no charge as a trip planning resource.
• Mobile Visitors Center A mobile visitors center van service that brings tourism information, brochures, and resources directly to events, festivals, and community gatherings throughout Columbia County.
• Columbia County Events Calendar Online events calendar showcasing annual festivals, weekly events, concerts, and special happenings throughout Columbia County, used by visitors to plan their trip around local activities.
• Lodging Directory Comprehensive lodging directory covering hotels (including national chains), bed and breakfasts (such as Red Oak Manor), campgrounds and RV parks (Mistletoe State Park, Wildwood Park, Timberline Glamping Company), and vacation rentals. Provides information on amenities, pet-friendly options, and direct booking links for visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• $201.6 million in visitor spending generated in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The KrucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugusta-based creative agency that collaborated with Visit Columbia County on the Playlist of Adventure brand campaign, including original soundtrack production, music video creation, and marketing materials.
• SimpleviewcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite platform provider powering VisitColumbiaCountyGa.com and supporting digital marketing operations, extranet portal, and event management systems.
• Major League Fishing (MLF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest tournament-fishing organization hosting 2027 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 at Clarks Hill Lake, showcasing world-class fishing and natural beauty to national audience.
• Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting PDGA Champions Cup and Hall of Fame Classic at International Disc Golf Center within Wildwood Park, bringing elite disc golf competitions to Columbia County.
• Georgia Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState tourism agency providing data, resources, and coordination for tourism promotion initiatives, including visitor spending analytics and marketing support.
• Columbia County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership organizing hospitality appreciation events and coordinating tourism marketing efforts with local business community.
• Columbia County School DistrictminorOthersEducational partnership supporting field trips and youth programming at tourism attractions including Steed's Dairy and outdoor recreation sites.
• Georgia PowerminorOthersUtility provider partnership providing new resident information and community resource coordination through Visit Columbia County New Resident Guide.
• AT&TminorOthersInternet and cable provider listed in New Resident Guide as community resource for telecommunications services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Destination DC: Destination DC is the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. It is a peer because it is a CVB-funded DMO of comparable scale that runs multi-channel content marketing, lodging directories, event calendars, and meeting/sports tourism bid pipelines.
• Visit Savannah: Visit Savannah is Georgia's flagship coastal destination marketing organization. It is a peer because it operates as a CVB-funded DMO in the same state, runs visitor information and lodging directory services, and competes for the same drive-market weekend traveler across the Southeast.
• Visit St. Pete Clearwater: Visit St. Pete Clearwater is the destination marketing organization for Pinellas County, Florida. It is a peer because it is a county-level CVB-funded DMO of similar scale that promotes outdoor/water-based recreation, lodging directories, and visitor information services.
• Visit Orlando: Visit Orlando is the destination marketing organization for the Orlando region. It is a peer because it is a CVB-funded DMO focused on leisure tourism, runs a similar content/events/lodging platform, and actively bids for major sports tournaments (similar to Visit Columbia County's MLF and PDGA partnerships).
• Visit Atlanta: Visit Atlanta is the destination marketing organization for the City of Atlanta. It is a peer because it operates a CVB-funded DMO in the same state, curates attractions/events/lodging content on a similar Simpleview-style platform, and competes for both leisure and meeting/event tourism demand.
• Visit Augusta: Visit Augusta is the destination marketing organization for the adjacent Augusta-Richmond County area in Georgia. It is the most direct peer because it operates in the same regional market, shares the Augusta National/Masters Tournament halo, and serves overlapping outdoor recreation and event tourism use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Brand USA: Brand USA is the national destination marketing organization for the United States. It is a broader incumbent peer because it promotes U.S. travel at the national level, partnering with and amplifying state and local DMOs like Visit Columbia County through international marketing campaigns.

Others

• Simpleview: Simpleview is the leading CRM and website platform provider for destination marketing organizations. It is an ecosystem peer because it powers Visit Columbia County's website, extranet, and event management systems, and serves as the underlying technology backbone for the majority of U.S. CVBs and DMOs.

Regional players

• Explore Georgia: Explore Georgia is the official state tourism marketing organization for the State of Georgia. It is a peer because it provides visitor information, lodging and attraction directories, and coordinates tourism data (including the visitor spending metrics that Visit Columbia County relies on) for sub-state DMOs across Georgia.
• Visit North Carolina: Visit North Carolina is the official state tourism office for North Carolina. It is a peer because it coordinates visitor information, outdoor recreation promotion, and event marketing at a regional level, and shares Southern drive-market competition with Georgia DMOs.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/visitcolumbiacountyga
• Instagraminstagram.com/visitcolumbiacountyga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visit-columbia-county-ga

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visit Columbia County, Ga