Black Meetings & Tourism - VICTORIA HAWKINS PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT AT EXPLORE GWINNETT

Industry Briefs
VICTORIA HAWKINS PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT AT EXPLORE GWINNETT
Industry Veteran Brings Deep Expertise in Tourism Marketing and Destination Growth to Expanded Leadership Role Explore Gwinnett , the destination marketing organization for Gwinnett County, recently announced the promotion of Victoria Hawkins to vice president of marketing and destination development. Hawkins celebrated 18 years with the organization in 2025 and has had an impressive journey, advancing through marketing leadership roles and helping shape Gwinnett County’s strategic vision through the development of signature activations such as Gwinnett Burger Week, Seoul of the South™ Tour, Gwinnett Beer Week and ARTober. “Victoria’s leadership has played a critical role in the evolution of Explore Gwinnett and the destination’s growth,” said Lisa Anders, chief operating officer. “This promotion reflects Victoria’s dedication to our mission of elevating Gwinnett County’s regional profile, and honors the impact she has made over the years—positioning Gwinnett County as the destination of choice for visitors and businesses.” In 2025, Hawkins spearheaded development of the destination’s new Seoul of the South™ Pass, Gwinn & Tonic Cocktail Contest and inaugural PartnerPalooza, an event that connected and educated local hospitality partners on growing their businesses. She played an instrumental role in the launch of the 2023 “Detour from the Default” campaign, which positioned Gwinnett as an ideal destination for conferences and events following the expansion of the Gas South Convention Center. A Gwinnett County native herself, Hawkins was honored with the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives at the Georgia Tourism Awards in 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. In her elevated role, Hawkins will continue to drive the planning and execution of Gwinnett County’s comprehensive marketing and communication strategies, overseeing a variety of initiatives that showcase the destination’s diverse culinary, arts and cultural offerings. “I’m deeply passionate about my home, Gwinnett County, and the variety of experiences offered here, from global cuisine to outdoor adventure,” Hawkins added. “I’m honored to continue evolving in my role within the organization and continue leading our talented marketing team – who really are the best of the best – as we work together to spotlight everything that makes Gwinnett County a must-visit destination.” For more information on Explore Gwinnett, visit ExploreGwinnett.org . Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following @ExploreGwinnett on Instagram or ExploreGwinnett on Facebook. About Explore Gwinnett: Explore Gwinnett serves as the official tourism organization of Gwinnett County, which consists of 17 suburban cities northeast of Downtown Atlanta. Gwinnett County offers award-winning dining ranging from authentic Asian fare to southern delights, an abundance of shopping, arts programming, outdoor activities and more. Locals and tourists alike can explore various culinary offerings with special year-round events including Sippin' in the Suburbs: Food and Cocktails Tours and Seoul of the South Food Tours. Gwinnett County is a flourishing community for artists which benefits from the Explore Gwinnett-managed Gwinnett Creativity Fund. Explore Gwinnett works to increase economic impact and promote Gwinnett County as a tourism destination by serving over 100 hotels and over $1 billion in annual visitor expenditures. In addition to its booming tourism industry, Explore Gwinnett also leads the Gwinnett Film Commission, supporting Gwinnett County’s thriving production ecosystem for film/television.

Industry Briefs

VICTORIA HAWKINS PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT AT EXPLORE GWINNETT

Industry Veteran Brings Deep Expertise in Tourism Marketing and Destination Growth to Expanded Leadership Role

Explore Gwinnett , the destination marketing organization for Gwinnett County, recently announced the promotion of Victoria Hawkins to vice president of marketing and destination development. Hawkins celebrated 18 years with the organization in 2025 and has had an impressive journey, advancing through marketing leadership roles and helping shape Gwinnett County’s strategic vision through the development of signature activations such as Gwinnett Burger Week, Seoul of the South™ Tour, Gwinnett Beer Week and ARTober.

“Victoria’s leadership has played a critical role in the evolution of Explore Gwinnett and the destination’s growth,” said Lisa Anders, chief operating officer. “This promotion reflects Victoria’s dedication to our mission of elevating Gwinnett County’s regional profile, and honors the impact she has made over the years—positioning Gwinnett County as the destination of choice for visitors and businesses.”

In 2025, Hawkins spearheaded development of the destination’s new Seoul of the South™ Pass, Gwinn & Tonic Cocktail Contest and inaugural PartnerPalooza, an event that connected and educated local hospitality partners on growing their businesses. She played an instrumental role in the launch of the 2023 “Detour from the Default” campaign, which positioned Gwinnett as an ideal destination for conferences and events following the expansion of the Gas South Convention Center. A Gwinnett County native herself, Hawkins was honored with the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives at the Georgia Tourism Awards in 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

In her elevated role, Hawkins will continue to drive the planning and execution of Gwinnett County’s comprehensive marketing and communication strategies, overseeing a variety of initiatives

that showcase the destination’s diverse culinary, arts and cultural offerings.

“I’m deeply passionate about my home, Gwinnett County, and the variety of experiences offered here, from global cuisine to outdoor adventure,” Hawkins added. “I’m honored to continue evolving in my role within the organization and continue leading our talented marketing team – who really are the best of the best – as we work together to spotlight everything that makes Gwinnett County a must-visit destination.”

For more information on Explore Gwinnett, visit ExploreGwinnett.org . Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following @ExploreGwinnett on Instagram or ExploreGwinnett on Facebook.

About Explore Gwinnett:

Explore Gwinnett serves as the official tourism organization of Gwinnett County, which consists of 17 suburban cities northeast of Downtown Atlanta. Gwinnett County offers award-winning dining ranging from authentic Asian fare to southern delights, an abundance of shopping, arts programming, outdoor activities and more. Locals and tourists alike can explore various culinary offerings with special year-round events including Sippin' in the Suburbs: Food and Cocktails Tours and Seoul of the South Food Tours. Gwinnett County is a flourishing community for artists which benefits from the Explore Gwinnett-managed Gwinnett Creativity Fund. Explore Gwinnett works to increase economic impact and promote Gwinnett County as a tourism destination by serving over 100 hotels and over $1 billion in annual visitor expenditures. In addition to its booming tourism industry, Explore Gwinnett also leads the Gwinnett Film Commission, supporting Gwinnett County’s thriving production ecosystem for film/television.