16 August 2017
IGLTA Recognizes William Pate of the ACVB
William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta CVB, received an award of appreciation from IGLTA for his
commitment to diversity and inclusion and ensuring Atlanta remains a welcoming destination for
conventions and tourists alike on 16 August during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition 2017 in
Toronto. When Georgia Senate Bill 129, referred to as the Georgian Religious Freedom and Restoration
Act, was introduced during the 2015 legislative session, Pate immediately rallied his team at the
Atlanta CVB to gather compelling information to fight this harmful anti-gay legislation. His swift,
preemptive actions to collaborate with the local business community against this bill were
instrumental in its defeat. The following year, HB 757, a similar bill, was introduced but the
Atlanta CVB was already armed with powerful independent data that underscored the damaging economic
effects this bill would have. Once again, the bill did not make it into law. His visionary actions
are a model for other states that are now engaging in similar attacks on equality. Pate presented a
case study on the topic during LGBTQ+ Week in New York City earlier this year.
Photo: Shown here (left to right) at Toronto's Lee Restaurant during the ASAE Annual Meeting &
Exposition: John Tanzella, President & CEO, IGLTA; William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta
Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB); and Dan Melesurgo, Vice President of Strategic
Partnerships, ASAE, IGLTA Immediate Past Chair. (photo by Chuck Fazio)
Photo: May 16, 2017 William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau at
Google NYC, presenting case study during LGBTQ+ Week NYC 2017
