Valdosta 25th Anniversary Gala & Awards
With Andrew Davis
Hi Patrick,
I'm so happy Dave connected us! It was fantastic speaking with you about the Valdosta 25th anniversary celebration at the Rainwater Conference Center. I love the vision you have for this milestone event—combining the gala with the Rose Awards to recognize the incredible hospitality and independent businesses that make Valdosta special. I loved hearing about your time at the Miami Seaquarium!
After our conversation, I spent some time thinking about the perfect keynote for your 25th anniversary celebration. I'm excited to present "The Laws of Attraction" at your Saturday night gala. I'm also looking forward to meeting with key industry leaders on Friday to better understand the unique opportunities for Valdosta as more than just a gateway to Florida, but as a destination worth exploring in its own right.
Below, you'll find the session description we crafted for the event as well as everything that's included in our fee. You'll also find an overview of the event experiences we've created for over 250,000 attendees in the last decade.
I'm looking forward to making the 25th anniversary celebration a truly memorable milestone for the Rainwater Conference Center and the entire Valdosta community!
Let's make this milestone unforgettable!
Andrew Davis
(617) 290-0480
Keynote Session
Valdosta 25th Anniversary Gala & Awards
Triumphs, Anomalies & Myths
How daring destinations use simple stories to attract visitors from around the world
We're good at marketing and promoting Valdosta's attractions, virtues, and values. We create compelling imagery, poetic prose and produce impressive videos all designed to inspire others to visit.
But what story is Valdosta telling?
It turns out some of the most successful destinations in the world leverage the prophetic power of origin stories to transform their economies. They target a specific audience, understand their passions and craft a simple tale designed to elicit an emotion. Why? Because emotion leads to action, while reason leads to conclusions.
For three years, former television producer and marketing agency executive Andrew Davis crisscrossed America uncovering the simple things smart cities and towns do to attract visitors year-in and year-out and what he found is incredible.
In this exhilarating keynote presentation at the Rainwater Conference Facility's 25th anniversary gala, Andrew Davis will show you how others have built flourishing economies by telling their story. You'll learn how visionaries have transformed entire cities from quick stops into extended-stay destinations and how origin stories create a powerful sense of place that fills hotel rooms and increases visitor spending. He'll challenge you to change the way you describe Valdosta beyond being just a gateway to Florida and show why your story will determine your future success in capturing those valuable overnight guests.
Whether you're a Rose Award nominee, a hospitality professional, or a tourism stakeholder looking to increase "heads in beds," you'll discover how Valdosta's unique identity—beyond just Azaleas—can become your strongest asset in converting pass-through traffic into visitors who stay longer and spend more.
What's Valdosta's story, and who does it serve?
Audience's Love Drew Davis
Inspiring and Fresh Ideas!
“Our audience said Andrew was wonderful—engaging, super entertaining, and packed with fresh ideas. One of the best speakers of the whole event!”
Deborah Burns
|
Executive Director
A Conference Standout
"We heard from so many attendees that Andrew's presentation was the highlight of the conference, and Drewdini’s song was so fun—a great addition to the morning!"
Jennifer Roush
|
Vice President of Operations
Informative & Fun!
"Andrew's talk was not only informative but also very entertaining. I will recommend him to everyone and hope we get to work together again."
Kenley Early
|
Marketing Director
Promotion & Preparation
I'm all about filling minds and getting your attendees pumped up and ready for the event. Whether it's an awesome video or a captivating podcast interview, I've got you covered in the excitement department.
That's not all! A remarkable keynote requires some serious prep work. That means I take the time to understand your audience inside out and customize the presentation to make a real impact.
During The Event
I believe in maximizing the value I bring to your event.
Whenever possible, I stay for the entire day. This allows attendees to engage with me, seek answers to their questions, and gain more from their experience.
I'm available for activities like book signings, breakout sessions, cocktail hour mingling, panel participation, VIP lunches, or office hours. I'm flexible and eager to collaborate.
Let's brainstorm together on how we can make your event unforgettable.
Post-Event Support
Our goal is to streamline your post-event process, making it enjoyable and impactful. Within 24 hours of the event conclusion, we deliver: a shareable presentation deck for attendees; a concise motivational video for post-event inspiration; a podcast or blog post interview recapping the event; and an optional follow-up virtual session to reinforce key insights.
Our commitment is to ensure that the event's value extends well beyond the closing remarks.
Our Fee Includes Everything
- One 45-Minute Virtual Keynote
- One 45-Minute In-Person Keynote
- One 60-Minute Live (Pre-Event) Virtual Event
- One 3-Minute Custom Promo Video
- Roundtrip Airfare
- Hotel Accommodations
- Ground Transportation
- 5 Cases of Town, Inc. (190 Books)
$18,000.00
Next Steps:
Valdosta 25th Anniversary Gala & Awards
I have put Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th 2025 on hold for you and the Valdosta leadership team. Please let me know if you have any questions at all. Elizabeth and I are happy to help and can send along a speaker agreement for you to review when you're ready.
Looking forward to this!
Andrew Davis
(617)290-0480
Andrew Davis is a bestselling author & keynote speaker. He's built and sold a digital marketing agency, produced for NBC and worked for The Muppets. Today, Andrew Davis teaches business leaders how to grow their businesses, transform their cities, and leave their legacy.
