California cuisine and conversation impresses at Atlanta Media Dinner

Top travel and lifestyle media gathered for an exclusive California-inspired evening at LowCountry Steak, hosted by Visit California and eight tourism partners. The Atlanta Media Dinner offered a dynamic platform for connection, storytelling and celebration of the Golden State’s diverse destinations.

TV personality and James Beard-nominated Chef G. Garvin, who spent years working in high-profile kitchens in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, curated a one-night-only California menu that set the tone for the evening.

Attendees included 23 top-tier journalists and influencers representing outlets like Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, TODAY, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Access Atlanta and others. Guests were welcomed with cocktails and mocktails by Oakland mixologist Shirin Raza, owner of Bar Shiru, whose creations highlighted the inventive spirit of California’s Bay Area.

During dinner, Angie Pappas, Associate Vice President of External Affairs and Media at Visit California, shared highlights from the organization’s latest campaign, “Playful Journeys,” and provided updates on Los Angeles’ tourism recovery. Each partner offered a short “elevator pitch” to share new and noteworthy stories from their destination or business.

The evening wrapped with dessert and networking, plus raffles for two curated California getaways courtesy of Visit Fresno County and Visit Greater Palm Springs. Downtown Napa also contributed wine to the event’s branded gift bags.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive:

• Su-Jit Lin, Eater: “Thank you again for the invitation to a wonderful event. I am headed out to San Jose this weekend, actually, so this was a great reminder of how diverse the state is. Appreciate it and kudos on a party well thrown!”
• @standbywithadrie / @standbywithadrie: “The event was a great experience! It was a pleasure meeting all of the partners, your colleagues, and content creators! The restaurant was great and I will be sure to visit again since it is in my neighborhood! The decor and branded activation was also really nice. Thanks again for inviting me.”
• @goanniewhere / @goanniewhere: “Thanks so much for having me – it was so much fun getting to meet everyone 😊”
• @allofdeasha: “I just wanted to thank you for the invitation to such a beautifully curated dinner with Visit California. It was truly a pleasure connecting with so many incredible tourism boards, creators and journalists – the experience was both inspiring and exciting! I’m genuinely looking forward to visiting and exploring. Everything about the event was amazing – thank you again for including me!”

The Atlanta Media Dinner was the first of two smaller-scale events in FY24/25 focused on intimate, high-impact engagement. The second will take place in Denver in May 2025.

To learn more about upcoming opportunities, sign up for Visit California’s Public Relations newsletter, or contact Visit California’s Director of Public Relations Kristen Bonilla.