Bonaventure Cemetery had record visitors
The Bonaventure Historical Society had a record number of guest registrations at its Saturday and Sunday Visitors Center desk in 2014. The 19,771 people registered as coming through the gates also brought the number of sign-in visitors to more than 110,000 since the visitors center began operating in 1997.
“This total does not include visitors who attended the free guided tours provided the weekend of the second Sunday of each month nor the specially scheduled tours requested by tour companies and affinity groups,” said Lee Maltenfort, chairman of the society.
Bonaventure has been recognized by CNNTravel.com and Travel+Leisure.com as among the most beautiful cemeteries in the world and is ranked among the top five free attractions in Savannah by TripAdvisor.
Of the nearly 20,000 visitors, 795 came from 40 foreign countries, with Canada leading the list at 272, followed by England with 112.
Savannah ranks on ‘irresponsible’ list
According to badcredit.org, based in Gainesville, Fla., Savannah is the 15th most financially irresponsible city in the country.
Drawing on data from Experian’s fifth annual State of Credit report, the website analyzed more than 200 cities and metropolitan areas.
Savannahians had an average credit score of 638, average debt of $29,894, average balance on credit cards of $4,653 and a credit utilization ratio of 35 percent — that’s the ratio of your credit card debt to your credit limits.
The website described Savannah as “a popular tourist destination thanks to its wealth of pristine historic architecture, warm sandy beaches and colorful paranormal community.
“Savannah has plenty of assets to make it thrive economically: prime position on I-95, an international airport and centuries of industrial development dating back to English colonial ventures,” the organization wrote. “However, it seems like its citizens are struggling to match the city’s economic prosperity.”
Deadline extended for award nominations
The Savannah Tourism Leadership Council has extended the deadline to Jan. 30 for nominations for the 17th Annual Tourism Awards.
Each year, the TLC honors the best of the best in Savannah through this black-tie dinner that recognizes the 24,000 people who work in the tourism industry.
Awards are given to frontline employees and management-level employees who go above and beyond their jobs and are nominated by their colleagues or guests. They will be honored at the 17th Annual Tourism Awards & Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, March 5, at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.SavannahTourismAwards.com.