Along with the Airport’s dramatic reduction in passenger traffic, Savannah, Hilton Head Island, and the Golden Isles have suffered from a complete loss of leisure travelers due to the impacts of COVID-19. As businesses begin opening up and restrictions on travel are lifted, the Airport needs to take the lead with both destination marketing organizations to relay the  “Open For Business” message to our top-flight origination markets and to assist in their efforts to bring visitors back. The Airport’s plan is to commit surge marketing dollars to each organization. In return, the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport logo will be included in all advertising, and the campaigns will be focused on Savannah’s key markets. The funding is allowed under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) revenue use guidelines that allow for paying a share of the costs for destination marketing if the advertising or promotional material includes the Airport.  This is not a budgeted item, but funding is available through the FAA CARES Act Grant to Airports. This surge investment is essential to help restore lost air service to our market. Failure to take this action will likely result in lost routes and potential loss of air carriers, long term.

 Approval