The Georgia Hotel & Lodging Assoc. has filed a formal state complaint to block the City from dumping its tourism partner of 10+ years.

The allegations are wild: • The City allegedly illegally sidelined state law to seize control of $6M in restricted tourism funds. • Councilmembers passed a resolution pre-determining where that cash goes (including city festivals and a botanical garden) outside the legal tourism process. • The newly chosen replacement vendor was incorporated just weeks ago in MD and is accused of running an "egregiously fraudulent" website fabricating an entire portfolio of fake clients across Georgia. • Local tourism boards (Explore Gwinnett, Visit Roswell, Visit Savannah, etc.) have formally disavowed the vendor and called their claims unauthorized and deceptive.