It's Convention Time for Insurors of TN

I hope you have all had an enjoyable Summer and found some time to relax and unwind with your friends and family. Summer in Tennessee is such a great time of the year with so many beautiful parks and lakes to enjoy across the state. We are fortunate to be blessed with such natural beauty, rich history, and great attractions to enjoy across our state. It is no wonder Tennessee is one of the leading destinations for travelers across the country and around the world. Tennessee reached a record $27.5 billion in visitor spending in 2022, marking a $3 billion increase (+14%) over 2021, according to U.S. Travel. Travel spending propelled Tennessee to 11th in the nation in 2021 and 2022, up from its previous record of 14 in 2020. The industry contributed $1.8 billion in actual sales tax collections in 2022 helping to fund initiatives from Bristol to Memphis. So, the next time someone looks like they might be lost, or they hesitate at an intersection please be patient and kind as they might be a visitor exploring our spectacular state.

With Fall quickly approaching that means two things. It is “football time in Tennessee” using the iconic words of John Ward and it is convention time for the Insurors of Tennessee. This year Insurefest is being held in Knoxville from October 21-24, 2023, at the Downtown Marriott just across from the Knoxville Convention Center and World’s Fair Park. This is the first time we have been back to Knoxville with the event since 2015.

This year we are celebrating the 130th anniversary of our association and have a great conference planned. We are excited to offer a content rich event that will provide you with valuable information you can share with your staff and leverage to advance the operation of your agencies.

We are pleased to welcome Bill Wilson, CPCU, ARM, AIM, AAM back to the convention where he will be giving a compelling presentation based on his book “When Worlds Collide: Resolving Insurance Coverage and Claims Disputes”. Bill Wilson has deep roots with this association and the Big “I” at the national level and is widely recognized as one of the foremost insurance experts in our nation. You will want to be sure to see his presentation on Monday. To learn more about Bill see his full biography at www. insurancecommentary.com.

We are also offering an InsureTech Panel featuring Chip Bacciocco of TC.com, Jason Walker, President of Agency Revolution and Lou Moran III, Chair of the IIABA InsurTech Taskforce where they will discuss the impact InsurTech is having on our business and may have in the future. Martin & Zerfoss and Chubb are presenting a Recreational Marine CE Course to keep you current on the latest trends and coverage issues on the water.

There will also be organized events including a Fall cruise on the Tennessee River and an outing at Top Golf in Knox- ville to give members the opportunity to relax and find time to renew old friendships and make new ones.

On Monday night, we cleared the schedule for Company Night to allow sponsors and companies the opportunity to host events and gather with members. We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to spend quality time with each other. In talking with many of our more senior members, the one constant between all of them is how much they enjoyed and valued the relationships they formed through the Insurors of Tennessee over the years. Even in this age of social media, high speed internet and artificial intelligence, gathering with people in person and building relationships matters. Perhaps it matters more now than ever.

If you have not yet registered for Insurefest, now is a good time to get that done since the convention is rapidly approaching. In addition to agency principals and other leaders, we encourage Young Agents from across the state to attend and get involved. You can register for Insurefest by visiting the Insurors of Tennessee website at www.insurors. org and clicking on the Events tab. We look forward to seeing you all in Knoxville in a couple of months. u