Tennessee Notes - Volume 2 Issue 4

An Official Publication of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association

Volume 2, Issue 4

The 2017

LEGISLATIVE YEAR Is Full of Important Issues 2016 Stars of the Industry Recap

The Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Notes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright Š2017 by the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. Notes is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the editor for contribution information. Advertising: For advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 3

8

10

CONTENTS | Volume 2, Issue 4 Features

Departments

8

Government Relations

6

2017 Legislative Year Is Full of Important Issues, Plus TnHTA Day on the Hill, March 7–8

From the 2016 TnHTA Chair, Tom Leventhal

7

From the 2017 TnHTA Chair, Darik Dawes

12

Welcome, New TnHTA Members

13

Index of Advertisers

10

Recent Event 2016 Stars of the Industry

14

TnHTA and Industry 2017 Calendar of Events

Ongoing Sevier County Relief Needs The communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are still in need of specific assistance following the wildfires of 2016, particularly in the area of volunteers. TnHTA is committed to ongoing assistance to the area and encourages all of our member businesses and organizations to participate in helping our east Tennessee friends and industry partners.

If you would like more information on how you can volunteer and/or donate to the Sevier County wildfire relief, please visit www.mountaintough.org.

Also, we can all help by spreading the word that Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are open for business! This is an important travel season for the area, and encouraging visitation to the region will go a long way in helping the hospitality and tourism industry in Sevier County.

4 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

An official publication of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association 475 Craighead Street l Nashville, TN 37204 l T: 615-385-9970 l F: 615-385-9957 l john@tnhta.net l www.tnhta.net

Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street l Franklin, TN 37064 l T: 615-790-3718 l F: 615-794-4525 l info@leadingedgecommunications.com l www.leadingedgecommunications.com Tennessee Notes Editor: John Whisenant, TnHTA | Managing Editor: Liz Nutter, Leading Edge Communications

2017 TnHTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

* Denotes Executive Committee Member

2017 OFFICERS

Kimberly Carlson Memphis Restaurant Association

Johnny Hill Holiday Inn, Pigeon Forge

Darik Dawes (2017 Chair)* MainStay Suites, Chattanooga

Dottie Clabough Wilderness at the Smokies, Sevierville

Steve Holmes Cornerstone Insurance Group

Bo Connor (Vice Chair)* Connor Concepts Wayne Tabor (Secretary/Treasurer)* Holiday Inn Select, Downtown Memphis Tom Loventhal (Immediate Past Chair)* Noshville Delicatessen

Carol Agee Dollywood Entertainment Park, Pigeon Forge Andrea Anderson Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association Martha Axford* ABC Design and Consulting, LLC, Knoxville Strategic Planning Chair Regena Bearden Memphis CVB Lauren Boggs Uncle Donald’s Restaurants, Memphis Shannon Bowles* Marriott, Nashville Airport AH&LA Representative Ben Brock Amerigo Italian Restaurant, Nashville Doug Browne The Peabody Hotel, Memphis Fred Bullard Hilton Garden Inn, Knoxville West Kim Bumpas* Visit Knoxville Non-Dues Revenue & Governor’s Conference Chair

Don Collier Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance, Nashville Christie Connatser* Hampton Inn, Gatlinburg Local Association Chair Ron Crivellone Smokey Mountain Wedding Association, Gatlinburg Claire Crowell Puckett’s 5th & Church, Nashville

Anthony House Chick-fil-A, Memphis Brad Ivens Eagles Ridge Resort, Pigeon Forge Patrick Jordon Westin Memphis Beale Street Anita Lane* Hampton Inn & Suites, Downtown Knoxville Communications/PR Chair

Tom Cupo The Chattanoogan Hotel & Conference Center

Jackie Leatherwood* Greystone Lodge on the River, Gatlinburg Membership Chair

Shawn Danko* Kooky Canuck, Memphis Restaurant Caucus Chair

Dee Lundy Lundy & Assoc., Knoxville

Cornelia Dobbins Hilton Garden Inn, Gatlinburg

Ken Maples* Comfort Inn & Suites, Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge Past Chair

Bob Dollinger 3H Group Hotels, Chattanooga Troy Edwards Sysco Nashville, LLC Anne Marie Famalette Courtyard by Marriott, Collierville Michael Gibson* Gibson Hotel Management, Inc., Knoxville TnHTEF Chair Ben Goldberg Strategic Hospitality, Nashville

Andy Marshall* Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, A. Marshall Family Foods, Inc. Government Relations Chair Brenda McCroskey Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Jeff Messinger* Mt. Vernon Restaurant, Chattanooga NRA Representative

Gary Hahn Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Memphis

Hugh Morrow* Lookout Mountain Attractions, Chattanooga Tourism Caucus Chair

Jacob Hall Rutherford Co. Hospitality Assn.

Lori Nunnery Jackson CVB

Theresa Harrington Clarksville/Montgomery Co. CVB

Ray Ogle* The Inn at Christmas Place, Pigeon Forge TnHTPAC Chair

Rick Cadena Courtyard by Marriott, Hamilton Place, Chattanooga

Dan Haskell Gullett, Sanford, Robinson, & Martin, PLLC, Nashville, TN

Phil Campbell Leconte Center of Pigeon Forge

Tom Headla Bluff Mountain Rentals

Lynne Overton Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Lenoir City

Mitch Patel Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Cookeville Dee Patel The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville Heetesh Patel* Neves Investments, Knoxville AAHOA Representative Scott Pejsa Homewood Suites by Hilton, Knoxville Tony Phillips Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville Mary Phillips Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg Chuck Pinkowski Pinkowski & Co., Memphis Michael Riley The Oliver Hotel Restaurant, Knoxville Deanna Ross Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association, Millington John Rothkopf MeadowView Marriott Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport John Rucker Key Magazine of Memphis Matt Scanlan Gullett, Sanford, Robinson, & Martin, PLLC, Nashville Jackelyn Schafer The Park Vista Hotel, Gatlinburg

Danny Sumrall* The Half Shell Restaurant, Memphis Past Chair Butch Sypridon Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation Bobby Tanner S&D Coffee, Inc., Chattanooga Kris Tatum Tennessee Distillers Guild, Nashville Jud Teague Kingsport CVB Mark Thomas Fee Headrick Entertainment, Pigeon Forge Karl Thomas* Inn on the River, Pigeon Forge Lodging Caucus Chair Jill Thompson Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association Mahasti Vafaie The Tomato Head, Knoxville Brenda Whitson Johnson City CVB Melissa Woody Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland

TnHTA STAFF Greg Adkins President & CEO

Paul Schramkowski* JHS Holdings, LLC, Nashville Audit Committee Chair

Lisa Bass Director of Membership & Business Development

Sarah Scokin Hampton Inn & Suites, Jackson

Jessica Cardwell Director of Finance & Administration

Pam Smith Bluff Mountain Rentals, Pigeon Forge

Sandi Goad Director of Member Services, Retention and Restaurant Liaison

Max Stephenson Puckett’s Chattanooga

Austin Schneider Director of Education

Jindy Strader InterContinental Hotels Group, Franklin

John Whisenant Director of Tourism

Radesh Palakurthi The University of Memphis Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 5

MESSAGE FROM THE 2016 CHAIRMAN

A Year of

MANY MAJOR SUCCESSES W

ith the coming of the new year, my term as chair of TnHTA has come to an end.

As I look back over 2016, I am amazed at how far we’ve come as an association and at what we’ve been able to accomplish by working together.

It was certainly a year of major government relations initiatives, and our association had some vital successes legislatively

and in terms of both our interaction with and influence on the governmental process as it affects our industry. We were able to assist our members with issues on the local, state and national level. Our PAC is strong and has grown to be one of the largest in Tennessee and in the nation, compared to other states’ hospitality and tourism PACs. This has allowed our association to actively support those individuals who are

supportive of our industry and our concerns. Our 2016 TnHTA Day on the Hill was a huge success, with great participation from all industry segments and all regions of Tennessee.

We had good growth in all of our membership categories, and we worked hard to make sure our members receive a good return on their investment by providing valuable services and benefits.

Our education programs experienced excellent growth over the year as we expanded our high school programs with 26 ProStart schools and 4 HTMP (Hospitality and Tourism Management Program) schools.

We also saw great success in our workforce-development programs, as well as in our professional-development programs, such as The Blizzard, the TnHTA Law Symposium and the 2016 Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism.

Organizationally, we are a strong and financially sound association with an excellent board and an experienced, skilled and dedicated staff.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our organization this year, and I look forward to continuing to be a part of the board leadership team under our incoming chair, Darik Dawes. I know that by working together in the year ahead as we have this past year, our association will build on the successes of 2016 and will continue to be the dynamic, unified voice of hospitality and tourism, Tennessee’s second largest industry.

Tom Loventhal 2016 TnHTA Chair

6 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

MESSAGE FROM THE 2017 CHAIRMAN

NEW INITIATIVES

for TnHTA This Year W

hat an exciting and successful year 2016 was! It presented many opportunities and challenges for TnHTA — and 2017 will be no different!

I can’t thank our 2016 chairman Tom Loventhal enough for his commitment, dedication and passion for the hospitality and tourism industry. I enjoyed working with him on many important initiatives last year.

The one that is most impressive was growing the TnHTA operational budget to over $1 million dollars for the first time in the association’s history.

This upcoming year, I’m excited to work with our staff team and association leadership as we focus on making TnHTA the most powerful trade association in Tennessee. I want to take the association to new heights, and I plan on doing that with many new initiatives. I have had several initial meetings with TnHTA president and CEO Greg Adkins, and we are working with the TnHTA board and executive committee to implement an aggressive marketing and growth strategy for 2017. It includes new member benefits, new strategic partners, new marketing and more innovative ways to communicate with TnHTA members.

Specifically, we will work on aggressively retooling our brand and the way it is executed through all our various platforms, website, communications tools and marketing materials. These initiatives are not going to be easy to execute and will take most of the year to complete, but by the end of 2017, I know you will notice these improvements.

It is also critical to continue the basics that we have worked so hard to make successful and that everyone participate in our activities throughout the year, including

the Day on the Hill, PAC events, ProStart, Spring Training CVB/DMO Conference, the Legal Symposium and the Annual TnHTA Governors Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, Tourism EXPO and TnHTA Food and Lodging Show.

Lastly, it is imperative that you help contribute to the PAC and recruit new members. Together, we can reach our overall goal: to become one of the strongest and most

powerful industry associations in the state and the recognized and respected voice for hospitality and tourism in the state.

I look forward to working with each of you over the next year to achieve that goal. Thank you for your continued membership and your support!

Darik Dawes 2017 TnHTA Chair

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 7

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

2017

Legislative Year Is Full of Important Issues

By Greg Adkins, TnHTA President & CEO • Contributing writers from TnHTA Lobbying Team: Dan Haskell, Matt Scanlan and Dustin Goforth

It’s

that time of year again.

The Tennessee Constitution requires that the Tennessee legislature start the legislative session the second week of January, and TnHTA is working on many issues for our members.

The TnHTA board of directors approved the legislative agenda for 2017 that includes many important initiatives for the hospitality and tourism industry.

The Tennessee hospitality and tourism industry is the second-largest industry in the state and supports more than 10% of the jobs, representing over $3.6 billion in payroll — that is an industry to be reckoned with! TnHTA’s ultimate legislative platform is to create and defend an environment that encourages the hospitality and tourism industry to thrive in Tennessee. The Association will aggressively oppose legislation or executive action that negatively impacts the business interests of hotels, restaurants and tourism partners.

Below are some specific issues for the 2017 legislative session.

Liquor TnHTA will file a bill to address specific liquor issues that could lead to less regula-

8 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

tion and enhance customer experience at both restaurants and lodging properties.

Some of those issues include clarifying when the liquor tax is reported on customer receipts, consistent regulations and fair liability to the owner of the food/lodging establishment for liquor violations.

Short-term rentals In the past decade, the internet has transformed the way we buy and sell goods and services, resulting in an explosion of new businesses. It is now extremely easy for an individual to advertise and rent a property such as a condo, cabin, house or even a room for short periods of time. Since these short-term rentals are fundamentally no different than regular lodging properties, it is only fair that those who make a profit from on-line or advertised rentals by owner should pay all applicable local and state lodging and occupancy taxes and comply with all local regulatory requirements.

Increasing the Tennessee Tourism Marketing Fund TnHTA has a long tradition of fighting for more tourism marketing dollars at the legislature, and we will work with the Depart-

ment of Tourism to advocate for more funding for direct marketing for tourism.

Extend summer vacation There has been a recent push by local education districts in Tennessee to make the summer vacation shorter and shorter. The impact on hospitality and tourism businesses is starting to take its toll on seasonal workers and on profitability for heavy seasonal tourism business. TnHTA will work with a coalition of marinas, parent advocates and a variety of tourism partners to advocate for more leeway for local education districts to lengthen summer vacation without hurting the quality of education a child receives.

The majority of our time every session is devoted to a variety of issues that affect the hospitality and tourism industry, and this session will be no different. There are early indications that the administration will consider a gas tax, and it is important to make sure there are not implications or fees associated for lodging properties.

As the Tennessee Legislature begins, we will resume our weekly legislative updates, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of our lobbying team. ✪

Mark Your Calendars, and Plan on Participating!

2017 TnHTA Day on the Hill March 7 & 8 • Nashville Tuesday, March 7 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Legislative Reception Sheraton Downtown Nashville Wednesday, March 8 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Pancakes & Politics Breakfast with Legislators & Staffers Legislative Plaza Cafeteria 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

General Session and Guest Speakers Sheraton Downtown Nashville 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meetings with Legislators Legislative Plaza

Event details and registration available at

www.TnHTA.net

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 9

STARS OF THE INDUSTRY

2

0

1

6

of the STARS

INDUSTRY

By Austin White, TnHTA Director of Education

The

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association honored its 2016 industry statewide all stars at the annual “Stars of the Industry” Awards Gala, held Thursday, September 22, in conjunction with the 2016 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism. The “Stars of the Industry Awards” are presented to individuals, companies and industry partners whose commitment to hospitality and tourism has improved the overall industry statewide and has allowed the industry to “wow” guests on a daily basis.

2016 Hotelier of the Year Karl Thomas, The Inn on the River With 40+ years of professional-level hotel/ motel management, corporate administration and sales and marketing experience, Karl’s jobs included being executive vice president of a 30-unit chain and a hotel manager for over 20 years, and he was also a regional operations manager for 59 hotels in 6 states. In June 2010, Karl became managing partner of the Inn on the River in Pigeon Forge. Since Karl took over the management and sales, The Inn on the River has increased in sales by 173% and has consistently been ranked as a premier hotel in Pigeon Forge by TripAdvisor.

10 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

Karl serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association, Pigeon Forge Hospitality Association, Western Carolina Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Board, the University of Tennessee Hospitality Advisory Board, the Southern Highlands Attractions Association Board and many more. Karl is also a partner with Dee Lundy as owner of LundyThomas advertising and PR agency, which specializes in tourism marketing and

publishing. He was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2015.

2016 Restaurateur of the Year Max Poppel, Flying Squirrel Max Poppel is an unassuming businessman who has avoided the spotlight despite being

2016 Stars of the Industry Top Award Winners (left to right): Karl Thomas, Hotelier of the Year; Bob Doak, Tourism Professional of the Year; and Max Poppel, Restauranteur of the Year.

2016 STARS of the INDUSTRY Award Winners a driving force behind two highly visible projects in Chattanooga’s Southside: The Crash Pad and Flying Squirrel. He moved to Chattanooga in 2005, and after serving several years with a small local consulting firm, he set out on his own, partnering with a college friend to launch The Crash Pad (a boutique hostel) and the Flying Squirrel Bar (a neighborhood bar and restaurant in the developing Main Street neighborhood of Chattanooga).

Adhering to his company’s core value to give back to the community, Max has volunteered his time in many ways, schooling kids in math and finance, organizing fundraisers at both businesses and putting in hours with organizations like the Food Bank and Orange Grove in addition to the several land trusts and climbing-advocacy groups that protect our natural recreational resources.

2016 Tourism Professional of the Year Bob Doak, Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau

Destination Marketing Organization of the Year

Restaurant Manager of the Year – Chain

Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce

James Lee, Huey’s Restaurants

TnHTA Attraction of the Year Ruby Falls

TnHTA Preferred Vendor of the Year M&M Production USA

Women in Tourism & Hospitality Leader of the Year

Erik Niel, Easy Bistro & Bar

Chef of the Year – Chain Jeremy Dobson, Holiday Inn Nashville Airport

Tourism Employee of the Year – Large Organization

Pam Smith, Bluff Mountains Rentals

Jamie Cunningham, Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum

TnHTA Young Professional Emerging Leader of the Year

Tourism Manager of the Year – Small Organization

Caroline Fleming, Westin Memphis Beale Street

Community Service Award – Restaurant Huey’s Restaurants

Community Service Award – Lodging Property Holiday Inn Vanderbilt

Bob Doak has spent more than 30 years working in the hospitality and tourism industry. Because of his vast experience, he was named CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2002. As the CVB head, Bob directs the efforts of the $8 million organization that focuses on increasing the economic impact to Hamilton County by marketing the area to potential tourists, meeting planners and sporting event organizers. The economic impact of tourism in Chattanooga has doubled during Bob’s 14-year tenure at the Chattanooga CVB. He was recently named one of the most “influential business leaders” in Chattanooga by CityScope® Magazine.

Bob serves as a board member for numerous civic organizations, including ArtsBuild of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Chattanooga Hospitality Association, Chattanooga Sports Committee, Governor Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Tourism Committee, Thrive 2055 and the University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Roundtable. ✪

Chef of the Year – Independent

Community Service Award – Tourism Organization Visit Knoxville

Special Event Award – Lodging Property Gatlinburg Festival of Trees, Hospitality Solutions

Special Event Award – Tourism Organization

Kara Van Brunt, Ruby Falls

Tourism Manager of the Year – Large Organization Dave Jones, Tennessee Department of Tourism

Lodging Employee of the Year – Small Property Corey Banks, The Crash Pad

Lodging Employee of the Year – Large Property Cory Lavine, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Lodging Manager of the Year – Small Property Angela Pitts, Holiday Inn Express & Suites- Kodak East- Sevierville

See Rock City

Lodging Manager of the Year – Large Property

Restaurant Employee of the Year – Independent Property

Sharon Wigfall, Chattanooga Choo Choo

Wolfgang Schmitz, Flying Squirrel

Restaurant Employee of the Year – Chain

Lodging General Manager of the Year – Small Property

Anna Cade, Huey’s Restaurants

Christie Connatser, Hampton Inn Gatlinburg

Restaurant Manager of the Year – Independent

Lodging General Manager of the Year – Large Property

Christy Sheffield, Cherokee Grill

Mark Giovetti, The Inn at Opryland Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 11

WELCOME, NEW TnHTA MEMBERS

Welcome, New and

Returning TnHTA Members!

(May 1 – December 30, 2016) Associate Adventure Science Center, Nashville Anne Marie Prenticee Bonita Kolb Carr & Associates City of Hohenwald Columbia State Community College H. W. Creek Properties RAZurburg & Associates

Construction 21c Museum Hotel, Nashville Thompson Hotel, Nashville GuestHouse at Graceland

Lodging 121 Flats, LLC Bear Pen Gap Resort, Sevierville Commodore Hotel and Café, Linden Courtyard by Marriott, Gatlinburg Courtyard by Marriott, Pigeon Forge Days Inn, North Nashville Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Nashville Metro Center FedEx Family House, Memphis Holiday Inn, Chattanooga / Hamilton Place Holiday Inn, University of Memphis Holiday Inn at University of Memphis Home 2 Suites, Knoxville Homewood Suites by Hilton, Nashville/Franklin Kimpton Aertson Hotel, Nashville Magnuson Grand Hotel, Memphis Margaritaville Island Hotel, Pigeon Forge Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville Radisson Hotel, Nashville Airport Sleep Inn Suites, Smyrna 12 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

The Retreat at Center Hill Lake, Smithville Thompson Hotel, Nashville Tri Delta Place, Memphis Twin Creeks Marina & Resort, Winchester Sobro Guest House, Nashville Union Station Hotel, Nashville

Restaurants Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, Clarksville Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, Knoxville Bullfish Grill, Pigeon Forge Catherine & Mary’s, Memphis Coco’s Italian Market, Nashville Easy Bistro Firehouse Subs #468, #498, #800, #598 and #774, Murfreesboro Firehouse Subs #506 and #627, Goodlettesville Firehouse Subs #678, Cookeville Firehouse Subs #526, #561 and #1019, Brentwood Firehouse Subs #889, #1263, Clarksville Flying Squirrel Restaurant & Bar Fogo de Chao Harvest at Homestead Manor Restaurant Hog & Hominy, Memphis Italian Kitchen Long John Silvers, Bristol Long John Silvers, Clinton Long John Silvers, Columbia Long John Silvers, Cookeville Long John Silvers, Crossville Long John Silvers, Fayetteville Long John Silvers, Greeneville Long John Silvers, Harriman Long John Silvers, Kingsport, East Stone Drive Long John Silvers, Kingsport, Ft. Henry Drive

Long John Silvers, Knoxville, Magnolia Avenue Long John Silvers, Knoxville, North Broadway Long John Silvers, Knoxville, Western Avenue Long John Silvers, Lawrenceburg Long John Silvers, Morristown, Andrew Johnson Highway Long John Silvers, Morristown, East Morris Boulevard Long John Silvers, Oak Ridge Long John Silvers, Pulaski Long John Silvers, Seymor Long John Silvers, Winchester Long John Silvers / A&W, Dickson Long John Silvers / A&W, Lafollette Long John Silvers / A&W, Madison Long John Silvers / A&W, Murfreesboro Long John Silvers / A&W, Newport Long John Silvers / A&W, Smyrna McAlister’s Deli ML Rose Craft Beer and Burgers (Charlotte Avenue, Nashville) ML Rose Craft Beer and Burgers (Franklin Pike, Nashville) Paula Dean’s Family Kitchen Porcellino’s Craft Butcher, Memphis Scoreboard Bar & Grill, Nashville Taco Bell, Dayton Taco Bell, Erwin Taco Bell, Knoxville, Kingston Pike Taco Bell, Knoxville, Millertown Pike Taco Bell, Tazewell Taco Bell / Long John Silver, Dandridge Taco Bell / Pizza Hut, Dunlap Ten/27 Grille, Spring Hill The Sutler Saloon, Nashville Three Jimmy’s, Gatlinburg Timberwood Grill, Pigeon Forge Tom + Chee

Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Nashville Airport Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville

Tourism Amqui Station Visitor Center, Nashville Anderson County Tourism Council Benton County/Camden Chamber of Commerce Birthplace of Country Music Bristol Convention & Visitors Bureau Buford Pusser Home and Museum Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center – SMG Knoxville Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce Discovery Park of America Fayetteville-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Giles County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce Greater Nashville Regional Council Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum – SMG Knoxville Leiper’s Fork Distillery Loudon County Visitors Bureau Manchester Tourism & Community Development Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Polk County Chamber of Commerce Rhea County Economic & Tourism Council, Inc. Solar Adventure Tower, Nashville Southeast Festivals & Events Association Sumner County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association Town of Collierville, Division of Tourism Veloce Indoor Speedway Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville

Preferred Vendor AARP Media Sales (Zoeller Media Sales) Above the Rest Balloon & Event AC Furniture Company Advance Travel & Tourism AmeriPride Aqua Clear Water Systems Apex Works, Restoration Service Exports Aseptic Health Atech, Inc., Nashville Atlas Management Corporation Bay Lakes Information Systems BirthdayPak of Tennessee Blink Marketing Blue Ridge Country Magazine CANA Wine Company CBRE, Inc. Coast 2 Coast Crosslin & Associates, PLLC Dauble Miser Worthington Direct Fitness Solutions Draft Beer Service, Inc. Duranc, Inc. Dynamark Graphics Group Eco Grip Emergency Restoration Services (ERS) ESS, Inc. Extreme Networks Hackney Contract Furniture Holes to Go, LLC Hoodz of Nashville and Chattanooga Horton Group Inova Payroll

Inspired Homes iReponze Journal Communications Kelsan, Inc., Knoxville Laurie Rowe Communications Travel Media Leading Edge Communications, LLC Lifeway Christian Resources MCAG (Managed Care Advisory Group) Micktel, LLC Mutual of America Old Forge Distillery Pay Half Club Perimeter Park Executive Center Pinnacle Hospitality Partners, LLC PivoTek Pollock Printing Populace Premier Travel Media Price and Ramey Insurance PT Devonshire Push Pedal Pull Quest Events ReachLocal Renaissance Bookkeeping Serve 1st Electronic Payment Solutions ServePro of Williamson County Sky Touch Technology Smithfield Farmland Sojern Tennessee Department of Agriculture The Farmer’s Perk Organic Coffee Co. The Shopping Center Group ThermoSound Windows Tyco Simplex Grinnell US Bank Visions Travel VMC Facilities WellBeing Hygiene ✪

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

AAA - The Auto Club Group ............... 3 www.AAA.com

Kooky Canuck ..................................... 7 www.kookycanuck.com

Purity Dairies, Inc. ... Inside Front Cover www.puritydairies.com

Anderson Benson Insurance ................ 6 www.AndersonBenson.com

M. Gibson Hotel Group ............. Inside Back Cover www.mgibsonhotels.com

Sysco, LLC ........................... Back Cover www.sysco.com

Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, PLLC .................. 9 www.GSRM.com

Nolan’s Audio Visual, Inc. .................... 3 www.nolansav.com Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 13

TnHTA AND INDUSTRY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2017 TnHTA and

Industry Calendar of Events February 24

March 28–29

June 22–23

October 4

TN Hospitality & Tourism Education Foundation Fundraising Event Nashville, TN

National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference Washington, DC

ISHAE Summer Meeting Chicago, IL

TnHTPAC Golf Tournament Gatlinburg, TN

July 12–14 February 25

April 19–20

TnHTEF ProStart Invitational Spring Hill, TN

Spring Training TnHTA CVB/DMO Conference Manchester, TN

March 7

April 28–30

Women in Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Reception Nashville, TN

2017 National ProStart Invitational Charleston, SC

Destination Marketing Association International Convention Montreal, Quebec

July 13 TnHTA Law Symposium Nashville, TN

October 5 Tennessee Tourism EXPO and Tennessee Food & Lodging Show Gatlinburg, TN

October 5 2017 TnHTA Stars of the Industry Gala Gatlinburg, TN

August 26–29 US Travel ESTO Minneapolis, MN

November 6

TnHTPAC Fundraising Event Kingsport, TN

August 28

TnHTPAC Fundraising Event Franklin, TN

May 1–2

TnHTPAC Fundraising Event Memphis, TN

November 6–7

TnHTA Board of Directors Meeting Kingsport, TN

August 28–29

TnHTA Board of Directors Meeting Franklin, TN

March 27–29

May 17–18

TnHTA Board of Directors Meeting Memphis, TN

November 13–17

Southeast Tourism Society Spring Symposium Knoxville, TN

AH&LA Legislative Action Summit Washington, DC

October 4–6

IAAPA Attractions Conference & Expo Orlando, FL

March 7 TnHTA Day on the Hill Legislative Reception Nashville, TN

March 8 TnHTA Day on the Hill Nashville, TN

May 1

March 28–29

May 20

US Travel/DMAI/NTA Destination Capitol Hill Washington, DC

National Restaurant Association Show Chicago, IL

14 • Tennessee Notes • Volume 2, Issue 4

2017 Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Gatlinburg, TN

December 6–9 ISHAE Winter Summit St. Pete Beach, FL