New and Improved Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council

Published: January 30th, 2008

For 25 years the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council (METTC) has been providing networking opportunities and marketing programs; and has been fostering positive government relations and offering overall tourism support through various forums for its membership, and the cities and counties within its region.

"The 16 counties that make up Middle East Tennessee's tourism industry represent some of the best of who we are and what our state has to offer," said Susan Whitaker, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Today, Stephanie Wells, Director of the Anderson County Tourism Council and Chair of METTC, announces the merger with the East Tennessee Marketing Partnership, which will provide East Tennessee with a new and improved regional marketing association.

According to Amanda Marr, marketing director for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, this new approach can only benefit her company. "The merger of these two marketing organizations will be very beneficial to the tourism industry throughout Middle East Tennessee," Marr explained. "It really is one of the most powerful and effect cooperative marketing tools we have."

Unless you are one of the 34,690 people employed by the tourism industry in this region, you might not have heard of either of these organizations. However, they have been working quietly in the background to insure that tourism is big business in East Tennessee. According to the Travel Industry Association of America's "The Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties 2006" report, over $2.85 billion was generated through tourist expenditures, sustaining $760 million in resident wages and creating $241 million in State and Local tax revenues.

The Partnership (ETMP) has spent as much as $200,000 a year on national advertising to promote this region since 1997. By pooling the resources of 60 communities to educate visitors about all the attractions in the region, ETMP expanded the impact of individual marketing dollars of each Tourism Council, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Chamber.

With the merger, METTC has launched a new and improved website (VacationEastTennessee.org), as well as new marketing efforts to encourage regional visitors to "Get A New View of the Smokies" and locals to "Stay and See East Tennessee".

"The announcements of these new initiatives, along with the merging of the tourism organizations, is just another indication of this region's forward thinking and continued pursuit of tourism's best efforts," said Whitaker.

As one of nine regional associations in the State recognized by the Department of Tourist Development, METTC represents: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union Counties.

Sources: Travel Industry of America, The Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties 2006

Note: Because of the nature of the research, 2006 figures are the most current. The 2007 figures will be released by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development in the fall of 2008.

For additional quotes, contact:

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Office: Commissioner Susan Whitaker: 615.741.9001

Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council Chair: Stephanie Wells, Director Anderson County Tourism Council: 865.457.4575

Sevierville Chamber of Commerce: Amanda Marr: 865.453.6411

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