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Commissioner Susan Whitaker To Announce Merger of Two Middle East Tennessee Tourism Organizations

Published: January 28th, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (January 28, 2008) -- For 25 years the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council (METTC) has been providing networking opportunities, marketing programs, fostering positive government relations and overall tourism support through various forums for its membership and the cities and counties within its region.
        On Wednesday, January 30 at 12:30 pm, Commissioner Susan Whitaker of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, along with Stephanie Wells, Director of the Anderson County Tourism Council and Chair of METTC, will announce the merger of the East Tennessee Marketing Partnership with the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council.  This merger will provide East Tennessee with a new and improved regional marketing association.

            The announcement will take place at the Tennessee Theater, located at 604 South Gay Street in downtown Knoxville.  Other representatives from tourism organizations within the 16 county Middle East Tennessee region will also be on hand for a "Stay and See East Tennessee" trade show, during which they will showcase the best their region has to offer tourists visiting the area.

            "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 Commissioner Whitaker.  "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."

            More than 34,600 people are employed by the tourism industry in this region, and they have been working quietly in the background to insure tourism is big business in East Tennessee.  According to a 2006 report issued by the Travel Industry Association of America, 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 in Tennessee.
        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 of Commerce in its membership.

            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."
        With the merger, a new and improved website, www.VacationEastTennessee.org, has been launched, as well as new marketing efforts to encourage regional visitors to "Get A New View of the Smokies" and to encourage locals to "Stay and See East Tennessee".
        As one of nine regional associations in the state recognized by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, METTC represents: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties.

            For more information, visit www.VacationEastTennessee.org or call 800-440-0447.

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