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Spring 2009
Welcome to the "Gotta Know Knoxville" quarterly newsletter! Sit back, relax and read all about what the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation's (KTSC) Sales Team has been doing since the beginning of 2009!
Pictured left to right: Kim Paul, Teresa Hall, Laney Shorter, Lee Freeman, Linda Milan, Tracy O'Connor, Jennifer Morris (KTSC Sales Team)
Why Knoxville? Why not!
In today’s tough economy, it’s easy to worry about where to hold your next meeting. You’ll find yourself questioning, “Will as many of my clients attend the meeting?,” “Will they or their company be able to afford the travel?,” or you may just consider cancelling the meeting all together.
Well, when it comes to planning meetings in Knoxville, Tennessee, there are no questions!
Even in the country’s current situation, Knoxville is STILL affordable, convenient and is booking business!
Knoxville is at the crossroads of two major interstates: I-75 and I-40, making the city within a day’s drive of half the nation’s population. Plus, McGhee Tyson airport is located only 12 miles from downtown Knoxville, providing seven airlines with 19 non-stop destinations and more than 130 arrivals and departures each day.
So, what questions are left? Maybe just one – Why Knoxville? Here’s our answer. WHY NOT!
To learn more about Knoxville's convenience and affordability, contact Teresa Hall at thall@knoxville.org or (865) 342-9118.
Familiarize yourself with Knoxville this spring!
If you’re itching with spring fever and ready to enjoy the beautiful weather, consider traveling to Knoxville for our upcoming familiarization tour (FAM).
This spring’s FAM is set for April 16-19, and event planners will enjoy touring Knoxville’s venues, hotels and the downtown area’s Market Square District, full of unique shops and eateries, and will attend a game at the Smokies baseball stadium, among other activities.
Oh – and one more thing! The Dogwood Arts Festival will be in full swing, so get ready to enjoy some beautiful scenery! (See below for more information on the festival).
Spaces will fill quickly! Reserve your spot today by contacting Teresa Hall at thall@knoxville.org or (865) 342-9118.
Focus on Venues
Interested in what Knoxville’s venues have to offer? For the next few newsletters, we’ll be focusing on a single venue each quarter. This month, we’d like to tell you all about the stunning, state-of-the art Knoxville Convention Center (pictured above).
The center boasts 500,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that accommodates any number of people from 10 and 10,000. The exhibit hall floor and loading dock areas are another plus for the center - there are nine truck bays with two access areas to drive right on to the exhibit hall floor. Also, another huge perk for event planners occupying the center is that food service is provided in-house through Savor by SMG.
Book your event at the Knoxville Convention Center TODAY! Contact Teresa Hall at thall@knoxville.org or (865) 342-9118 for more information.
How to grow your meeting or event
Warm weather means that gardening season is right around the corner! But unlike gardening, planning your perfect event or meeting is something you can do year-round.
Here are a couple of tips to help you grow your meeting:
• Research during all seasons! The sooner, the better when it comes to event planning, since you want to make sure you are able to get your preferred event dates. Don't wait until the last minute to begin making decisions!
• Cost cutting is in! Utilizing the local convention & visitor’s bureau, such as the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation, is the best way to assist in cost cutting. The KTSC offers complimentary services that can save your association thousands of dollars right from the start!
Knoxville radiates during the Dogwood Arts Festival
Knoxville’s landscape comes to life each spring with beautiful shades of pink and white during the Dogwood Arts Festival, which celebrates the blooming of beautiful dogwood trees and the arts community in Knoxville!
There are more than 45 festival-related events in April, including a student art show, a story-telling contest, a symphony concert, a street-painting workshop, an art fair, a birthday bash for William Shakespeare and a mile-long race, not to mention the numerous art exhibitions.
The Dogwood Trails are the founding tradition of the festival, which feature 60 miles of breathtaking residential landscaping of blooming trees and flowers, available for bike, walking and bus tours and photography.
Finally, the Dogwood Arts Festival Parade is an exciting time when thousands of spectators enjoy a 90-minute extravaganza of floats, giant helium balloons, bands, equestrian groups, performing arts groups and specialty units in the annual march down Gay Street in downtown Knoxville – all in celebration of the arts.
Consider celebrating the arrival of spring in Knoxville at the Dogwood Arts Festival! Visit www.dogwoodarts.com for more information.
Spotlight: Knoxville Marathon Organizer Jason Altman
The Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation recently interviewed local community partner Jason Altman (pictured above with wife Kristy after finishing the Portland Marathon in 2007) to hear about his experience with the KTSC and Knoxville events.
Here’s what we learned:
• Jason, how are you involved in the Knoxville Marathon?
“I am the race director for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon and the Knoxville Track Club. I actually participated in the inaugural Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon in 2005, which is when and where my passion for running began. Since 2006, I have also worked at the local retail shop, Runners Market.”
• How are you involved in running as a sport in Knoxville?
“After running my first marathon in 2005, my wife and I began a training program to prepare runners for the 2006 marathon. Then, when the original race director moved to Portland in 2006, I put my name in the hat for director and was fortunate enough to be selected.”
• How did you hear about the KTSC?
“I heard about the KTSC from the previous race director who moved to Portland. KTSC has always been a supporter of the marathon, so I inherited the relationship when I came on board with the Knoxville Track Club.”
• What kind of partnership have you created with the KTSC?
“The KTSC has always provided the marathon with valuable equipment during the race weekend. With thousands of runners and walkers, we have a great need for coolers to fill with water and Powerade. Also, with our event encompassing 26 miles of Knoxville, the handheld radios are essential for our committee to stay in constant contact.”
• So, how many marathons have you completed?
“I’ve completed a total of six marathons, including the Knoxville, Chicago, Nashville, Portland, Huntsville and Chickamauga races. Surprisingly, Knoxville’s marathon was one of the easier ones that I have completed. I’m currently training for the Boston Marathon, coming up in April.”
Visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com or email Jason@knoxvillemarathon.com for more information.
New sales team member: Lee Freeman
Lee Freeman comes to KTSC with close to seven years of sales experience, previously working with StaffingSolutions, Maxim Healthcare Services and The Tombras Group in Knoxville. He was hired at KTSC in February 2009 as a sales manager, selling Knoxville to the corporate, Amway, manufacturing and distribution, health and medical and insurance markets. In his free time, Freeman enjoys landscape design, playing golf and spending time outdoors.
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March 18, 2009
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