“The economic impact has climbed each year,” says Esslinger. “From 2017 to 2019, we were on a good, steady trajectory.Although Covid slowed us down, we picked right back up.”He estimates that the economic impact on the city has increased by 20 to 22 percent since 2019. This growth is partly attributed to the new developments in Gatlinburg, including four new hotels, additional attractions, and celebrity-owned restaurants. One of the key strategies driving this growth is the promotion of “bleisure” travel—combining business with leisure. “When we sell Gatlinburg for citywide conventions, we emphasize the bleisure aspect,” Esslinger explains. This strategy encourages attendees to arrive a few days early or stay a few days after their conferences to enjoy Gatlinburg’s attractions. “We invite them to bring their families and explore Anakeesta theme park, SkyBridge, Ober Mountain, or Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.” This approach has proven effective, particularly with state association businesses and government entities. “We’ve seen many instances where a conference attendee’s family is off enjoying the town while the attendee is at the conference,” Esslinger notes. This dual benefit of business and leisure attracts more attendees and boosts the local economy by increasing tourism spending. CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND UPGRADES In recent years, significant investments have been made in the Gatlinburg Convention Center, which is aimed at maintaining its competitive edge and ensuring top-notch facilities for its clients. These capital infrastructure projects have been instrumental in elevating the center’s offerings and enhancing the attendee experience. Murphy outlines the substantial city-funded upgrades, noting the collaboration between the city of Gatlinburg and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The city provides us with funding for various needs, including an annual capital fund. This year, it’s about $500,000 for maintaining and repairing existing systems,” he says. However, the most transformative changes began in 2021 when the city invested $13 million in a comprehensive renovation and upgrade of the convention center. One of the first significant changes involved converting storage space into four new meeting rooms in the Mills Conference Center. “Previously, Mills had an auditorium and a large ballroom but lacked adequate breakout rooms. By adding these new spaces, we’ve greatly enhanced our flexibility and appeal to groups needing multiple meeting areas,”Murphy explains.The rooms can be configured in various ways, allowing for more versatile event planning and better accommodating client needs. 154 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 07
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