Corporate & Incentive Travel....

TENNESSEE MEANS

MUSIC & MUCH MORE

Tennessee's slogan is, "Sounds good to me," and that's been music to the ears of many planners. This musically blessed state capitalizes on its harmonizing heritage, but the cultured cities and charming countryside also captivate many visitors. This varied state is definitely playing to rave reviews.

"From the peaks of the Smokies to the banks of the Mississippi, you'll discover a landscape of beautiful scenery, great music, and lots of southern hospitality," says governor Don Sundquist. "Many entertaining events and attractions have made Tennessee a favorite year-round travel destination."

Located between the mighty Mississippi and the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee features more than 500 miles of breathtaking scenery, bustling urban centers, and many well-known attractions. Of course, mile after mile, visitors will hear some of their favorite music, from country to blues and bluegrass to soul--and even Elvis!

During the day, visitors can enjoy the excitement of attractions in cities like Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Chattanooga, the small town charm of smaller urban centers throughout the state, and the wonderful wilderness areas for hiking, biking, and whitewater fun. As the sun goes down, the cities and countryside turn up their lights and crank up the music. From Beale Street to Music City's lively downtown area, The District, and out to the hills and mountains, city streets and country settings reverberate with exhilarating sounds.

NASHVILLE

If you think you know Nashville, Music City USA, you're two steps ahead of many planners. The song for meeting planners just keeps getting more finally tuned. With more than 3,000 hotel rooms being added from 1998 to 2000 and lots of new facilities, attractions, and amenities, the capital of Tennessee is a capital attraction.

Nashville has a strong record of attracting record stampedes of attendees to meetings. Organizations experience increased attendance in Nashville, like year-to-year increases of 46% for the International Center for Leadership in Education, 29% for Alpha Kappa Alpha, and 16% for Precision Metalforming Association. "I can't think of a higher complement to anyone in the meetings industry than to say, 'You've [the Nashville C&VB] made my job easier,'" said Daphne Gilman, director of meetings and events for the National Association of Music Merchants, after experiencing an 11% increase to 20,224 attendees last year.

The Nashville Convention Center is best described as 'connected.' It's connected to the award-winning Renaissance Nashville Hotel by a shared lobby; it's connected by a climate-controlled passageway to the new state-of-the-art 20,000-seat Nashville Arena; and, perhaps most importantly, it's connected to the best of Music City, USA. Just blocks from Music Row and The District, Nashville meeting attendees are definitely well-connected.

The 118,675-square-foot Exhibit Hall, 11,000-square-foot ballroom, and 22 breakout rooms have made the center very popular with mid-size group meeting planners looking for 'ownership' of the entire building (rather than sharing a larger facility with others). The Nashville Arena, home of arena football and the 1998 NHL franchise, adds an additional 43,000 square feet of exhibit space in the mains bowl and 6,000 square feet of private meeting rooms.

Other facility options include: the 1,500-seat Acuff Theatre; the 4,400-seat Grand Old Opry House; the 9,900-seat Nashville Municipal Auditorium; the 2,000-seat Ryman Auditorium; the tranquil Scarritt-Bennett Center for non-profit groups; and many other venues. The new $12 million National Baptist World Center conference facility features a 2,800-seat auditorium, a 500-seat cafeteria, two 50-seat conference rooms, and six classrooms.

One unique aspect of meetings in Nashville is the Downtown Nashville Convention Collection. This alliance of hospitality professionals works with the C&VB to provide one-stop shopping for meetings, conventions, and trade shows. Ten downtown hotels offer up to 3,000 committable hotel rooms and array of services in this unique plan. One other unique development is the Southwest Airlines Meeting Program, which offers an array of benefits through the airline and through the C&VB (enquire through the C&VB).

Only a short walk away, the newly-opened Downtown Courtyard by Marriott is situated in an elegantly renovated 1905 building (Nashville's first skyscraper). Catering to the business traveler, the modern hotel offers 192 rooms, dining, many meeting rooms, and an ideal location. The bustling downtown area and surrounding city has many other hotels under construction for opening later this year and in 1999 and 2000. Of course, the Tennessee Oilers NFL team will bring much attention to the new Memphis hotel scene, with a temporary home field at Vanderbilt University this year and a new downtown riverside stadium opening in 1999.

Any discussion of Nashville meeting space and hotels needs to include the legendary Opryland Hotel Convention Center. It's literally all there--guest rooms, meeting rooms, boardrooms, ballrooms, and exhibit halls. In one location, you have 2,883 guest rooms, 289,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, 85 meeting rooms, five ballrooms, 30 shops, more than 20 restaurants and lounges, swimming, golf, a fitness center, and nine acres of spectacular indoor gardens.

Complementing the hotel and convention center is the Opryland USA entertainment complex, with the Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Themepark, the General Jackson showboat, the Music City Queen, Grand Ole Opry Tours, and the Nashville On Stage Concert series. Other components of this same phenomenal company include the Wildhorse Saloon and the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, which are linked to Opryland USA by Opryland USA River Taxis.

Of course, Nashville is known for many other attractions, entertainment, and dining in addition to Opryland. Many of them are also unique venues for events, theme parties, and other activities. It's easy to see why many meeting planners who choose Nashville are to be two steps ahead of the rest.

MEMPHIS

For music and other entertainment enjoyment, it's hard not to sing the praises for Memphis. "'Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll,' Memphis is mentioned in more songs than any other city in the world," says Denise DuBois Taylor, the Memphis C&VB's vice president of communications. "It's easy to see why, as the good times certainly roll in this southwestern Tennessee city and the visitors keep rolling into town in record numbers."

For the planner, Memphis can be overwhelmingly praiseworthy. The choices for accommodations, facilities, and entertainment make Memphis an ideal location for any size group, but this means knowing a bit more about traditional and new offerings.

The Memphis area features more than 100 hotels with 14,000 rooms. More than 50 of these locations offer meeting and convention space.

Non-hotel meeting and convention facilities include: Memphis Cook Convention Center (150,000 square feet of space and a $70 million expansion underway); Mid-South Coliseum (12,000 seats and 63,000 square feet of space); 4,400- or 7,500-seat Shelby Farms Show Place Arena; The Pyramid, a 22,500-seat arena on the banks of the Mississippi; and Agricenter International, America's first showcase for agriculture technology and other events. Fogelman Business Center at the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and Woodland Hills also offer creative space.

The $70 million expansion of the Memphis Cook Convention Center will make Memphis even more attractive. This convenient downtown facility will gain more than 35,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 30,000-square-foot ballroom, and a 2,000-seat performing arts theater. The project will also include renovations to the main center building and is scheduled for completion next year.

Top meeting and incentive properties in Memphis include the Adam's Mark; the Crowne Plaza; the East Memphis Hilton; the Fogelman Executive Center; the Four Points Hotel by ITT Sheraton; several convenient Holiday Inn, Radisson, Ramada, and Wilson World locations; and, of course, the legendary Peabody Hotel. Several B&Bs also cater to individual visitors and small groups. As can be expected from an entertainment mecca like Memphis, a wide variety of companies specialize in making events in this city special

As a result of the redevelopment continuing to occur in downtown Memphis, great gains have occurred in public transportation. The five-mile Main Street Trolley links downtown hotels and attractions, with the Riverfront Loop recently connecting the former endpoints. Developments like Memphis Central Station and Peabody Place have further enhanced downtown's draw.

During the day, attractions include: Graceland; the Memphis Zoo; the Mississippi River Museum; Wonders; Sun Studio; the National Civil Rights Museum; the Pink Palace Museum; the Memphis Music Hall of Fame; the new Gibson Guitar Plant; and much more.

On the entertainment front, more than 100 spots feature live music with a wealth of local talent and national acts featured virtually any night of the week. The possibilities include an exciting night out or an intimate atmosphere, with popular entertainment districts like Overton Square, Beale Street Historic District (the "Home of the Blues"), Pinch Historic District, and Cooper-Young Entertainment District.

KNOXVILLE

Knoxville is at the center of it all. Dubbed the city 'where nature and technology meet,' Knoxville is located in the heart of Tennessee's Resource Valley. Three major interstates converge in this collegiate city, where the University of Tennessee provides a cosmopolitan flair. Right outside town, the world-famous Oak Ridge National Laboratory and three national parks await visitors.

"Knoxville's historical and cultural sites are unique to the character of this Appalachian region," says mayor Victor Ashe. "We take particular pride in the ongoing development along our downtown waterfront. The Knoxville Zoo, celebrating its 50th anniversary, continues to offer new and exciting exhibits."

The Knoxville Convention/Exhibition Center is located in the heart of the city, with more than 65,000 square feet in the Exhibition Hall, another 6,500 in the Grand Ballroom, and 16 small meeting rooms offering another 4,400 square feet. The Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum is another excellent venue, with a 2,500-seat auditorium, and 7,200-seat coliseum, and an exhibition hall and ballroom.

Over at the bustling University of Tennessee, the UT Conference Center offers lots of options. Turn-key facilities include large meeting rooms, breakout sessions, private boardrooms, dining and reception areas, and an executive auditorium. Located in the heart of downtown and adjacent to several hotels, it's across from the World's Fair Park and Knoxville Museum of Art. Unusual offerings include advanced communications technologies and summer campus housing arrangements (take a virtual tour at http://web.ce.utk.edu/conferences).

Other public venues in the Knoxville area include: the 24,535-seat Thompson-Boling Arena; the 57,000-square-foot Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park; the 1,362 World's Fair Park Tennessee Amphitheater; the historic 1928 Tennessee Theater, which seats 1,540; and the Bijou Theater Center, a performing arts center that hosts small meetings and functions.

Many hotels and resorts cater to the corporate crowd. Prime downtown properties include the Hilton Hotel Knoxville, the Holiday Inn Select, the Hyatt Regency Knoxville, and the Radisson Summit Hill. Further afield, many hotels and resorts are capitalizing on the city's popularity and location.

On the activities front, visitors can enjoy the Knoxville Zoo; the Knoxville Museum of Art; a ride on the Tennessee River aboard the paddlewheeler, Star of Knoxville; frequent Old City events; and a wide variety of attractions at the World's Fair Park. Nearby, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Big South National River and Recreation Area, and the Great Lakes of the South provide plenty of sports and recreational opportunities.

Finally, local planners rightfully proud of the city's most recent project, Volunteer Landing. This multi-phase project will bring $40 million of improvements to more than a mile of riverfront property. Plans include a new park, restaurants, festive shopping, riverfront condominiums, and the Gateway Regional Visitors Center. Opening next spring, the Visitors Center will celebrate the natural diversity of the region and the new technologies evolving here. It's one of many reasons Knoxville is celebrating record visitation.

GATLINBURG

Located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg provides an unconventional four-season setting with a great reputation for meetings. Served by Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport, this is an accessible mountain meeting site with much to offer.

The meeting and exhibit space is a key component in this city's success. The modern facility features 188,000 square feet of space, with more than 81,000 square feet of exhibit space, 23 meeting rooms, two parlors, and a VIP suite. The Mills Auditorium, adjacent to the convention center, offers an additional 14,000 square feet of exhibit and banquet space.

"As producers of trade shows for three years at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, we have appreciated the staff's cooperative spirit and look forward to working with them again in the future," says Pam Hale of In Any Event, Inc. This cooperative spirit is evident in the varied groups hosted at the convention center, ranging from church youth groups to association meetings to gift shows.

Gatlinburg's lodging options are also very accommodating. More than 20 properties offer additional meeting space and specialize in hosting meeting attendees. Park Vista, Ramada Inn Resort, River Terrace Resort & Convention Center, and Riverside Motor Lodge all have more than 10,000 square feet of space.

Of more than 7,500 rooms, more than 3,500 are within walking distance of the convention center--745 rooms are just across the street, 1,047 rooms are within a block, 933 more rooms are within two blocks, and an additional 856 rooms are less than four blocks away. Of course rustic retreats are also available in the mountains.

After year-round meetings, Gatlinburg offers small town charm, shopping, arts and crafts, evening entertainment, and lots of friendly locals. Of course the great outdoors bring hiking, fishing, boating, and skiing.

CHATTANOOGA

Like a runway choo-choo, Chattanooga has quickly grown into one of the nation's top mid-size meeting destinations. No longer a grimy manufacturing town, Chattanooga has blossomed to become what the Washington Post called "well on its way to becoming the prettiest city of its size in America." Punctuating the natural splendor is a revitalized central business district, providing an array of new restaurants, shopping centers, and nightlife to complement the city's famous hotels and attractions.

Chattanooga is a real Tennessee success story. Back in the 1960s, the EPA declared Chattanooga the "dirtiest city in America" and residents needed an extra daily shirt to work downtown. But an aggressive $850 million riverfront and revitalization plan and program rolled away the dark smog and revealed an era of growth, progress, and prosperity. "We are very proud that Chattanooga is an environmental success story not only for the U.S., but for the world," says vice president and Tennessee native Al Gore.

Lookout Mountain has been a visitor destination for decades, but now a world-class downtown is rising beneath it, with the Tennessee Riverpark leading the way. Savvy planners are discovering that Chattanooga offers a rare combination of small-town warmth and big-city amenities, ranging from the $45 million Tennessee Aquarium to the impressive Hunter Museum of American Art, most of which are connected to the convention center and downtown hotels and attractions by way of a free electric shuttle-bus system.

But successful meetings also need great spaces and Chattanooga's train of success is on time in this category as well. A wide range of meeting spaces is augmented by varied accommodations and activities options.

Located in the heart of downtown, the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Convention and Trade Center is connected to the 340-room Chattanooga Marriott Hotel and is within walking distance of 700 additional first-class hotel rooms. The convention center offers 114,000 square feet of space and an in-house food service operation that can cater to 10 or 3,500 guests. The facility is located right on the free shuttle route, making it minutes away from virtually all accommodations and attractions. As is typical of Chattanooga growth, plans are on the drawing board to expand the center to more than 300,000 square feet.

Along with being adjacent to the convention center, the aforementioned Marriott is also just blocks from the riverfront and the Tennessee Aquarium. Other unique options include: the recently renovated historic Choo Choo Holiday Inn, with 17,000 square feet of in-house space and lots of amenities; the 137-room antebellum Radisson Reed House Hotel & Suites, with 16,000 square feet of meeting space; the Chattanooga Clarion Hotel, offering 205 rooms and 10,000 square feet of function space; and the new value-packed Days Inn Rivergate, just a half-block from the convention center and on the shuttle route.

Chattanooga also has other unique meeting spots. The stunning Renaissance Commons Conference Center is the newest addition to the Bluff View Art District, offering meeting and reception space for groups up to 150. The newly renovated Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is a long-time meeting favorite, with a $7.1 million improvement package enhancing the 3,866-seat main hall, 1,012-seat Community Theatre, and 9,600-square-foot Exhibit Hall. A $7 million renovation and expansion has made the 1920s Tivoli Theatre another popular facility, with 1,762 seats and a huge stage. Other options include the 12,000-seat UTC Arena and the 34,000-square-foot Camp Jordan Arena, just opened in 1993.

Along with Lookout Mountain, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the Tennessee Riverpark, Chattanooga's attractions are another success story. Other draws include the IMAX 3D Theater and the Creative Discovery Museum, more than 50 new restaurants, 80 new retail shops, an art district with new museums, several Civil War sites, and a host of festivals.

STATE PARKS

With its array of State Park Conference Centers, Tennessee provides an unusual opportunity for planners to provide something different. Along with first-class meeting space and modern accommodations options for groups up to 1,000, the state park centers also provide unrivaled recreational opportunities, interpretive activities, fine cuisine, and convenient locations across the state. With group discount rates and other incentives, these unusual possibilities also won't break the budget.

The system offers more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space in the heart of Tennessee's most beautiful and pristine landscapes. Groups, organizations, and individuals can meet in the morning and play golf, swim, fish, hike, or go horseback riding in the afternoon. Additionally, the state parks offer a variety of interpretive and outdoor recreational programs, including guided tours, cultural demonstrations, and nature walks. Meals are also highlights, ranging from steak or lobster to traditional southern cooking.

A current $47 million renovation and addition program is making the system one of the top programs in the nation. Paris Landing State Resort Park Conference Center is typical of the enhancements. This past May, a new 15,000-square-foot conference center made it the largest such facility in the state. In addition, the park's inn was recently renovated and the construction of 30 new rooms is scheduled for completion this fall. "With this new facility, Paris Landing truly will be a place for any group--from church board members to corporate leaders," says Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner Milton H. Hamilton, Jr.

Some other examples include: the new 125-room inn and conference center at Montgomery Bell State Resort Park, opening in October; a $10 million expansion at Natchez Trace State Resort Park, adding new rooms and 3,000 square feet of conference space for 1999; the inn at Fall Creek Falls, site of the largest waterfall east of the Rock Mountains, which is adding 72 rooms and a new conference center by this fall; and the expansion to 125 rooms and addition of 5,000 square feet of conference space to Pickwick Landing State Resort Park by early-1999. For planners looking for something new and different, Tennessee's state parks may be the place (a good place to start is their website at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks).

ELSEWHERE

The Volunteer State also volunteers many other unique destinations. From small cities to stunning countryside, Tennessee has much more to offer.

Pigeon Forge is a perfectly appropriate Tennessee possibility. One of the southeast's most popular vacation destinations, Pigeon Forge offers meeting planners several meeting oriented hotels and resorts; lots of entertainment options (more than 40 family attractions, including Dollywood and Dixie Stampede); shopping; varied dining; and proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With more than 75,000 square feet of space, the Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center is an ideal Pigeon Forge offering.

Located about midway between Knoxville, Nashville, and Chattanooga, Cookeville provides another small town option. For a town its size, the meeting options are extraordinary. The Cookeville Community Center, Cookeville Drama Center, Tennessee Technological University, the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion, and Holiday Inn Holidome can meet virtually any small group need. The central location and lower costs make Cookeville a popular choice.

Johnson City is an ideal mid-size meeting site in northern Tennessee. With more than 66,000 square feet of versatile space and 1,600-plus guest rooms, it's already a popular destination. But the opening of the Johnson City Continuing Education Center, with more than 60,000 more square feet of space and the state-of-the-art ETSU Advance Visualization Laboratory, will make Johnson City even more popular. Along with a charming downtown area, daytrips to Abingdon, Virginia and Asheville North Carolina are popular.

North of Johnson City, near Kingsport, the Meadowview Conference Resort & Convention Center offers a self-contained destination. This modern Marriott Conference Center has the look of a rustic mountain lodge, but the amenities are strictly state-of-the-art. There are 195 rooms and suites built with the business-minded traveler in mind. Conference amenities include a 35,000-square-foot convention center, a 96-seat amphitheater, two ballrooms, many smaller meeting rooms, an expert conference services staff, and lots of recreational activities and area attractions.

Up in the northeast part of the state, the Greenville is yet another popular small town choice. Nestled in the shadows of the Smokies, Greenville offers history (many mansions and sites, including the home of president Andrew Johnson and Davy Crockett's birthplace), outdoor recreation, dining, and excellent downtown shopping. Meeting facilities include the General Morgan Inn & Conference Center, one of east Tennessee's premier properties.

Situated at the joint state lines of Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky, the Cumberland Gap has long been used as a crossing point in the Appalachian Mountains. Today, thousands of people visit the area for scenic beauty, historical significance, and a wide range of visitor activities. Lots of tourist-oriented accommodations can cater to small groups.

Thus, from Nashville to the Smokies, Tennessee has something for everyone. It's definitely music to the ears of many planners.