Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau
As we close out a very strange year, we at the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau Sales Department would like to personally thank all of our customers that not only booked future conventions, groups and events in Gatlinburg, but especially the events that moved forward in these challenging times and had their event in Gatlinburg this year. 

The Gatlinburg Convention Center has successfully and safely executed 33 events since June 1, 2020. These events have varied from group meetings and conferences to craft fairs, religious conferences, and a gift show spanning the entire facility. With the proactive efforts the Gatlinburg Convention Center has made regarding sanitization and safety protocols, along with being an accredited GBAC STAR Facility, has allowed us to ease the minds of both promoters and visitors of the convention center. During this perplexing time in our industry, it is incredibly important for our customers to know their event is taking place in a facility that values and upholds the safety of all who enter their building. Once again, thank all our customers for continuing to make Gatlinburg the perfect event destination.
Gatlinburg at a Glance
  • Convention Center: (148,000 square feet of total space)
  • Sleeping Rooms (4,000+ surrounding convention center including full and limited service hotels, condominiums, chalets and cabins)
  • Dining Options: (100+ restaurants, from casual to elegant gourmet establishments with the majority within walking distance to hotels and convention center)
  • Shopping: (500+ shops with 5 malls plus largest Arts & Crafts Community in the U.S.)
  • Attractions: (40+ along with many other entertainment options with the majority within walking distance to hotels and convention center)
  • Rocky Top Sports Complex: (Named top Multi-Use Sports Facility by SportsEvents Magazine) and (Favorite Indoor Venue by Sports Destination Management Magazine)
  • Gatlinburg Golf Course: (Named Best Municipal Golf Course in Tennessee by Golf Digest Magazine) 
GBAC Star Accreditation
The Gatlinburg Convention Center is the first in the region to achieve the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Gatlinburg Convention Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that the Gatlinburg Convention Center implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

“GBAC STAR™ accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR™, the Gatlinburg Convention Center has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, Gatlinburg Convention Center was required to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. 
Holston's Kitchen Catering Company
The Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau is happy and proud to announce that Holston’s Catering Kitchen Company is the new food and beverage provider for the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Holston’s took over the catering and concession duties in the convention center this year and provides all the meals, snacks, and beverages that hundreds of thousands of guests enjoy each year in the convention center.  
 
HOLSTON’S – A LONG STANDING EAST TENNESSEE LEGACY
Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company, a division of KBS Restaurant Group, has been an East Tennessee staple for many years. KBS Restaurant Group encompasses an array of restaurants throughout east Tennessee, including Gatlinburg favorites No Way Jose’s, world famous Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, The Greenbrier Restaurant and Smith and Son Corner Kitchen, which is located across from the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Holston’s has been crafting innovative culinary creations for a vast array of corporate and social events throughout Tennessee for 20+ years. Led by its talented management team, Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company focuses on detailed planning, delicious food, and superb service.
 
INNOVATIVE CULINARY CREATIONS
Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company has a diverse variety of concepts, but the freshness of food is never compromised. Everything is made from scratch – from the biscuits to the salad dressings, everything starts with the freshest ingredients and are prepared daily in the convention center kitchens and the nearby KBS Restaurant Group Commissary. The staff of Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company is dedicated to the idea that getting the best ingredients means serving the best food, at a great value with great service. Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company is also dedicated to serving healthier options, and addressing dietary restrictions by offering vegan, vegetarian, keto, paleo and gluten sensitive options in their banquet and concession areas. If you have any specific needs or concerns, please let Holston’s know and they will gladly address them. 

Testimonials
I just could not leave our event this week (October 4-9, 2020) without letting someone know how fantastic Lexan (Food & Beverage Manager) is with Holston’s Kitchen Catering Company. I have been with the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants and coming to the convention center for the last 8 years, and the food has never been this good, not by a long shot. 

I have a food allergy and Lexan was always making sure that I had something to eat, and anyone with familiarity with Gatlinburg knows how hard it can be to eat in the city when you have an allergy. I think last year I survived on protein bars for a full week. I am in a much better mood this year! 

But it is not just me. I have heard from so many attendees just how happy they are with the food. It is a far cry from "airline chicken". There were several comments on how this is the kind of food you find in upscale restaurants, not a convention center. It has far and above made their experience a more enjoyable one. 

Anyway, she is amazing, and I hope all groups that come to the Gatlinburg Convention Center tell her so!
 
Mallory Briggs, MPA
Special Event and Conference Coordinator
Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants
279 attendees
New Gatlinburg.com Event Page
Gatlinburg Convention Center Events
Great News! The Gatlinburg CVB has launched a New Gatlinburg.com website. We are excited about the new website as it can display additional content for each event held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Gatlinburg.com attracts more than 4 million viewers annually and the new Gatlinburg.com website is already exceeding those impressive numbers. What does Gatlinburg.com mean for you? It means confirmed events at the Gatlinburg Convention Center will have the opportunity to display the event and details of the event, free of charge.
 
Gatlinburg CVB can now display your logo, multiple images, event phone numbers, and a link directly to your website. Anticipated attendance, detailed start and end time, and a full description of your event can also be listed. The more details you choose to display could potentially drive more traffic to your website which could increase event attendance. By providing these added details for your event, provides valuable information to local Gatlinburg businesses to ensure your event attendees are taken care of while they are in Gatlinburg.
 
The Gatlinburg CVB is excited to provide this additional value to our clients. One of our many goals is to ensure your event is successful. We encourage clients to take advantage of all the new options that Gatlinburg.com has to offer. To view our new state of the art website, please click on www.gatlinburg.com.
 
 
If you would like to submit your information for your upcoming Gatlinburg Convention Center event(s), please contact the Gatlinburg CVB Sales Department. 
Gatlinburg Videos
Things to do in Gatlinburg!
Watch our video on things to do in Gatlinburg!
Gatlinburg Convention Center
Check out this video on The Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Gatlinburg Accolades & Testimonials
Gatlinburg CVB
We would love the chance to “update” you on all the new and exciting developments that Gatlinburg has going to ensure that when it comes to your future conventions, meetings and events, Gatlinburg has your event covered!

If you would like to be on the distribution list and receive future Gatlinburg Update Quarterly e-newsletters, please email sales@gatlinburg.com and request to be added. Please feel free to forward The Gatlinburg Update to anyone you feel will find it informative.

This edition of the Gatlinburg Update Quarterly Newsletter is our 15th. If you are interested in viewing earlier editions, please click GCVB Sales Quarterly Newsletter.
Gatlinburg CVB
Website: www.Gatlinburg.com/info
Phone: 865-436-2392 | Email Address: Sales@gatlinburg.com