KNOXVILLE CONVENTION CENTER AWARDED ‘ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR’ BY STATE HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2014

For additional information,
contact: Amanda Shell Jennings
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 255-0661

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The Knoxville Convention Center was recently named “Attraction of the Year” by the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association (TnHTA) at the organization’s annual Stars of Industry award ceremony in Nashville.

The “Attraction of the Year” award is presented to event venues, convention centers and tourist attractions that have shown excellence in tourist development and community service through special programs, events and marketing campaigns to attract new tourists and visitors to Tennessee.

“The kind of topnotch service this year’s winners and their teams provide is what makes the hotel and restaurant industries such vital parts of our state’s economy,” said Danny Sumrall, Chairman of the TnHTA Board of Directors.

“The winners were selected to receive these honors by people who truly understand the level of commitment required to provide excellent service to customers on a daily basis – their peers. We’re honored to have them as part of our association.”

The Knoxville Convention Center received the 2014 Service/Supplier of the Year Pauly Award from the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association (GKHA) in May, which qualified the venue for the state award.

Both the GKHA and TnHTA awards recognized the Knoxville Convention Center for excellent operations and upgrades to remain competitive for meetings and conventions to keep regional, national and international events coming to Knoxville.

“We are honored to be recognized by our peers in the tourism industry for this award,” said Knoxville Convention Center General Manager Mary Bogert. “Tennessee is ranked No. 9 in tourism among all 50 states, and there are wonderful attractions across the state. We are so very excited to be acknowledged from among such a star-studded group of nominees.”

The Knoxville Convention Center is Knoxville’s premier meetings and conventions venue hosting an average of 240 events every year that attract more than 300,000 visitors to downtown Knoxville every year. Since opening in 2002, the facility has welcomed more than 3 million guests through its doors.

About the Knoxville Convention Center

The Knoxville Convention Center, managed by SMG, is located in downtown Knoxville adjacent to the Sunsphere. It boasts a 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 27,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and up to 25 meeting rooms. For more information, visit http://www.knoxvilleconventioncenter.com.

About SMG

Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers, and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s Reliant Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions, catering and special events division, SAVOR, currently servicing 130 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com