A new event called “Hospitality Connections,” aimed at strengthening the region’s tourism industry, is set to bring hospitality leaders together in Cookeville this Friday.
Cookeville-Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Shan Stout said the one-hour gathering will focus on collaboration, industry growth, and tourism resources across the region. Stout said discussions will include advertising opportunities, partnerships, and ways to improve the visitor experience.
“They can hear about the information, see the impact, gain those numbers, and then decide what they’re going to do with this information toward their business to kind of sharpen that visitor experience and attract visitors who may be looking for them but, you know, may not know how to find them,” Stout said.
Stout said many hospitality businesses are unaware of the resources available that can help them grow, along with the tourism industry. Stout said regional collaboration is key to sustaining growth and ensuring tourism benefits the entire community.
“We all have the same goals in mind, Sout said. “We want to grow these businesses. We want to bring in the right visitors, and the more these visitors spend, the lower our taxes are for Putnam County residents and residents across the Upper Cumberland.”
Local business owners have already submitted questions ahead of the event, ranging from how restaurants can expand their reach statewide to how lodging providers can better partner with tourism officials during major events.
Stout said the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association, and the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association will be providing additional information to attendees. Stout said the meeting comes as tourism continues to grow across the state and region.
“We recently have really done a deep dive into the Tennessee state tourism data, and that data shows that everything is on an increase with visitor interactions,” Stout said. “That is visitors from across the nation as well as international travelers.”
“Hospitality Connections” will take place from 9-10am. at the Putnam County Convention Center and is free to attend with a reservation. Stout said organizers hope the event will not only inform, but also strengthen relationships across the region’s hospitality industry.