March 2007

March 2007
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Permit No. 35
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce publishes
this monthly newsletter to inform the Gatlinburg
community of Chamber and city news.
Subscription: $12.00 per year. Provided to
all business license holders and Chamber of
Commerce members
News Items Welcome!
Deadline for materials: All submissions must
be written and received by the 15th day of the
preceding month of publication.
VIEWbyFVicki
ROM THE TOP
Simms
Executive Director
View from the Top…now this title was created
many years ago, prior to my taking my position as
your Executive Director. I’m sure that there could
be many interpretations of what this Article’s title
truly means but I’m going to take a stab at it from
my perspective.
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 527
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865.436.4178
www.gatlinburg.com
View – there are many definitions for this word….
sight, vision, scene, spectacle, observation, examination, scrutiny, belief, opinion,
position, watch, look at, see…..so many words and I think they all describe what
the first word of this title was meant to encompass. Within the “View from the
Top” each month your president or I try to express to you in words all of these
definitions and more. What is my view? My observation? My opinion or belief?
Well, I feel that you the members structure that for me. I as well as the Directors,
which you have elected, are here to represent your amalgamated view on issues,
ideas, and concerns relating to your business and this community. I as well as the
Directors are also here to observe, examine and scrutinize the direction which the
Chamber is taking at any given moment. It is our duty to you to make sure that
this organization gains the trust and respect it deserves. Tall orders, some may
think so, but it has been my experience with this organization that as long as truth
and hard work are at the forefront of all that we attempt to accomplish all of that
other stuff or shall we say “the View” comes easy.
From the Top – well you might think that this refers to who’s in charge and
sometimes it does but I think that more importantly for the most part it refers to
definitions like – pinnacle, summit, highest, uppermost, leading, best, surpass,
improve on, exceed, excel….Why do I think this? Well, each month this article is
to remind you of how YOUR chamber has reached the pinnacle, surpassed goals,
and made a commitment to you to exceed and excel from a daily staff perspective
as well as from a decision making Board’s perspective. If we have not done this
on your behalf then we have not met the objectives of our membership and we
must reexamine what is driving our decisions and work on your behalf.
I have watched both these words in action. Has it been a perfect climb to the
pinnacle of our success – no, but I can tell you that when mistakes are made
and ground is lost it is quickly identified and addressed. This chamber is always
striving to exceed the membership’s expectations and will continue to do so as we
go through 2007.
Welcome
new MEMBERS!
Regular Members
Business Partners
Austin Mountain Homes Edward Jones Investments
Mike Morgan
Bill Austin
443 Smoky View Drive 11618 Chapman Highway Ste A
Seymour, TN 37865
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-579-9320
513-256-9660
Financial Planning
Overnight Rental
By Owner
Reliable Printing
Rick Davis
Genos Pizza
3425 Teaster Lane
Charles Atchley
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
611 Oak Street Suite 9
865-429-8501
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Printing
865-430-9300
Restaurant
Smoky Mountain Amusement
dba: River Rage
PJ’s Interiors
Jerry Grant
Pattie Robinson
8307 Highway 73
815 East Parkway #4
Townsend, TN 37882
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-448-8000
865-430-3535
River Tubing
Interior Design
White Oaks LLC
White Oak Flats Settlement
c/o Global Connections
John Postlewaite
William Papaik
924 Watson Drive
5320 College Blvd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Overland Park, KS 66211
865-436-5252
Real Estate Sales & Leasing Real Estate Development
I encourage you to make your opinions and concerns known. Stop by the
chamber and speak with staff or inquire about ways that you can become a more
active part of the VIEW FROM THE TOP!
GCC Member Receives “Breath of Life” Award
On February 3, 2006 Cure Finders Board President, and GCC Board of Director, Tim King presented to
GCC Member Rick Ryan and wife Tommie of the Donut Friar, the “Breath of Life” Award. They received
the award for helping to fight the good fight in visible ways and behind the scenes for Cure Finders
which is a Sevier County based non-profit organization benefiting cystic fibrosis research. Tommie and
Rick Ryan embody the quiet service that makes great things happen.
On behalf of our membership, the Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce will promote,
unify, inform, serve and enhance the
business community in a cohesive voice
for the advancement of the economic,
environmental, and social concerns of the
community in order to make Gatlinburg a
better place to live, work, and visit.
Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce
Mission Statement
Board of Directors
Kevin Tierney – President
Dan Booth – Vice President
Chad Reagan – Treasurer
Vickie Blake – Secretary
Ryan DeSear – Sergeant At Arms
Candace Ogle - Past President
Term Expires 2007
Rick Joyce - Deborah Linnert
Chad Reagan - Kevin Tierney
Term Expires 2008
Vickie Blake - Dan Booth
Ryan DeSear
Term Expires 2009
David Dixon - Paula King
Tim King - Jerry Morton
Designated Directors
Robert Montgomery
Gatlinburg Attractions Association
David Duda
Gatlinburg Lodging and
Hospitality Association
Dan Tilley
Wedding Chapel Association
Dr. Ira Lapides
Retail Merchants Association
Theresa Tyler
Arts and Crafts Community
Sup. Dale Ditmanson
GSMNP Liaison
Chamber Staff
Vicki Simms, ext. 109
Executive Director
vickis@gatlinburg.com
Linda Leone, ext. 110
Finance and Administrative Director
Assistant Executive Director
linda@gatlinburg.com
Connie Burns, ext. 113
Member Services Director
connie@gatlinburg.com
Angela Carathers, ext. 102
Internet Communications Director
angela@gatlinburg.com
Gretchen Ogle, ext. 103
Print Publications Director
gretchen@gatlinburg.com
Sherry Holtzclaw, ext. 114
Member Services Assistant
sherry@gatlinburg.com
Gladys Griffin, ext. 106
Lead Area Consultant
gladys@gatlinburg.com
Libby Smith, ext. 140
Receptionist
libby@gatlinburg.com
Peggy Pickel, ext. 107
Area Consultant
peggy@gatlinburg.com
Jim Matuszak, ext. 105
Area Consultant
jim@gatlinburg.com
Address
811 East Parkway • P.O. Box 527
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
VISITOR INFORMATION
Toll Free: 800.237.4569
www.gatlinburg.com
865.436.4178
Fax: 865.430.3876
Gatlinburg Chamber Member Rewards Program Kicked Off!
GCC Scholarship Winners
The Zeno Wall Jr. Scholarship awards will be presented to four deserving
students this year. Eric Horner, Sarah Strante, Jessica Holt, and Chelsea
Peterson will each receive $1,000.00 to the accredited college of their choice.
QuickFacts...
January 2007
2007
Phone Request........................................ 1,774
Web Request......................................... 15,646
Regular Mail Request..............................
22
Total Vacation Guide Request .............. 17,442
2006
2,989
21,365
32
24,386
January 2007
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls..... 1,848
800 Incoming Calls.............................
4,214
Total Incoming Calls........................
6,062
2,713
5,763
8,476
-31.9
-26.9
-28.5
2,989
21,365
32
24,386
-40.6
-26.8
-31.3
-28.5
YEAR TO DATE
January 2007
Phone Request.......................
Web Request......................................
Regular Mail Request.....................
Total Vacation Guide Request...........
1,774
15,646
22
17,442
% of change
-40.6
-26.8
-31.3
-28.5
YEAR TO DATE
January 2007
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls...... 1,848
800 Incoming Calls............................ 4,214
Total Incoming Calls.........................
6,062
2,713
21,365
8,476
-31.9
-26.9
-28.5
January 2007
Internet Visitors.............................
295,110
YTD.................................................... 295,110
266,230
266,230
10.8
10.8
12,971
8,990
3,562
15,079
40,602
13,751
7,999
3,773
14,558
39,080
1.7
12.4
-5.6
3.6
3.9
153,807
99,291
43,555
181,575
478,228
148,177
93,631
43,526
169,332
454,665
3.8
6.1
0.1
7.2
5.2
CITY OF GATLINBURG GROSS REVENUES
(Rounded to the nearest/in 000)
December 2006
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts - Other..........................
Total......................................................
YEAR TO DATE
December 2006
Lodging.............................................
Restaurants.......................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts-Other........................
Total..................................................
BUSINESS BY TYPES
December 2006
Hotel with restaurant.......................... 2,228
Over 50 rooms no restaurant................ 4,485
1 to 50 rooms single location................ 673
Chalets, Condos, etc............................. 5,585
Campgrounds........................................
0
Fast Foods/Deli...................................... 1,367
Family/Steak House Type.......................6,568
Sweets/Snack Shops............................ 1,056
Retail Sales............................................ 7,305
Service Business....................................1,995
Amusement/Attractions......................... 3,562
Groceries/Markets................................. 3,230
All Others............................................... 2,549
2,458
4,219
657
5,417
160
1,365
5,645
988
7,105
2,022
3,773
2,821
2,609
-9.3
6.3
2.5
3.1
-100
0.1
16.3
6.8
2.8
-1.3
-5.6
14.5
-2.3
WATER USAGE
*Water usage measured between the 18th of the month prior to the 17th of the month in report.
January 2007.................................
61,717
60,382
YTD .................................................... 61,717
60,382
NATIONAL PARK VISITORS (Gatlinburg Entrance)
January 2007.................................
128,627
136,617
YTD................................................... 128,627
136,617
Like what you see?
2.2
2.2
-5.8
-5.8
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce has a brand new program
sponsored by Tennessee State Bank that will benefit the Membership.
We are simply calling it “Member Rewards” since every Member
has a chance to win a great prize. Each month a drawing will be held
and one winning name announced and a prize will be awarded courtesy of Tennessee State Bank.
You are automatically entered for just being a member. Every time a Member business purchases a
program such as web advertising, broadcast emails, Member Directory, Newsletter advertising – any
print advertising through the Chamber – or attends a Chamber event or function such as Business After
Hours or the upcoming Hospitality classes, the business earns an additional chance to have their name
drawn at the end of the month. This is our way of letting our Membership know how much we appreciate
all of you and we hope it will encourage you to become truly active in your Chamber by encouraging
you to attend functions and consider all the creative marketing opportunities available to your business.
If you would like more information on this program please contact Connie Burns at 436.4178.
February Business After Hours
At Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum a Blast!
Damon’s Hosted January
Chamber After Hours!
Thank you to Damon’s Grill for
hosting January 23rd’s Business After
Hours. 150 attendees were treated to
Damon’s famous carving station plus
other scrumptious palate pleasers,
complimentary beer and wine, and
some won door prizes at this extremely
fun event! Cyndi Long of Damon’s did
an excellent job of pulling the Business
After Hours together on fairly short
notice. Be sure to check Damon’s out for
lunch, dinner or to book a private party.
Chamber Ambassadors were on hand
to make sure guests had a great
time. Thank you to the following 2007
Chamber Ambassadors for being part of
Business After Hours: Barbara Stevens,
Brad Spradlen, Bud Lawson, Dorothy
Johnson, Jim Johnson, Sherry Arnold,
Jackie Leatherwood, Sherri Webb, Toni
Flenniken, Vickie King, and Wendy
Rigsby.
We want to thank the sponsors of this
event: Kent Yarnell, Cyndi Long, Ronnie
Wise of Damon’s; Jim Ogle for donating
the wine; Miller Lite for donating the beer
keg; Door Prize Sponsors: Affordable
Smoky Mountain Wedding, Flowers of
Gatlinburg, Damon’s, Bent Creek Golf
Course, Gabriel’s Horn, and Sam’s
Club.
Now is a great opportunity to advertise your business in FULL color!
Contact Gretchen Ogle at 436.4178 for more information and advertising rates.
One of our most heavily attended events took place just in
time for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 when
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum hosted Business After
Hours. Thank you to Ryan DeSear and Ripley Entertainment
for closing the Museum down to the general public so the 200
attendees could have a fantastic and fun time playing arcade
games, touring the Museum and enjoying all the wonderful
food
courtesy of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Veranda Restaurant. Children were
given $5 worth of tokens to play in
the arcade making the evening a
memorable family event! We would
like to thank Ripley Entertainment
for sponsoring a record number
of door prizes. Our thanks to Steve File and Jimmy Bice of Ripley’s
Aquarium of the Smokies. The entire Ripley staff did a superb job
of hosting such a fun Business After Hours – we really appreciate
it. Be sure to tell your guests and friends about all the Ripley’s
attractions. Join us March 22, 2007 at the Gatlinburg Convention
Center for March’s Business After Hours.
The Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce
is excited to announce a
New Members Only page
on gatlinburg.com!!
Go to the Chamber of Commerce
page on gatlinburg.com and click on the
link titled Members Only. Log in with your
username and password and start
utilizing this new program.
The Member’s Only page allows you
update your contact information, change
your communications preference, pay
invoices online, view & register for events,
view referral reports and much more – all
in an exclusive password protected area.
If you need assistance or have any
questions about this new benefit, please
contact Angela Carathers at 865.436.4178.
Park Superintendent, Dale Ditmanson; and Chamber staff,
Gretchen Ogle and Connie Burns met Senator Bob Corker
while he was visiting in Sevier County.
Mark Your Calendar
MARCH 2007
Spring Hospitality Seminars
March 7 & 8
Gatlinburg Convention Center
Quarterly Membership Luncheon
Friday, March 16
Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort
Business After Hours
Thursday, March 22
Gatlinburg Convention Center
Upcoming Events
MARCH 2007
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Fox & Parrot Tavern
March 30
Music of the Mountains
W.L. Mills Conference Center
Convention Center
Events
Date Event Type Attendance
3-5 9-10
11-14
16-18
22-24
25-27
25-28
30
30
Trade Show Variety Shows
Trade Show
Convention
Variety Shows
Trade Show
Convention
Meeting
Concert
3,400
5,000
700
1,700
4,000
1,000
2,500
3,000
1,000
Thank you to our School Supply Sponsors!
Coldwell Banker GSM Realty, John Wallace, Vickie
King, Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg, Best Western
Zoder’s Inn, Citizens National Bank, Park Vista Hotel
& Convention Center, Clarion Inn & Suites, Tennessee
State Bank, Gatlin-Burlier Tobacconist, Holiday Inn
Sunspree Resort, Stan and Chris Johnson, Eagle
Property Management, Eagles Ridge Log Builders,
Heritage Mountain Rentals, Timber Rose, Barnes
Insurance, Food City, Greystone Lodge at the
Aquarium, Best Western Twin Islands, Smoky Mountain
Accommodations, Steve McKinney, Sue Bock, Paula
King, The Lodging & Hospitality Association, and
Mountain Laurel Chalets, The Park Grill, Gatlinburlier
Tobacconist, Christine Walden.
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
Ethics Committee Report
Complaints for YTD
January 2007
Hotel/Motel
Overnight Rentals
Bed & Breakfasts/Inns/Lodges
Timeshares
Attractions
Shops
Dining & Entertainment
Services
Campgrounds
Wedding Chapels
19
17
0
3
0
0
1
3
0
1