Gatlinburg Hospitality & Tourism Association

06/17/2026

Time is running out to make your submissions!! Deadline is June 30th.

✨ The Search for the Stars is ON! ✨

​It’s time to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent within the industry! SCHTA is officially accepting nominations for the Stars of the Industry Awards. 🌟

​Is there a colleague who goes above and beyond, or a team that defines excellence? Now is the chance to give them the recognition they deserve.

Nominate Today: https://form.jotform.com/261025925192152

​Deadline for Applications: June 30, 2026
Selected winners will be contacted toward the end of July.

The winners selected by SCHTA will be automatically submitted to the TNHTA Stars of the Industry Awards (Purple Iris Awards), which will be presented at the Governor’s Conference this fall.

05/28/2026

We need your help! Our meal program has experienced a significant increase in operating costs this year and unfortunately, we have currently had to suspend the distribution of the snack bags that we included with each delivery. Although these snack bags are not imperative, they are a good supplemental meal for the homebound seniors. If you or a business is interested in helping support our senior community, please reach out to Ashley at
865-453-8080 or you can simply drop off donations at 1220 West Main Street. We are requesting individual snacks: oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, breakfast bars, grits, peanut butter crackers, soup cups etc. (we can also accept monetary donations for the purchase of snacks)

05/28/2026

🦆 🏁 Ready, Set, Duck Race! 🏁 🦆

The Westgate Foundation is hosting the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park Duck Race, with proceeds directly benefiting the Westgate Foundation's charitable missions.

Join us for a day of splashing fun for an incredible cause!Your purchase supports community outreach, grants, and scholarships.

Here is how to get involved:
💲 Purchase Your Ducks Today!
$3 for 1 Duck 🦆
$10 for 4 Ducks 🦆🦆🦆🦆

🏆 The Grand Prize is a Westgate Vacation Voucher!

Souvenir ducks are also available for $5! 💛

📅 Mark Your Calendars for the Race Dates:
Last Week of May (Sat 5/30)
4th of July (Sat 7/4)
Jeep Invasion (Sat 8/22)
Labor Day (Say 9/5)
📍 Location: Waterpark - Wild Bear Falls (915 Westgate Resorts Rd, Gatlinburg, TN).

To Purchase:
Scan the QR code in our attached promotional image or visit: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/nationalwaterparkdayduckrace/event/smoky_mtn/

Don't wait! Get your ducks, support a great cause, and join in the fun! 🌟

05/27/2026

We're so excited to see you!

Join us at the annual Sevier County Hospitality & Tourism Alliance - SCHTA, hosted at The Ridge Outdoor Resort on Tuesday, June 9th. The event promises to be an informative and engaging experience, featuring esteemed guests such as the mayor and vice mayor of Sevier County, along with the mayors of each city in the county.

Register here:

Annual Sevier County Hospitality & Tourism Alliance Mayors' Luncheon on June 9th will feature all the Mayors within Sevier County.

05/18/2026

Our GHTA Vice President, John Hogg, recently hit the road for a special "Thank You Tour" right here in our community!

Alongside Crystal Huskey from The Park Vista sales department, John visited our local first responders to show our deep appreciation for everything they do to keep our region safe. They brought smiles, gratitude, and—of course—plenty of cookies! 🍪

We love seeing our GHTA leadership and members out in the community supporting the incredible people who protect and serve us every day. Check out some photos from John and Crystal's tour below!

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

It's a great day for the annual GHTA golf tournament!

The bidding for our auction ends at noon! https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/137686/auctions/199143

02/06/2026

Save the date!

02/02/2026

Helping our community is at the heart of what we do. The Gatlinburg Hospitality & Tourism Association is proud to offer the Community Fund Assistance program, designed to support our member employees facing unforeseen challenges.

Member company representatives can submit a request form on behalf of an employee. For more information or to submit an application, please contact our board members via email:
Lindsey Johnson: [email protected]
Connie Holbert: [email protected]
Melani Campbell: [email protected]

01/22/2026

We had an incredible turnout at our recent GHTA meeting! A huge thank you to our guest speaker, Rusty Sells Jr. (Director of Emergency Management at ETSU), for sharing vital insights on emergency preparedness within the hospitality industry.

One of the most important takeaways was the importance of COOP (Continuity of Operations) planning. Ensuring our businesses can stay resilient and functional during the unexpected isn’t just a safety measure but a commitment to our guests and our community.

Looking for more resources or need to update your emergency contact info? Rusty recommends visiting the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency at https://sevierema.org/

Thank you The Park Vista...a Doubletree Hotel for hosting the luncheon and serving exceptional food.

Let’s keep Gatlinburg safe and prepared!