Board of Directors

Feb/Mar 2008
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
Gatlinburg Goes Green Campaign Underway!
News Items Welcome!
A
Deadline for materials: All submissions must
be written and received by the 15th day of the
preceding month of publication.
s you may know, in the recent Priority Gatlinburg Conference a common
thread of concern for our community was our environment and making our
community “Green”. Through our mission statement “…in a cohesive voice for the
advancement of the economic, environmental, and social concerns of the community…”
the Chamber has shown the importance of moving in this direction. The backyard of
our city is Great Smoky Mountain National Park and it is important for the citizens and
business community of Gatlinburg to be consciously aware of how our actions affect this
jewel and our environment. With this in mind, the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce is
proud to introduce “Gatlinburg Goes Green!”
“Gatlinburg Goes Green!” is the result of work done by the Chamber’s Environmental
Green Workgroup over the past year bringing the importance of Green in Gatlinburg to
the forefront. I encourage you to review the information and make plans to participate.
As you will see there are many levels of participation and we know you can find the right
fit for your business. To assist you in your movement to be a “Green” business on March
12th the Chamber will hold the 2nd in our Dine & Discover Series, “How to Clean Green”,
sponsored by Southeastern Paper Group. Every member can benefit from attending this
seminar and there is no cost to participate. Enclosed you will find a flyer on this workshop
and how your business can register to attend.
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
Our Services Include
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The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce is excited
about assisting our community in becoming the
Greenest Destination this side of the Mississippi!
Gatlinburg Business Goes Green!
G
atlinburg Goes Green launched on Friday,
February 22, 2008 and by Monday, February
25, 2008 our first business had made the Green
Commitment. Chris Gray of Jim Gray Galleries says
“We don’t call our company GREENbrier Inc. for
nothing!”
Chris Gray & Vicki Simms
This year Greenbrier Inc. is making a concerted
effort to “green” up their business in every way possible. With the loss of their gallery
downtown, they have turned to focusing all their efforts on the gallery in the Great Smoky
Arts and Crafts Community. They traded off their full size Ford van and now make all
deliveries with a Toyota Prius.
Board of Directors
Dan Booth – President
Jerry Morton – President Elect
Logan Coykendall – Treasurer
Vickie Blake – Secretary
Tim King – Sergeant At Arms
David Perella - Ex-Officio
Kevin Tierney - Past President
Term Expires 2008
Vickie Blake - Dan Booth
Ryan DeSear
Term Expires 2009
David Dixon - Paula King
Tim King - Jerry Morton
Term Expires 2010
Logan Coykendall - Vickie King
Claudette Geoffrion Deborah Linnert
Designated Directors
Cam Caton
Attractions Association
Candace Ogle
Lodging and Hospitality Association
Dan Tilley
Wedding Chapel Association
Jeff Prange
Retail Merchants Association
Frances Shambaugh
Arts and Crafts Community
They are replacing the ancient heat and air system with a high efficiency Heat Pump
with natural gas backup, and adding insulation to the ceiling, walls, and floor where ever
possible. They are also replacing halogen track lights with super high efficiency LED spot
lights, which do not have mercury in them like the new coiled florescent bulbs.
One of the biggest decisions they have made is to go solely to email to deliver their sales
message to over 25,000 collectors across the country. This will save literally tons of paper
as well as fuel for delivery.
Any questions regarding the Chamber’s Gatlinburg Goes Green Campaign please
contact Connie at 436.4178.
To better serve our Community
and our environment, the
Gatlinburg Chamber monthly
newsletter is printed on 100% post
consumer recycled paper and ink.
QuickFacts...
Welcome
New Members!
January
Jan 2008
2008
Phone Request........................................
2,222
Web Request......................................... 26,502
Regular Mail Request..............................
23
Total Vacation Guide Request .............. 28,747
Jan 2008
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls..... 800 Incoming Calls.............................
Total Incoming Calls........................
Regular Members
YEAR TO DATE
Jan 2008
Phone Request.......................
Web Request......................................
Regular Mail Request.....................
Total Vacation Guide Request...........
BLAKE HOSPITALITY
Victoria Blake
215 Woliss Lane, Suite 2A
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Service
2,222
26,502
23
28,747
YEAR TO DATE
Jan 2008
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls...... 800 Incoming Calls............................ Total Incoming Calls.........................
PINPOINT HD MEDIA, INC
Karl Thomas
247 Bruce Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Advertising Agency
Jan 2008
Internet Visitors.............................
YTD....................................................
PDF Downloads................................. SETH’S RED OAK LODGE
Debbie Plimpton
436 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Lodge
1,810
4,398
6,208
2007
1,774
15,646
22
17,442
1,848
4,214
6,062
% of change
25.3
69.4
4.5
64.8
-2.1
4.4
2.4
1,774
15,646
22
17,442
25.3
69.4
4.5
64.8
1,810
4,398
6,208
1,848
4,214
6,062
-2.1
4.4
2.4
335,848
335,848
90,567
295,110
295,110
57,612
13.8
13.8
57.0
(Rounded to the nearest/in 000)
Business Partners
Dec 2007
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts - Other.......................... Total......................................................
2007
12,182
8,782
3,318
14,612
38,894
2006
13,011
8,990
3,562
14,769
40,332
% of change
-6.4
2.3
-6.9
1.1
-3.6
CABIN FEVER VACATIONS
Scott Rice
2536 McGill Street
Pigeon Forge, TN 37738
Overnight Rentals
YEAR TO DATE
Dec 2007
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts - Other.......................... Total......................................................
149,485
102,353
43,909
181,399
477,146
153,827
99,434
43,722
182,792
479,776
-2.8
2.9
.4
-.8
.6
1,907
4,013
517
5,746
0
1,499
6,280
1,002
6,874
2,028
3,318
3,202
2,509
2,228
4,170
618
5,995
0
1,375
6,558
1,058
7,045
1,934
3,562
3,231
2,559
-14.4
3.8
-16.4
-4.2
0
9.0
-4.2
-5.2
-2.4
4.9
-6.9
-.9
-2.0
PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL
Melissa Whaley Randles
1111 Northshore Drive Suite P-190
Knoxville, TN 37919
Financial Services
Patron Members
SHIRLEY MORRISON
409 Greystone Heights
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
TIM MORRISON
409 Greystone Heights
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
W
ednesday, February 20, 2008 at 7:30am a New Member Breakfast reception
was held to welcome those in attendance to the growing chamber family.
Members were treated to a delicious breakfast catered by Absolutely
Sensational! Catering while they were informed about the variety of helpful marketing
programs available for their businesses. New Members attending were: Vickie Blake
of Blake Hospitality, Diane Wolfe of Twin Cedar Cabin Inc., Wayne Davidson of
Davidson’s Taxi & Delivery.
Your Ambassadors In Action!
D
orothy and Jim Johnson helped
register 200 + guests during
Business After Hours at Ripley’s
Believe It or Not Museum. Thumbs
Up and Paper Cuts to Sherri Webb who
assisted with a recent large chamber mailout and
maintained her positive attitude and enthusiasm
inspiring Chamber Staff to keep going till the job
was complete.
BUSINESS BY TYPES
Dec 2007
Hotel with restaurant..........................
Over 50 rooms no restaurant................
1 to 50 rooms single location................ Chalets, Condos, etc.............................
Campgrounds........................................
Fast Foods/Deli...................................... Family/Steak House Type.......................
Sweets/Snack Shops............................ Retail Sales............................................
Service Business....................................
Amusement/Attractions.........................
Groceries/Markets.................................
All Others...............................................
Vicki Simms, ext. 109
Executive Director
[email protected]
Linda Leone, ext. 110
Finance and Administrative Director
Assistant Executive Director
[email protected]
Connie Burns, ext. 113
Member Services Director
[email protected]
Angela Carathers, ext. 102
Internet Communications Director
[email protected]
Gretchen Ogle, ext. 103
Print Publications Director
[email protected]
Sherry Holtzclaw, ext. 114
Member Services Assistant
[email protected]
Gladys Griffin, ext. 106
Lead Area Consultant
[email protected]
CITY OF GATLINBURG GROSS REVENUES
Chamber Holds New Member Welcome Breakfast
Chamber Staff
WATER USAGE
*Water usage measured between the 18th of the month prior to the 17th of the month in report.
63,265
Jan 2008.................................
61,717
2.5
63,265
YTD .................................................... 61,717
2.5
NATIONAL PARK VISITORS (Gatlinburg Entrance)
122,455
128,627
-4.8
Jan 2008.................................
122,455
128,627
-4.8
YTD................................................... Stephanie Shultz, ext. 140
Receptionist
[email protected]
Peggy Pickel, ext. 107
Area Consultant
[email protected]
Jim Matuszak, ext. 105
Area Consultant
[email protected]
Emily Kelling, ext. 108
Finance Administrative Intern
[email protected]
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
Ethics Committee Report
Complaints for YTD
January 2008
Hotel/Motel
Overnight Rentals
Bed & Breakfasts/Inns/Lodges
Timeshares
Attractions
Shops
Dining & Entertainment
Services
Campgrounds
2
6
0
2
1
1
0
1
1
Mark Your
Calendar
Dine & Discover
March 12
Park Vista
Business After Hours
March 13
BB&T
Business During Hours
March 17
Mountain Vista Luxury Rentals
Business After Hours
April 1
MNB
Hospitality Seminars
April 16 & 17
Convention Center
Earth Day Festival
April 22
Mynatt Park
Upcoming Events
March 19-22
Easter Arts & Crafts Show
Convention Center
March 23
Easter Sunrise Service
Ober Gatlinburg
March 29
Music of the Mountains
WL Mills Auditorium
April 17
Ribfest & Wings
River Rd
April 23-27
58th Annual
Wildflower Pilgrimage
GSMNP
QuickFacts...
Dec 2007
Phone Request........................................
Web Request......................................... Regular Mail Request..............................
Total Vacation Guide Request .............. 2007
1,103
4,909
4
6,016
2006
702
5,509
5
6,216
% of change
57.1
-10.9
-20.0
-3.2
1,734
4,277
6,011
1,879
6,378
8,257
-7.7
-32.9
-27.2
24,616
130,914
179
155,709
29,070
166,190
228
195,488
-15.3
-21.2
-21.5
-20.3
21,696
59,042
80,738
25,669
80,690
106,359
-15.5
-26.8
-24.1
239,096
3,588,346
237,749
3,179,257
0.6
12.9
Nov 2007
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts - Other.......................... Total......................................................
13,536
9,177
2,925
15,686
41,324
13,754
8,664
2,495
15,916
40,829
1.6
5.9
17.2
-1.5
1.2
YEAR TO DATE
Nov 2007
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions....................
Gross Receipts - Other.......................... Total......................................................
138,031
93,952
40,591
166,179
438,754
141,357
90,444
40,160
167,422
439,383
-2.4
3.9
1.1
-1.0
.1
2,166
4,417
674
6,234
45
1,347
6,760
1,070
7,910
2,298
2,925
3,187
2,292
2,369
4,435
708
6,201
40
1,163
6,435
1,066
8,746
1,742
3,495
2,952
2,476
-8.6
-.4
-4.9
.5
12.6
15.8
5.1
.3
-9.6
31.9
17.2
7.9
-7.4
Dec 2007
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls..... 800 Incoming Calls.............................
Total Incoming Calls........................
YEAR TO DATE
Dec 2007
Phone Request.......................
Web Request......................................
Regular Mail Request.....................
Total Vacation Guide Request...........
YEAR TO DATE
Dec 2007
Local/Long Distance Incoming Calls...... 800 Incoming Calls............................ Total Incoming Calls.........................
Dec 2007
Internet Visitors.............................
YTD.................................................... CITY OF GATLINBURG GROSS REVENUES
(Rounded to the nearest/in 000)
BUSINESS BY TYPES
Nov 2007
Hotel with restaurant..........................
Over 50 rooms no restaurant................
1 to 50 rooms single location................ Chalets, Condos, etc.............................
Campgrounds........................................
Fast Foods/Deli...................................... Family/Steak House Type.......................
Sweets/Snack Shops............................ Retail Sales............................................
Service Business....................................
Amusement/Attractions.........................
Groceries/Markets.................................
All Others...............................................
WATER USAGE
*Water usage measured between the 18th of the month prior to the 17th of the month in report.
51,724
.3
Dec 2007.................................
51,548
650,997
1.0
YTD .................................................... 644,548
NATIONAL PARK VISITORS (Gatlinburg Entrance)
148,373
-25.7
199,752
Dec 2007.................................
3,507,603
3.1
3,402,018
YTD................................................... Welcome
New Members!
February
Regular Members
EARTHBORN PRODUCTS
Tom Thomas
376 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Retail
The GATLINBURG CABINS
Dennis Plimpton
511 Wild Ivy Way
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Overnight Rental
GATLINBURG PAWNBROKERS
Byron Day
813 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Services
HARDROCK CAFÉ
Olwen Claiborne
515 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Wedding Services
MOJITOS IN THE MOUNTAIN
Laura Clay
631 Ski Mountain Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Restaurant & Retail
PARK GRILL STEAKHOUSE
RECEPTIONS
Caroline Polakowski
1110 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Wedding Services
PARK VISTA
Jackelyn Schafer
705 Cherokee Orchard Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Wedding Services
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
January Business After Hours Host!
B
usiness After Hours took place Thursday,
January 31, 2008 with the unique Bubba
Gump Shrimp Company playing host.
A packed house gathered to enjoy each other’s
company while being treated to some of the
finest seafood around! We want to thank Ashley
Webb for opening the restaurant and welcoming
Chamber Members in to enjoy a fun evening and
for donating the many fabulous door prize items
– we loved the flashing light up drink cups and
the creative baskets of Bubba Gump Goodies!
FAMILY FUN at February
Business After Hours!
W
e want to thank Ryan DeSear and staff
at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
for hosting the Tuesday, February 12,
2008 Business After Hours. Ryan opened the doors
for Chamber Members and their families to play
unlimited arcade games, explore the museum,
enjoy the terrific eats including yummy Valentine
inspired chocolate covered strawberries! Ripley’s
provided prizes for the kids playing games as well
as a hefty number of fun door prizes. Other door
prize contributors were: Gabriel’s Horn, Flowers
of Gatlinburg, and Rafting In The Smokies. All 215 guests were all smiles the entire
evening and a fun time was had by everyone. Kudos to Midtown Lodge for allowing
free parking to guests during this event.
March Business After Hours Great Opportunity To Support
Teacher’s Supply Closet!
T
he school year is half over and teachers have been so
appreciative to be able to visit our Teacher’s Supply
Closet located at the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
office. The additional classroom supplies have made a tremendous impact in their
ability to concentrate on teaching their students allowing them not to worry about how
to get supplies they desperately need. You have a unique opportunity to support this
wonderful cause by bringing supplies or making a monetary donation to the March
13th Business After Hours hosted by BB&T of downtown Gatlinburg. Our host would
like to be able to fill the shelves and then some so our local teachers can continue getting
needed supplies throughout the school year. For a list of requested supplies made by
the teachers please call the Chamber at 436.4178.
Business Partners
SOUTHEASTERN PAPER GROUP
Chuck McGraw
50 Old Blackstock Road
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Green Services
Convention Center Events
Date March:
8
11-12
15-16
19-22
25
Event Type Attendance
Banquet
Food Show
Competition
A&C Show
Food Show
300
2,750
800
1,800
300