Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Reach Higher Ground

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is surrounded on three sides by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Talk about embracing nature.

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Meetings, Conventions and Group Tours

Nestled among the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is an ideal meetings destination, boasting natural beauty, historical charm and the modern conveniences needed to host a great event. With over 10 million visitors a year, Gatlinburg offers optimal meeting space and reasonably-priced accommodations of all types, hundreds of unique shops and dining options, as well as attractions galore. Surrounded on three sides by the natural beauty of the National Park, Gatlinburg prides itself in its mountain heritage, and the arts, crafts, and retail shops of the area that reflect that heritage.

Gatlinburg offers groups a one-stop destination to enjoy four-season fun.

Located within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the American population east of the Mississippi River, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains feature a beautiful spot of pampered civilization nestled in one of the last tracts of unspoiled wilderness in the eastern United States. This quaint town with a permanent population of just over 3,500 year-round residents is a premier mountain resort meeting destination. Gatlinburg is filled with everything a meeting planner needs for a successful event with versatile facilities, and attractions for groups of every age and interest all within walking distance of Gatlinburg Convention Center and the new W.L. Mills Conference Center.

Gatlinburg Convention Center is no hidden gem; it is located in the middle of Gatlinburg’s bustling downtown Parkway district. As you step out the front entrance of the Convention Center, you find yourself amidst hundreds of shops, galleries, boutiques, restaurants and accommodations. It’s within walking or trolley distance of all the attractions, shopping and dining in Gatlinburg. With 148,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the Gatlinburg Convention Center accommodates groups of all sizes.

The W.L. Mills Conference Center features the 17,000-square-foot Tennessee Ballroom which can easily accommodate most group banquets, and the state-of-the-art Boardroom is perfect for small business meetings. Existing users of the Gatlinburg Convention Center will be pleased to see the major modifications made to Mills Auditorium. In a sense of preservation, every mountain stone placed on the new building is preserved from the original 1956 structure. Hardwood floors were replaced with plush carpet and lodge-like chandeliers which now hang proudly from the wooden beams. Major acoustical enhancements also were made to the Auditorium. Although many changes were made to the building, it still gleams with mountain charm.

Meetings in Gatlinburg are enhanced by a wide variety of accommodation options. Gatlinburg offers over 12,000 sleeping rooms including full- and limited-service hotels and motels, condominiums, chalets, cabins and campgrounds. These accommodations are available with a variety of locations, from downtown overlooking the Little Pigeon River to a mountaintop overlooking the Smoky Mountains to secluded natural surroundings, all within a short walk or drive of the Convention Center.

While you’re here, explore the 1.3 million gallon Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, ride the country’s largest aerial tram to the top of Tennessee’s only ski resort of Ober Gatlinburg, and travel the eight-mile loop of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community - the largest gathering of independent artisans in the country. Also enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, camping, golfing, skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding - the possibilities are endless for pre- and post- convention offerings.

Visit www.gatlinburg-tn.com to access an electronic version of the Gatlinburg Meeting Planner Guide, or to request a hard copy please call 800-343-1475. You may also search accommodations, restaurants and attractions listings for information.