At the recent Stars of the Industry Awards, the South-Central Tennessee Tourism Association (SCTTA) was honored with the esteemed title of DMO of the Year – Small Budget. This accolade was presented by Commissioner Mark Ezell from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development during the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism 2024, which took place in Chattanooga. In addition to this recognition, Ryan French, the executive director and CEO of SCTTA, was awarded the DMO Director of the Year.
Over the past year, SCTTA has made significant strides in fostering tourism growth by establishing strong partnerships with various organizations. These include the Tennessee Distillers Guild, the Jack Daniel Distillery, and the Lynchburg-Moore Metropolitan County Chamber of Commerce, among others. A notable achievement in their efforts was the opening of the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead tourist center on the grounds of the Jack Daniel Distillery. This center has proven to be a major attraction, drawing in over 200,000 visitors each year, further solidifying the region’s appeal as a tourist destination.