30,000 Reasons Why Tourism is Everybody’s Business

October 1, 2025 | Chattanooga Convention Center

Join us for the 2025 Chattanooga Tourism Summit — the region’s premier gathering of tourism professionals, advocates, and community leaders. This year’s theme, “Tourism is Everybody’s Business,” celebrates the 30,000+ individuals who power our local tourism economy and highlights the vital role tourism plays in strengthening communities.

What to Expect

Date & Time:

  • Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  • Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for a Chef’s Table breakfast and exhibitor showcase
  • Program begins at 8:00 a.m.

Location:

Chattanooga Convention Center

Summit Highlights:

  • Chef’s Table breakfast experience
  • Exhibitor showcase featuring local tourism partners
  • Breakout sessions with actionable insights
  • Live music and networking opportunities
  • Remarks from Chattanooga Tourism Co. CEO Barry White

Keynote Panel: Industry Leaders Driving Change

Hear from three nationally recognized voices in tourism:

  • Commissioner Mark Ezell with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development spearheads the state's global tourism strategy. In this role, he builds national campaigns that reinforce Tennessee as a world-class destination while fostering long-term growth through revenue and job creation. Since joining the agency in 2019, Ezell has overseen historic growth in Tennessee tourism. In 2024, the state generated $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending, a 3.3% increase year over year. Over the past seven years, visitor spending in Tennessee has climbed 35.5% — more than double the national average of 16.7%. 

 

  • Bill Geist, Chief Instigator of DMOproz, a consulting firm specializing in destination marketing organization leadership for more than 30 years, serving clients from Alaska to Belize. He is the author of "Destination Leadership" and "Destination Leadership for Boards” and hosts the monthly industry podcast DMOU, interviewing leading destination marketing professionals. His expertise in the measurable impact of sustained marketing efforts demonstrates how destinations thrive—or struggle—based on visibility and investment, while highlighting the critical role of local advocates in securing resources and championing tourism value within their communities. 

 

  • Beth Santos is an entrepreneur and community builder working to transform travel for women worldwide. As founder and CEO of Wanderful, she leads an international collective of travelers and travel content creators on a mission to improve travel for all women. Santos created the WITS Travel Creator Summit, a leading event for women and gender diverse travel creators, and established the annual Bessie Awards to honor women making an impact in travel. She also founded Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival by and for women. 

Why Attend?

  • Gain tools to advocate for tourism in your community.
  • Learn how marketing and influencer partnerships fuel tourism growth.
  • Connect with professionals from lodging, food & beverage, attractions, and more.
  • Celebrate the impact of tourism — from 10.7 million annual visitors to $70 million in local tax contributions.