Gatlinburg Named Top “Cool Spot for Summer Meetings” by ConventionSouth Magazine

The votes are in! ConventionSouth readers and destination Facebook fans have selected Gatlinburg as their top pick for “The South’s Cool Spots For Summer Meetings.”

In December 2015, ConventionSouth editors compiled a Facebook ballot with a list of 60 meetings destinations that are well fit for summer meetings as they offer escape from the summer heat. From those 60 “Cool Spots,” fans were asked to vote for their top picks.

“Meeting Planners and event organizers from across the country look for unique destinations in the South to hold their meetings and events. ConventionSouth’s 2016 list of the ‘South’s Cool Spots For Summer Meetings’ provides these planners with interesting insight on some of the South’s milder temperature destinations,” said ConventionSouth Editor Marcia Bradford. “By offering a place to stay cooler during the hot summer months, meeting planners can boost attendance and create a more comfortable experience for participants and therefore, increase the success of the gathering.”

The following list of 12 cities gained the top votes. The January print and digital issue of ConventionSouth will share this list with meeting planners from across the country that book meeting sites in the South. Cities appear in order by votes received.

1. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
2. Greeneville, Tennessee
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
4. Bowling Green, Kentucky
5. Huntington, West Virginia
6. Chattanooga, Tennessee
7. Gulf Shores, Alabama
8. Outer Banks, North Carolina
9. Virginia Beach, Virginia
10. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
11. Alexandria/Pineville, Louisiana
12. Hot Springs, Arkansas

“It is no surprise that Gatlinburg is top of the list. Surrounded on three sides by the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is naturally cooled by the mountains,” said Mayor Mike Werner. “Gatlinburg has all the amenities of a great convention city. We are proud to be recognized by ConventionSouth readers as just that.”