Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain Park, Gatlinburg is a quaint town filled with everything a meeting planner needs for a successful event: a beautiful, state of the art convention center, 16,000+ sleeping rooms comprised of full service and limited-service hotels, cabins, and condominiums. Gatlinburg also offers 500+ shops and 100+ restaurants as well as entertainment attractions for every age and interest.
From natural light flooding in through the gallery skylights to the exposed wooden beams, the Gatlinburg Convention Center has 160,000 square feet of total space and is a venue of great beauty with a warm and spacious feeling. Reminiscent of the great lodges in America’s national parks, the Convention Center is built in an Arts and Crafts style that features a generous use of mountain stone and woodwork.
Searching for a unique activity that gives attendees an immersive local arts scene experience? The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, which includes more than 100 independent artisans – the largest arts and crafts community in North America – offers a “Create Your Own” program. Participating shops offer hands-on workshops for participants to make their own crafts to take home.
Price is always a determining factor for groups of all sizes and markets. Gatlinburg hotels do not charge for overnight guest parking. This is a “hidden cost” savings that Gatlinburg offers that is often overlooked when evaluating other cities for events and programs.
Gatlinburg is centrally located in the eastern U.S., which means it is less than a day’s drive from most major cities. Once you are in Gatlinburg, getting around is easy as well. Gatlinburg is a pedestrian-friendly destination where visitors can walk or take the trolley from their accommodations and convention center to most attractions. It is a wonderful way to soak up the sights and sounds on a fun ride aboard a nostalgic streetcar trolley.