By Kristen Combs, Visit Knoxville Director of Communications & Social Strategies
Knoxville, Tennessee, is a vibrant Southern city where creativity, history, and nature all meet. Nestled at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, it offers the charm of a small town with the energy of a college city – home to the University of Tennessee and its proud Volunteer spirit. (Go Vols!) From the lively streets of downtown and the Old City to eclectic neighborhoods like Bearden and Happy Holler, Knoxville has so much to offer. Blending outdoor adventure with a thriving arts and music scene, delicious local food, and a strong sense of community, Knox County is truly a standout place to work, live, and play.
But how does this translate to visitors?
The same amenities that make Knoxville an incredible place to live make Knoxville an amazing place to visit! Sharing about Knoxville as a unique destination is why our organization exists. Visit Knoxville’s mission is to accelerate sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention/event business to our community.
Visit Knoxville (VK) is the official Convention and Visitors Bureau for Knoxville and Knox County. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VK works together with the community, business leaders, and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier destination for visitors, meetings/conventions, sporting events, and film production.
VK owns and operates the official Knoxville Visitor Center located at 301 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville and manages the Sunsphere Welcome Center and the 4th Floor Observation Deck in partnership with the City of Knoxville and Knox County.
“Marking a decade as Visit Knoxville is an incredible personal and professional honor,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “Our organization has been consistently committed to our tourism partners – our stakeholders, our community, our city, and our county – by promoting this nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town. Our passion is evidenced by our name: We are dedicated to encouraging everyone to VISIT KNOXVILLE.”
A glimpse through the years:
2012 – Establishment of Visit Knoxville. Hosted National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World Tournament and the Ozone Invitational.
2013 – Hosted the Southern Food Writers Conference as part of the International Biscuit Festival. Partnered with the Public Arts Committee, the Arts & Culture Alliance, the East Tennessee Design Center, and the Central Business Improvement District to spearhead the Knoxville Mural Project with the initial mural painted at the Visit Knoxville Visitors Center.
2014 – Established the Visit Knoxville Film Office. Hosted the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s Annual Conference, and the Academic Games Leagues of America’s National Tournament.
2015 – Hosted the Medal of Honor Convention at the Knoxville Convention Center. Partnered with the Knoxville Chamber and the University of Tennessee to produce a new Visitors & Relocation Guide and a new UT Visitor Guide.
2016 – Established the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. Claimed Blue Ridge Outdoors “Best City” award. Partnered with the Knoxville Area Brewers Association to create and distribute the Knoxville Ale Trail Map. Welcomed one of Burt Reynold’s final projects of his career, The Last Movie Star.
2017 – Launched “Knoxville Will Surprise You” branding. Renovated the Visitors Center. Purchased 50,000 square feet of Sport Court flooring to create 10 basketball/14 volleyball courts. Launched the Visit Knoxville Housing System. Partnered with Greetings Tour for the mural on Broadway. Hosted the first USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships.
2018 – Designed and coordinated graphic installation at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall. Partnered with Zagster and the City of Knoxville to launch the Pace Bike Share Program. Partnered with Knoxville History Project, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the City of Knoxville on the Downtown Art Wraps.
2019 – Hosted the National Association of Sports Commissions Annual Symposium, the TYR Pro Swim Series, and Bassmaster Classic. Partnered with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) to host the first Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase. Listed in MovieMaker Magazine’s as “Best Places to Live and Work as a MovieMaker.” Hosted Garth Brooks at Neyland Stadium (resulting in Knoxville being named as Vivid Seats’ 2020 Concert City of the Year). Launched new branding and “a-nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town” campaign.
2020 – Hosted Alpha Kappa Alpha’s South Eastern Regional Conference and the NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships just prior to the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Partnered on the KNOXTOGETHER community initiative in response to COVID-19. Launched “For the Love of Knoxville” CARES Act campaign.
2021 – Celebrated 225 years of Tennessee Statehood. Hosted the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit® Challenge and the first Visit Knoxville Open. Redesigned the VK Gift Shop to highlight local Makers. Partnered with TDTD to host a series of Sunsphere Sundays concerts in World’s Fair Park.
2022 – Reopened the 4th Floor Observation Deck of the Sunsphere. Partnered with Live Nation on Paul McCartney’s Get Back Tour. Partnered with the City of Knoxville, Knox County, the Downtown Knoxville Alliance, and Block by Block to launch K-Town Connect. Hosted the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World’s Fair Celebration.
2023 – Hosted the highest attended Bassmaster Classic to date. Hosted the AAU Girls Basketball National Championships. Received the Purple Iris Award for DMO (Destination Management Organization) of the Year. Hosted the inaugural FILM FEST KNOX. Painted the Sunsphere back to its original blue.
2024 – Included in CNN Travel’s “2024 America’s Best Towns to Visit.” Hosted the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving. Hosted Morgan Wallen at Neyland Stadium. Opened the Sunsphere Welcome Center.
And into 2025 and beyond, Visit Knoxville continues to spotlight Knoxville as an incredible place to live, work, and visit! Learn more at VisitKnoxville.com.