Northwest Tennessee Tourism Summit

March 18, 2019

Discovery Park of America and the Obion County Chamber of Commerce announced today they will be presenting the 2019 Northwest Tennessee Tourism Summit on Tues., March 26, 2019 at Discovery Park of America from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The event is being held for those in the Reelfoot Lake Region who are interested in increasing tourism in this area. The sessions scheduled will be especially helpful for those managing attractions, restaurateurs, hoteliers, retailers, city managers and others whose companies and organizations benefit from an increase in tourism revenue.  There is no charge to attend the summit.

The Jackson, Tennessee Convention and Visitors Bureau is the sponsor of the continental breakfast that begins at 8:30 a.m.

During the summit, Scott D. Parrott, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics with Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee at Martin will share information about perceptions of Ag tourism in Tennessee based on his recent research project.

Scott Williams, president and CEO of DPA will be hosting a panel discussion focused on tips and tricks to increase visitors with Lindsay Frilling, CEcD, CEO of the Obion County Joint Economic Development Council in Union City; Marty Marbry, West Tennessee division manager of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Lori Nunnery, executive director of the Jackson Tennessee Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Melissa Kramer, with the Office of Sustainable Communities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will present information from a recent report she managed entitled “How Small Towns and Cities Can Use Local Assets to Rebuild their Economies: Lessons from Successful Places.” Kramer will be here to share insights on how economically resilient towns, cities, and regions adapt to changing conditions and even reinvent their economic bases using local assets to drive tourism revenue.

Closing out the summit will be Mark Ezell, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Ezell is responsible for the growth strategy and overall branding of the state’s global tourism footprint. He is a nationally recognized brand developer, having worked on iconic campaigns including the award-winning “Milk Mustache – Got Milk?” campaign. A seventh generation Tennessean, Ezell’s 35 years at Purity Dairies, including time as President and General Manager, helped the former family-owned company receive recognition as a “Brands That Built Nashville” winner from the Nashville American Advertising Federation.

Discovery Park of America is located at 830 Everett Blvd. in Union City, TN.  For more information, visit  DiscoveryParkofAmerica/tourismsummit or email info@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

About Discovery Park of America

The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world-class museum and heritage park located in Union City, Tennessee, is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included is a 100,000-square-foot museum featuring 10 interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world and a 50-acre heritage park. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. For more information, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com or follow DPA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.