How would one describe Knoxville, Tennessee? Well, let’s see… 

There’s “Marble City,” a reference to the Tennessee limestone that’s been used in some of the most famous buildings in America, such as the Lincoln Memorial and New York’s Grand Central Station. 

There’s "Cradle of Country Music." While that other Tennessee city about 180 miles to the west calls itself the home of country music, Knoxville is the place where the roots of the genre originated. In an homage to the city’s vibrant arts community, it’s been tabbed an “Etsy Maker City.” 

There’s a few that poke a little fun at Knoxville, like "Streaking Capital of the World" or "Underwear Capital of the World," phrases used following a mass streaking incident in the 1970s, a reference to the city’s undergarment textiles industry. Or there’s “Scruffy City,” a reference that evolved from the city’s bid to host the 1982 World’s Fair. The scruffy little city – the smallest city to have hosted a World's Fair -- won the bid and to this day, the iconic gold-colored Sunsphere Tower stands 266-feet high in downtown as a testament to the city’s place on the world stage. 

But how about this one: “A nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda town.” Visit Knoxville, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, came up with the catchy phrase that encapsulates the destination’s marketing efforts to draw both leisure and group business. 

Knoxville is clearly asserting itself as a destination for meeting planners. The Knoxville Convention Center (make sure you see the world’s second largest Rubik’s Cube on display), which’s borders the World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville on the edge of the University of Tennessee, boasts 500,000 square feet across three floors of concourse, meeting and exhibit space. The Grand Ballroom is 27,000 square feet and can be divided into six smaller rooms. The facility offers 20 meeting rooms in total. Plus, there’s more than 19,000 square feet of outdoor space, the Plaza Terrace, adjacent to World’s Fair Park. 

With about 8,000 hotel rooms, including 1,100 in downtown, the city has proven it can manage major events, whether the fall influx of fans for Tennessee Volunteer football games to the Bassmaster Classic, which last year attracted more than 163,000 attendees (the event has set attendance records in two of the last three years it has hosted). 

With a plethora of museums, ranging from historical to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, a burgeoning arts and music community, a rapidly expanding array of culinary options and a menu of outdoor activities for nearly every enthusiast, Knoxville offers a diverse array of options for visitors. 

A Plethora of Options in Knoxville 

“Knoxville's got something for everybody,” says Chad Culver, Senior Director, Sports Commission and Convention Sales for Visit Knoxville. “We’ve got the arts. We've got the adventure. We're so close to the urban wilderness across the river from downtown. We’re a sports kind of town. We use it as meetings kind of town. It’s just a way to show that we're not just a one-trick pony. We've got something for any group or for any person that wants to travel here for leisure, for meetings, for sports. We've got something for everybody. No matter what you like, you can find something in Knoxville.” 

One challenge is getting the word out about Knoxville, says Robin Holbrook, Director of Group Sales for Aimbridge, which manages The Tennessean, part of a campus of three downtown hotels working jointly to attract group business. 

Knoxville, she says, “tends to be the little sister in the shadow of Nashville and it's not until somebody actually comes here and experiences everything that the downtown area has to offer. They're so surprised that we are so pedestrian friendly, so walkable and you can get to art museums and symposiums. You can get to over 90 restaurants, pubs and microbrews in a one square mile radius. That's just phenomenal to me that a city has that at your disposal.” 

Holbrook’s team has a unique selling position: one team selling a campus that includes three hotels – The Tennessean, which is connected to the Marriott Knoxville, and the nearby Hilton Knoxville. All three are connected to the convention center and the one sales team enables one-stop shopping for meeting planners. The Tennessean offer 82 room and suites, but with the adjoining Marriott and the nearby Hilton, meeting planners have access to more than 700 rooms. The meeting space at The Tennessean/Marriott ranges from a 16-seat executive boardroom to the 17,000-square foot Maker's Exchange, which includes a 10,000 square foot ballroom and access to an additional 66,000 square feet of connected exhibit hall.  

The complex works with the city to offer meeting planners five acres of outdoor space and a 1,200-seat amphitheater. Don’t forget the convention center across the street. 

“It's been really widely embraced by the meeting planners,” Holbrook said of the ability to work through one team. “You can either have brand loyalty or one roof. You may be looking at two different hotels, but technically we have just a door that you walk through to get to both lobbies. 

Holbrook says the destination is diversified when it comes to group business, but strong with national and state associations. Sports events are big, too. 

While Knoxville is a strong drive-up market -- Knoxville is about an eight-hour drive to 60% of the U.S. -- the city’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) offers  

30 non-stop destinations including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver and cities in Florida. 

The key, both Holbrook and Culver, is exposing Knoxville to the meeting planner community. 

“If we can get somebody here for a site visit or for a FAM or for anything else, we have a pretty good shot to get the business because our city sells,” Culver says. “The people of our city help us sell every day. We've got that good Southern hospitality. We're at college town. I push my staff to get them (planners) to town and then close the deal.” 

Why Knoxville 

• Knoxville is at the crossroads of major interstates I-75, I-40 and I- 81, and within a day's drive of half the US population. McGhee-Tyson Airport serves the region with 30 direct flights.  

• Knoxville is one of America’s most vibrant cities for live music. From classical to bluegrass, country to rock, live music is on the Square, on the streets and on the stages of the historic Bijou and Tennessee Theatres, hosting concerts and Broadway shows as well as performances by the Knoxville Opera Company, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.  

• Knoxville’s unique culinary scene is shaped by a group of talented chefs including Tennessee’s first James Beard Award Winner, Joseph Lenn, owner of J.C. Holdway and one of several Blackberry Farm chefs who operate restaurants in Knoxville. Chef Matthew Gallagher operates Emilia, serving Italian inspired cuisine in a crisp atmosphere. The Old City is home to Lonesome Dove, a Western Bistro operated by celebrity chef and University of Tennessee grad Tim Love.  

What’s New in Knoxville 

• Visit Knoxville will open the Welcome Center at the Sunsphere in November 2024. The Welcome Center will enhance the visitor experience by providing staffed ticketing, expanded retail, brochures, and information in an enclosed space overlooking World’s Fair Park.

• A new publicly owned, $114 million multi-use baseball stadium called Covenant Health Park will open spring 2025 in Knoxville’s downtown, bringing Minor League Baseball back to Knoxville. The multi-use stadium will host the Smokies (AA team of the Chicago Cubs) and other baseball events, One Knoxville SC, and concerts and festivals. In addition, the stadium will include facilities to host business meetings, conferences, receptions, holiday parties and other year-round events.

See 

Museums  

History enthusiasts will find no shortage with the East Tennessee Historical Center, seven Historic House Museums, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, the Candoro Marble Building, and more. The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is the only facility in the world dedicated to all levels of the sport of women's basketball. 

Artsy-Kinda-Town 

Visit the Knoxville Museum of Art for "Higher Ground", their flagship permanent exhibition celebrating the richness and diversity of East Tennessee’s visual culture. Pop into the The Emporium in the Old City for five rotating galleries and a hotspot during "First Fridays." For the performing arts, visitors should know that Knoxville is one of America’s most vibrant cities for live music. From classical to bluegrass, country to rock, the city is like a jukebox full of options. Experience venues like the Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou Theatre, and performance groups like the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Knoxville Opera, just to name a few. 

The Sunsphere 

No trip to Knoxville would be complete without a trip up to the 4th Floor Observation Deck of the Sunsphere. The Sunsphere, built for the 1982 World’s Fair, offers a stunning 360-degree view of downtown Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains, World’s Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus.  

DO

Tennessee River 

The Tennessee River is formed by the confluence of the Holston and French Broad Rivers just east of downtown. Rent a paddleboard or kayak from Knoxville Adventure Collective, or take a cruise with the Volunteer Princess or Tennessee Riverboat. 

Knoxville's Urban Wilderness 

A spectacular outdoor adventure area where you can hike, bike, climb, paddle or just wander in the woods – all within the heart of the city. Over 60 miles of trails and greenways connect you to a beautiful nature center, pristine lakes, historic sites, dramatic quarries, adventure playgrounds, five city parks, and a 600-acre wildlife area.

Zoos & Gardens 

Other attractions round out the experience from Zoo Knoxville to peaceful retreats like the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum and the UT Gardens, a variety of walking/driving tours to enjoy, and some much more.  

EAT 

Market Square 

The heart of downtown with a variety of restaurants. Dine al fresco during the week, enjoy fresh finds at the Farmers' Market on Saturday morning and branch out to adjacent Gay Street and Old City for more options. 

Kern's Food Hall 

This new food hall just opened on Chapman Highway, just south of downtown. 

On Tap 

Enjoy a stop or two on Knoxville's Ale Trail, perhaps you'll find nothing more unique than Pretentious Craft Co. Whiskey enthusiasts will want to make a stop on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. 

STAY/MEET 

The Tennessean 

The hotel's charm is rooted in Tennessee, featuring locally inspired design and the state flower, the Iris, in its logo. Situated downtown, it offers 82 spacious rooms and suites blending European flair with southern comfort. Check out the Maker Exchange, a showcase for local artisans and crafters.