Annual Tourism Dollars on the Rise in Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Bob Doak, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, says, "Tourists recognize that we have a great city. They’re flocking here."

Numbers don’t lie.

Hamilton County will soon reach more than one billion dollars a year in annual tourism.

Never before could county and city leaders say that.

Tim Morgan, President of the Chattanooga Sports Committee, says, "There’s a lot of excitement building, I can assure you that."

In just a matter of days, Chattanooga will play host to a full Ironman competition.

Only about ten other cities in the United States have had that privilege.

City and county leaders tell us that will pump at least $8 million dollars into the economy.

Doak adds, "But actually its higher than that because each athlete has been here at least once to see the course, to see they will actually be participating in."

Collegedale-based McKee Foods is a sponsor.

Chris McKee, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for McKee Foods, adds, "I don’t see it as a real consumer branding effort as being part of something that we think is really good for Chattanooga."

City leaders say being a part of the Ironman competition will enable Chattanooga to host other big events that will ultimately add to the bottom line.

Doak adds, "But we can’t rest, we need to continue to dream big, think big, and build big."

The Ironman competition will take place on Sunday.

However, you can expect road closures as early as tomorrow.