Chattanooga welcomed nearly 250 sports tourism professionals for the 2024 Sports ETA 4S Summit, held Nov. 12-14, at The Westin Chattanooga and other locations across the city. The event, hosted by Chattanooga Sports, a division of Chattanooga Tourism Co., achieved an 80% increase in attendance compared to 2023 and showcased the city as a premier destination for sports tourism and event innovation.
“The success of the 2024 Sports ETA 4S Summit would not have been possible without the collaboration of our community partners,” said Tim Morgan, chief sports officer of Chattanooga Tourism Co. “This event allowed us to showcase the beautiful attributes of Chattanooga while building meaningful connections that strengthen the sports tourism industry nationwide.”
The 4S Summit (sales, services, strategy, and support) featured more than a dozen educational sessions and networking opportunities. Keynote speakers included:
- Mark Ezell, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourism Development
- Jerry Caldwell, president and GM, Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway
- John Prater, president, Praters Inc.
- Chris McKee, president and COO, McKee Foods, who shared insights into the company’s sponsorship of the Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga and the Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga.
Attendees explored multiple venues across Chattanooga, including the Chattanooga Convention Center, Camp Jordan Arena, and the Summit Softball Fields. The event also highlighted strong local partnerships, with support from organizations such as The Westin Chattanooga, The Chattanoogan Hotel, Read House Hotel, The Edwin Hotel, Whiskey Thief, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department, Finley Stadium, IRONMAN Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Officials said, "The seamless execution of the summit made possible by the comprehensive support of Chattanooga Tourism Co., reinforced Chattanooga’s standing as a premier destination for sports tourism, meetings, and conventions."