Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber 2017 Chamber Annual Report | Page 11

Welcome
EVENTS/GROUPS/HOSTING:
to cookeville
•Successfully partnered with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Tennessee Department of
Tourist Development to host the first Southern Backroads Harley Owners’ Group Rally, July 11-15,
2017. Attendance from local, regional, national & international riders totaled more than 2,000,
making it the largest in the U.S. for 2017.
Welcome!
We are glad you have chosen to join us for the first
ever Southern Backroads H.O.G. Rally!
Lined with picturesque landscapes,
Tennessee’s scenic “Southern
Backroads” can take you to some of
the most popular a!ractions in the
nation. While you’re here, tour
important American history sites
and taste the best barbecue in the
country. Explore our state parks as
they celebrate 80 years this year.
Major music milestones such as the
125 th anniversary of the historic
Ryman Auditorium also offer cause
for celebration. And last, but
certainly not least, let the rumble of
your Harley-Davidson contribute to
“"e Soundtrack of America. Made
in Tennessee.” Enjoy your stay, and
we hope you will visit often.
•For the fourth year in a row, Cookeville was awarded hosting privileges to serve as a major stop
for Run for the Wall, a veterans’ motorcycle event routing from Los Angeles to Arlington National
Cemetery with participants riding in honor of POWs and MIAs. The emotional and impactful event
led over 300 riders into town as they broke from a 10-day cross country journey the week before
Memorial Day.
Bill Haslam
Governor of
Tennessee
carvethecumberland.com
•Was selected and successfully hosted, for the first time, the Silent Service Motorcycle Club
National Rally. Cookeville served as the group’s highest attended national rally to date with more
than 100 veteran submariners riding into town for the 4-day event. Event was featured in RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine.
• Partnered with local stakeholders and attractions to promote and market the 2017 Cookeville S.E.E. (Solar Eclipse Experience), marking the largest
international visitation for Putnam County to date.
• Hosted a successful TSSAA BlueCross Bowl for the ninth consecutive year. The state high school football championships have unofficially dubbed
Cookeville the “capital of Tennessee high school football.” Over 40,000 visitors were welcomed to Putnam County over a three-day event with an
estimated economic impact of $2.5 million. Community support and a team effort involving more than 750 volunteers continue to offer the hospitality
that allows Cookeville to be honored with hosting privileges. The visitors’ bureau led efforts in successfully bidding and acquiring continued BlueCross
Bowl hosting rights through 2020.
• Partnered with TDTD to “pitch” Cookeville-Putnam County as a group travel destination by participating
in the 2017 Tennessee Sales Sampler, a sales blitz targeting group tour operators in drive markets such
as Atlanta, Birmingham, and Huntsville.
• Continued to establish momentum as a group travel destination, assisting with numerous events,
including Arkansas Tin Lizzies, AMA State Amateur Hillclimb Championship, TACA/BCAT All-Star
Basketball Classic, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training, Rotary Soccer Classic, Mayhem for Mustard
Seed Ranch (CrossFit), Cummins Falls Marathon, and various other local events.