Transforming Knoxville into a Tourism Triumph With Kim Bumpas

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Julia Hurley: Hello, everybody,

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and welcome to another

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episode of Connect the Knox.

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I'm your host, Julia Hurley,

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connecting Knoxville to the nation.

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Today's guest is one of my all time

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favorite people in the city of Knoxville

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as a whole, Miss Kim Bumpus, or Mrs.

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Kim Bumpus, who runs Visit Knoxville.

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And when I met Kim, we were in regional

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leadership together, and if your state

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or area doesn't have a leadership, Each

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one of our counties in our area has

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their own county leadership and you must

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have graduated to move on to regional.

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So, class of 2015, best class ever!

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And she was in that class with me.

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I learned a lot about Knoxville.

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And as I have grown to know Kim,

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she has grown Visit Knoxville

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into one of the best places to go.

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Most sought after visit, uh, visit name

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city in the country and we actually have

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one of the most prolific training systems

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for that across the country and Knoxville

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was part of that starting growth.

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So Kim, say hello to the nation and

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tell us a little bit about Knoxville,

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Visit Knoxville, how you ended up here.

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Kim Bumpas: Definitely.

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Thank you for having me.

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I'm so excited.

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Yes.

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So I am a West Tennessee

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native, crazy enough.

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And I came to Knoxville to go

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to the University of Tennessee.

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And back when I was in school, we didn't

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have like a hospitality and tourism major.

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So I majored in marketing

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with a minor in psychology.

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And lucky enough, my parents said, you

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know what, you got to start paying your

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own bills this senior year of college.

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So I started working at the Holiday

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Inn Cedar Bluff here in Knoxville,

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Tennessee, my senior year of college.

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And that's what introduced me to tourism.

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And.

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You know, I just fell in love

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with it and I learned really fast.

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If you worked hard, you could move up.

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And by the time I graduated from

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college, I was the front desk manager

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at the Holiday Inn Cedar Bluff.

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And so then I thought, you know

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what, what's the next steps for me?

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And I interviewed and got a

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director of sales position

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at the Holiday Inn downtown.

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This is pre convention center.

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So, we're dating back.

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I'm dating myself now.

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We're like 30 years ago.

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So, crazy enough.

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And, You know, I worked there

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for a couple of years and then we

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had a Hyatt Regency that set up

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on the hill that was beautiful.

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Triangle Hotel.

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Yep.

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Is that?

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Yep.

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Okay.

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Triangle Congress Hotel

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that is no longer a hotel.

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So I went to Hyatt, worked there right

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under four years and then transitioned

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to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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So back in 2001, this organization

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was called the Knoxville

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Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Right after I started there, and

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the reason I went there is because I

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love Knoxville, and Hyatt was leaving

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Knoxville, so they wanted me to leave with

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them, and This was my home, and I was,

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you know, dating my now husband at that

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time, and I thought, you know what, what

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better thing than to sell my, to my city,

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you know, my destination to the world.

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And so, I was with the CVB for

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about 11 months before there was a

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takeover by the sports corporation.

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And they kind of merged the two entities,

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got rid of a lot of people, but luckily

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I was there to stay, and so we became the

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Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation.

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While we were KTSC, I moved up the

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ranks to, you know, Director of Sales,

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because I started as a sales manager.

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And so then I was Director of

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Sales, and I was Director of Sales

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and Marketing, then I was VP.

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And, you know, as the

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world turns, so to speak.

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And during that 10 years, I really, really

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engaged in what made Knoxville so special.

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And so when 2011 2012, uh, came about

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and there was an opportunity that someone

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needed to step up and change the vision,

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change the voice of how you tell the

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story of why you should visit Knoxville.

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Um, I was ready to do that and in

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2012, uh, I took the organization

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through an RFI to an RFP.

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To everything you could imagine to

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rebirth it as Visit Knoxville and tell

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the story differently, bring on an agency.

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And now we're one of the

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most robust standalone 501c3

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nonprofits in the tourism space.

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And so it's been a wild ride.

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Uh, last year we just signed

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on for another 10 years with

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the city and the county.

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So we're, uh, we're doing all right.

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If that was kind of my intro

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of, uh, How I came to be.

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Julia Hurley: Yeah, just, just a

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short time span of 20 of two decades.

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Short time span.

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Kim Bumpas: Dating myself just a little.

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Julia Hurley: Well, I don't even know if

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people in Knoxville know that that used

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to be a completely separate department.

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I have, I remember the debate about

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bringing the convention center in but I

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was in college when that was happening

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and I went to Maryville college.

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So it was, It was a study for us

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because, you know, Ruby Tuesdays was

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on our campus, so we got to study that

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side of the industry and the tourism

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department that was going on in Knoxville.

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Do you want a convention center?

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Don't you want a convention center?

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What's happening here?

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We studied that, but we

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didn't really experience it.

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And so even I did not know that

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that was part of the convention

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center at the beginning.

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So that is something to No, and you've

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been, so this entire time, not only have

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you had that, but you've had the Sunsphere

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in your backyard for every job you have.

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Yeah, so tell us about the Sunsphere

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projects that you've had over

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those, over that time, because it's

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changed a lot with Visit Knoxville.

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Kim Bumpas: Definitely.

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So the Sun Sphere, you know,

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last year celebrated its 40th

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anniversary because it was the 40th

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anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair.

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And a lot of people maybe don't

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realize this, and I'm always

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surprised that they don't, but the Sun

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Sphere is Knoxville's Eiffel Tower.

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It is Knoxville, Seattle, Space Needle.

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Both of those are structures

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that were built for World's Fairs

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just like the Sun Sphere was.

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So we, as Visit Knoxville, the CBB, the

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city, the county, we've been telling

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the story of the Sun Sphere for a long

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time, but in a really different way.

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And what I mean by that is since the

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Sun Sphere was built back in 1982,

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it was basically open for free.

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It didn't really tell you a whole

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bunch when you got up there, but

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you could go up there, right?

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And walk around in a circle and

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kind of see out the windows.

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Well, as VisitKnoxville, about 10 years

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ago, we kind of renovated the observation

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deck, but still let it run for free.

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So I'm really excited to say

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fast forward to right now.

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We reopened the observation deck after

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COVID on February 22nd of 2022, and we did

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it where you would have to pay a nominal

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fee of five dollars per adult to get up to

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the SunSphere observation deck, and that

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would go into a restricted SunSphere fund.

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Well, since we've did that,

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we've now welcomed over 79,

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000 visitors representing all

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50 states and 50 countries.

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And we literally just announced, I mean

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like, hot off the press, that we are

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going to be painting the structure back

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to its original blue Pantone color in

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October before the end of the year and

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then we are opening a visitor center at

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the base of the Sun Sphere next year.

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So really exciting stuff and as Visit

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Knoxville, I'm Really, really happy and

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pleased that we've finally gotten here.

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This has been a labor of love that I've

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been working on for about 10 years and

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really had momentum to probably do this

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in 2019, 2020, and then COVID happened.

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And we ended up shutting

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the whole structure down for

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quite a bit of period of time.

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And then, you know, our mayor's changed.

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He kind of had to start the

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whole conversation over again.

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And now we're here.

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And I'm just, I'm really

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happy that it's happening.

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It's, it's a big deal.

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And, um, As someone who's a Knoxvillian,

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even if I don't work at Visit Knoxville,

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I'll be happy to say I played a

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role in, in making this part happen.

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Julia Hurley: I lived in the Old City

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in 2003, so I've watched downtown

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Knoxville catapult and then fail,

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and then catapult and then fail,

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and then catapult and then fail.

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And I feel like over just the last

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10 years, it's been on a a correct

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slow movement trajectory, not this

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oh my god, we have to pour a ton of

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money into it and then it just fails.

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We have, you all have, and I mean

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that, I don't say we as Knoxville,

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your organization in the last decade

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has very methodically moved Knoxville

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in a different direction than we have.

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Slowly as it should be and we are finally

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starting to see the growth and the

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attractiveness and what Knoxville, we all

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knew because we were all from here, what

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Knoxville had to offer this whole time.

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How can you look, how are you looking back

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on that and saying, okay, so over the last

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decade we, we, we doing, we're doing it.

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We're pushing that boulder up the hill.

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We've still got a little

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bit of a mountain to climb.

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I mean, Knoxville is really and truly,

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in my opinion, from the real estate side.

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Just now booming, so we've got another

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decade to pull up that hill before we can

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safely say we've reached the pinnacle.

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Where do you see that going, uh,

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for Visit Knoxville and the Sports

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Authority in the next decade?

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Kim Bumpas: Oh, I think the

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sky's the limit right now.

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I mean, I have watched us grow up

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over the last 20 years, and as Visit

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Knoxville, in the last 10, we have

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finally put Knoxville on the map

270
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as a premier getaway destination.

271
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You know, we We're out there competing

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for that leisure traveler that used to

273
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just go to Asheville for the weekend.

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Well, now they're coming to

275
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Knoxville for the weekend because

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we have all of the experiences that

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now deliver on that expectation.

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And a gift of COVID maybe, not that

279
00:10:28,449 --> 00:10:30,990
I would ever say COVID, COVID was a

280
00:10:31,030 --> 00:10:33,630
terrible thing, but There were a few

281
00:10:33,630 --> 00:10:35,670
things that spun out of it that were

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good for business in this, in the

283
00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,140
relation of tourism because everyone

284
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got shut down, but Knoxville, we have

285
00:10:43,869 --> 00:10:47,589
so many outdoor friendly activities that

286
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you can engage in that when everything

287
00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,740
opened back up and it was safe to travel

288
00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:55,610
again, Knoxville was top of mind because

289
00:10:55,610 --> 00:10:58,535
we never went to Silent during COVID.

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We always were telling the

291
00:10:59,715 --> 00:11:01,475
story of why you should visit

292
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Knoxville when the time was right.

293
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And what happened is our

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hotels were able to regroup.

295
00:11:07,655 --> 00:11:09,345
And when we started to open back

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up, we started driving right.

297
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And, you know, I know people

298
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say, Oh, I wish that was free.

299
00:11:16,084 --> 00:11:17,925
And I wish we could do this for free.

300
00:11:17,955 --> 00:11:19,635
But you know, a lot of time

301
00:11:19,645 --> 00:11:21,765
visitors and think about yourself

302
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as a visitor when you travel.

303
00:11:24,630 --> 00:11:27,220
Sometimes people don't really value free.

304
00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:29,630
They think, you know, where's the catch?

305
00:11:29,690 --> 00:11:31,890
Or maybe that's not the

306
00:11:31,890 --> 00:11:33,319
experience that I want.

307
00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,390
I'd rather go do something where I had

308
00:11:35,390 --> 00:11:38,630
to invest this level of monetary value

309
00:11:38,630 --> 00:11:41,819
so that I receive that type of, you know,

310
00:11:41,820 --> 00:11:44,799
reward back to me when I'm done with it.

311
00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,449
That's really where Knoxville is.

312
00:11:47,459 --> 00:11:48,880
We're driving right, the

313
00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,750
hotels are delivering on that

314
00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,310
expectation, the restaurants.

315
00:11:53,350 --> 00:11:55,310
I mean, we have a phenomenal

316
00:11:55,340 --> 00:11:57,199
amount of restaurants and James

317
00:11:57,199 --> 00:11:59,659
Beard winning chefs in Knoxville,

318
00:11:59,659 --> 00:12:01,620
Tennessee, that people don't realize.

319
00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,259
Our attractions, they're bringing it.

320
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I mean, we have the family food.

321
00:12:05,550 --> 00:12:07,470
Friendly with Navitat to

322
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the Hall of Fame to the zoo.

323
00:12:09,410 --> 00:12:11,130
But then you also have all of

324
00:12:11,130 --> 00:12:13,480
these historic homes that tell

325
00:12:13,510 --> 00:12:15,210
the rich history that Knoxville,

326
00:12:15,210 --> 00:12:17,250
Tennessee carries for everyone.

327
00:12:17,250 --> 00:12:18,309
We have that opera.

328
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We have a symphony.

329
00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:21,809
We have so many things and that's

330
00:12:21,810 --> 00:12:24,589
kind of like the secret, you know,

331
00:12:24,589 --> 00:12:27,189
everyone's Knoxville's one big thing?

332
00:12:27,189 --> 00:12:28,700
Well, Knoxville's one big thing.

333
00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:30,310
Because we have a little bit of

334
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everything that really, really

335
00:12:33,310 --> 00:12:35,560
engages that leisure traveler.

336
00:12:35,970 --> 00:12:37,439
And then you take that and you put

337
00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,570
it on top of the base we already had

338
00:12:39,839 --> 00:12:42,209
with conventions and sporting events.

339
00:12:42,470 --> 00:12:43,880
Well, you just have a well

340
00:12:43,890 --> 00:12:45,890
oiled machine now and everyone's

341
00:12:45,890 --> 00:12:47,390
delivering on the experience.

342
00:12:47,409 --> 00:12:48,910
So one of the big things we see

343
00:12:48,910 --> 00:12:50,800
right now is repeat visitation.

344
00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,470
Because if you come here for

345
00:12:52,470 --> 00:12:54,070
that two to four night stay,

346
00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,680
you can't get it all done.

347
00:12:56,035 --> 00:12:58,025
So you're booking a second trip

348
00:12:58,035 --> 00:13:00,335
because we're also a very, you know,

349
00:13:00,415 --> 00:13:03,965
uh, economical value trip as well.

350
00:13:03,965 --> 00:13:05,864
Even though we're driving right and,

351
00:13:06,055 --> 00:13:07,514
you know, you can't come to Knoxville

352
00:13:07,514 --> 00:13:09,465
anymore for that 80 bucks a night.

353
00:13:09,474 --> 00:13:10,675
That's not gonna happen.

354
00:13:10,675 --> 00:13:14,304
You know, we're pushing 150 on a weekday.

355
00:13:14,314 --> 00:13:16,555
We're over 300 on the weekends.

356
00:13:16,605 --> 00:13:17,435
But you know what?

357
00:13:17,770 --> 00:13:18,469
You're getting a great

358
00:13:18,469 --> 00:13:19,819
value for your investment.

359
00:13:19,959 --> 00:13:22,420
And that's the story we're telling and

360
00:13:22,420 --> 00:13:24,489
it's, it's a great place to be, but

361
00:13:24,489 --> 00:13:26,109
we've worked really hard to get here.

362
00:13:26,359 --> 00:13:27,629
Julia Hurley: We all know that real

363
00:13:27,629 --> 00:13:30,509
estate is location, location, location.

364
00:13:30,709 --> 00:13:32,780
Our team at Just Homes Group,

365
00:13:32,869 --> 00:13:34,939
Realty Executives, has the true

366
00:13:35,009 --> 00:13:37,290
expertise, pairing buyers and

367
00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:39,319
sellers with the right opportunities.

368
00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,680
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a

369
00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:45,419
home right here in Knoxville, Lenore City.

370
00:13:46,010 --> 00:13:48,050
Clinton or Farragut.

371
00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:49,930
We have the expertise throughout

372
00:13:50,099 --> 00:13:52,020
every Knoxville surrounding area.

373
00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:53,760
Call Just Homes Group

374
00:13:53,790 --> 00:13:55,370
Realty Executives today.

375
00:13:56,420 --> 00:13:58,949
So, I mean, just personally.

376
00:13:59,770 --> 00:14:00,970
I mean my family, my first

377
00:14:00,970 --> 00:14:01,890
family's of Tennessee.

378
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,410
My family founded the state.

379
00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:05,490
We've been here forever and ever and ever.

380
00:14:05,989 --> 00:14:07,819
And as, as I travel, I travel all

381
00:14:07,819 --> 00:14:08,969
over the country coaching real

382
00:14:08,969 --> 00:14:11,270
estate and coaching scripting and all

383
00:14:11,270 --> 00:14:12,779
the things that I do on top of the

384
00:14:12,779 --> 00:14:14,560
sales just in the Knoxville market.

385
00:14:14,839 --> 00:14:16,939
I can't keep up with the growth.

386
00:14:17,420 --> 00:14:19,000
I am having a hard time like, oh my

387
00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,010
god, I missed that ribbon cutting.

388
00:14:20,010 --> 00:14:20,580
Oh, that's new.

389
00:14:20,590 --> 00:14:21,300
We've got to go there.

390
00:14:21,310 --> 00:14:22,870
And now I've got a running list of got

391
00:14:22,870 --> 00:14:24,320
to go here, got to try that, got it.

392
00:14:24,450 --> 00:14:27,390
I have to now know in the know and visit

393
00:14:27,390 --> 00:14:30,229
the, visit Knoxville's website every week

394
00:14:30,229 --> 00:14:31,839
and be like, oh, I missed these openings.

395
00:14:31,849 --> 00:14:32,550
This is new.

396
00:14:32,550 --> 00:14:33,500
This is coming up.

397
00:14:33,629 --> 00:14:37,315
How are How, what is the conversation like

398
00:14:37,315 --> 00:14:38,725
for, let's say somebody who's not from

399
00:14:38,725 --> 00:14:40,345
here, who doesn't know what's going on,

400
00:14:40,525 --> 00:14:42,175
what would be your biggest recommendation

401
00:14:42,205 --> 00:14:44,365
of a starter p of the Starter Pack?

402
00:14:44,845 --> 00:14:45,625
, this is your starter.

403
00:14:45,630 --> 00:14:47,095
Knoxville, say Mom,

404
00:14:47,095 --> 00:14:48,625
dad, two kids and a dog.

405
00:14:49,045 --> 00:14:50,425
Kim Bumpas: Dog is a big deal.

406
00:14:50,430 --> 00:14:52,405
That's a whole nother thing that,

407
00:14:52,435 --> 00:14:54,355
uh, came out of Covid is people

408
00:14:54,355 --> 00:14:56,575
wanna travel with their animals now.

409
00:14:56,575 --> 00:14:58,795
And so one thing you'll be seeing

410
00:14:58,795 --> 00:15:01,045
US launch very soon is a dog

411
00:15:01,045 --> 00:15:03,475
documentary and it's gonna tell.

412
00:15:04,615 --> 00:15:05,915
It's going to tell the story of

413
00:15:05,915 --> 00:15:07,574
why you should visit Knoxville

414
00:15:07,594 --> 00:15:09,895
through a dog's point of view.

415
00:15:10,225 --> 00:15:12,685
And it's going to be, it's

416
00:15:12,685 --> 00:15:14,174
going to be quite fantastic.

417
00:15:14,174 --> 00:15:15,225
If you're a dog lover,

418
00:15:15,235 --> 00:15:16,084
you're going to love it.

419
00:15:16,084 --> 00:15:17,454
And we're not just all dogs.

420
00:15:17,464 --> 00:15:19,435
So, I mean, we'll can, we'll welcome other

421
00:15:19,435 --> 00:15:23,804
animals too, but, um, it is a big deal.

422
00:15:23,804 --> 00:15:25,175
And, you know, to kind

423
00:15:25,175 --> 00:15:27,084
of do that starter pack.

424
00:15:27,410 --> 00:15:29,150
We really have something to offer in

425
00:15:29,170 --> 00:15:31,550
every area of town, but what I think

426
00:15:31,550 --> 00:15:34,130
does appeal to visitors a lot of times is

427
00:15:34,150 --> 00:15:36,130
that downtown setting and the fact that

428
00:15:36,130 --> 00:15:38,500
you can drive into Knoxville, Tennessee,

429
00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:41,009
you can get into your hotel room, and

430
00:15:41,009 --> 00:15:42,809
then you literally might never touch

431
00:15:42,809 --> 00:15:45,380
your car again, because we have so many

432
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,460
dog friendly patios for your dining and

433
00:15:49,780 --> 00:15:52,270
all of those experiences, nightlife.

434
00:15:52,489 --> 00:15:53,910
Still has dog friendly.

435
00:15:53,910 --> 00:15:56,729
We have all of these dog parks throughout

436
00:15:56,729 --> 00:15:59,119
the entire county, but you know what?

437
00:15:59,150 --> 00:16:00,449
You can drive in.

438
00:16:00,895 --> 00:16:01,905
Get in your hotel.

439
00:16:02,285 --> 00:16:04,055
Then you can walk down to the riverfront.

440
00:16:04,094 --> 00:16:05,995
You can rent a stand up paddleboard

441
00:16:05,995 --> 00:16:07,194
if you've left your dog.

442
00:16:07,334 --> 00:16:08,505
I've seen some people take

443
00:16:08,505 --> 00:16:09,804
their dogs on the paddleboards.

444
00:16:09,844 --> 00:16:10,285
You never know.

445
00:16:11,105 --> 00:16:13,515
It's my dog, not a candidate.

446
00:16:14,244 --> 00:16:14,875
Not a candidate.

447
00:16:14,875 --> 00:16:18,414
But if you've got that well trained dog

448
00:16:18,425 --> 00:16:20,315
that can jump up on the paddleboard,

449
00:16:20,385 --> 00:16:23,585
then you can paddle down to Iams, get

450
00:16:23,585 --> 00:16:25,345
out there, you can rent a mountain

451
00:16:25,345 --> 00:16:27,585
bike, go mountain biking, come back

452
00:16:27,755 --> 00:16:29,314
to your paddleboard, come back to

453
00:16:29,315 --> 00:16:31,665
downtown, Go out to eat, go out to

454
00:16:31,665 --> 00:16:34,165
nightlife, check out a few attractions,

455
00:16:34,425 --> 00:16:36,465
all without ever touching your car.

456
00:16:36,485 --> 00:16:38,445
And that is a big deal to

457
00:16:38,445 --> 00:16:40,064
a lot of visitors, but then

458
00:16:40,295 --> 00:16:41,894
we also have the outskirts.

459
00:16:41,904 --> 00:16:43,965
You know, you can drive into West

460
00:16:43,965 --> 00:16:45,955
Knoxville, you can go to the Farrakhan

461
00:16:46,015 --> 00:16:48,494
Folklife Museum, there's all kinds

462
00:16:48,494 --> 00:16:50,995
of activities in that part of town.

463
00:16:51,515 --> 00:16:54,335
South is growing with all Baker Creek,

464
00:16:54,335 --> 00:16:57,280
Devil's Racetrack, you know, North has

465
00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,090
amazing, uh, concepts too, and now with

466
00:17:00,090 --> 00:17:02,920
the new multi purpose stadium, East

467
00:17:02,940 --> 00:17:06,060
Knoxville is booming, so That's a little

468
00:17:06,060 --> 00:17:08,200
bit more than just your starter pack, but

469
00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,480
I definitely want to hit all the areas

470
00:17:10,510 --> 00:17:13,139
because really it's up to the visitor.

471
00:17:13,509 --> 00:17:14,859
What drives them?

472
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,200
What is the activity that they want?

473
00:17:17,209 --> 00:17:19,060
And then they can build everything

474
00:17:19,060 --> 00:17:20,730
around that at visitknoxville.

475
00:17:20,770 --> 00:17:21,169
com.

476
00:17:21,169 --> 00:17:23,279
It's uh, there's just so much to do.

477
00:17:23,399 --> 00:17:24,510
Julia Hurley: There's so few places

478
00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:26,190
that I have visited and we, I

479
00:17:26,190 --> 00:17:27,250
mean, we visited everywhere that

480
00:17:27,260 --> 00:17:28,319
has the word visit in front of it.

481
00:17:28,319 --> 00:17:30,270
Visit Seattle, visit Houston, visit,

482
00:17:30,430 --> 00:17:32,190
we do, we did then visit Asheville.

483
00:17:32,510 --> 00:17:33,860
We try to go and.

484
00:17:34,290 --> 00:17:36,270
As a group, as a family, sometimes it's

485
00:17:36,270 --> 00:17:37,680
just Joe and I, sometimes we take the

486
00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,410
kids, sometimes we take the dog, and

487
00:17:39,410 --> 00:17:41,139
kind of see what other areas have to

488
00:17:41,150 --> 00:17:43,210
offer on the coaching trips that I have.

489
00:17:43,470 --> 00:17:45,480
And Visit Knoxville, still hands

490
00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,570
down, and I am, I am trying hard

491
00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:49,599
not to be biased when I compare it.

492
00:17:49,885 --> 00:17:51,665
But still, Visit Knoxville, hands down,

493
00:17:51,665 --> 00:17:54,705
has the most diverse ability to offer

494
00:17:54,805 --> 00:17:58,325
all things regardless of the trip.

495
00:17:58,634 --> 00:18:00,905
And I think that's something that

496
00:18:00,935 --> 00:18:02,985
a lot of people in the nation don't

497
00:18:03,044 --> 00:18:05,495
understand when they, when they come

498
00:18:05,495 --> 00:18:07,785
here to visit to make that package deal.

499
00:18:08,384 --> 00:18:10,255
How close we are to Dollywood and

500
00:18:10,255 --> 00:18:11,735
the Great Smoky Mountains, and you

501
00:18:11,735 --> 00:18:13,255
don't even have to do those things.

502
00:18:13,255 --> 00:18:14,605
Like you said, you can stay in Knoxville

503
00:18:14,605 --> 00:18:15,789
and do all the outdoor activities.

504
00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,460
events, uh, and, and the

505
00:18:18,460 --> 00:18:20,330
affordability of everything.

506
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,100
How has that changed in the last

507
00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:24,939
20 years and where is it going?

508
00:18:25,290 --> 00:18:26,990
Kim Bumpas: Oh, it's, uh, it's night and

509
00:18:26,990 --> 00:18:29,630
day from the last 20 years, you know, I

510
00:18:29,630 --> 00:18:32,390
mean, We've had record tourism numbers.

511
00:18:32,390 --> 00:18:35,400
You know, 2019 was a great year for

512
00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,700
Knoxville, Tennessee, and I think 2020

513
00:18:37,710 --> 00:18:40,099
was going to be awesome, but then COVID

514
00:18:40,110 --> 00:18:42,259
happened and ever since we've come out

515
00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:46,120
of COVID, I mean, 21 was a great rebound

516
00:18:46,129 --> 00:18:49,250
from 19, but then 22 was record highs,

517
00:18:49,260 --> 00:18:51,340
like the highest numbers in tourism in the

518
00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:55,290
history of Knoxville and 23 is beating 22.

519
00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,270
So, you know, there's no point in my.

520
00:18:59,125 --> 00:19:00,385
The way I look at things, I

521
00:19:00,385 --> 00:19:01,715
don't ever really look back.

522
00:19:01,765 --> 00:19:03,625
Like, we're destroying the past,

523
00:19:03,625 --> 00:19:05,405
but our destination's grown, and

524
00:19:05,425 --> 00:19:06,915
we have so much more to offer.

525
00:19:07,205 --> 00:19:08,915
So, I always look forward,

526
00:19:08,915 --> 00:19:10,425
and where is that taking us?

527
00:19:10,455 --> 00:19:12,765
And like I said, the sky

528
00:19:12,795 --> 00:19:14,564
truly is the limit right now.

529
00:19:14,564 --> 00:19:17,795
Like, we don't even know, What we don't

530
00:19:17,805 --> 00:19:21,335
know until we know it and that is truly

531
00:19:21,335 --> 00:19:23,145
happening because let's think about this.

532
00:19:23,145 --> 00:19:26,465
We have a multi purpose stadium with what

533
00:19:26,465 --> 00:19:28,485
will now be called the Knoxville Smokies

534
00:19:28,485 --> 00:19:31,255
and the One Knox Soccer Club converging

535
00:19:31,255 --> 00:19:34,124
in 2025, which is going to bring all

536
00:19:34,134 --> 00:19:36,735
kinds of new development around that

537
00:19:36,745 --> 00:19:38,695
space and that's going to be exciting.

538
00:19:38,695 --> 00:19:40,275
We have new hotels that are still

539
00:19:40,275 --> 00:19:42,265
popping up downtown as I said.

540
00:19:43,304 --> 00:19:45,294
And South Knoxville, we have just

541
00:19:45,294 --> 00:19:48,685
scratched the surface on what the urban

542
00:19:48,685 --> 00:19:51,014
wilderness is truly going to grow into.

543
00:19:51,014 --> 00:19:52,454
It has a great base, but

544
00:19:52,454 --> 00:19:54,325
it's not even close to done.

545
00:19:54,685 --> 00:19:57,754
And so I think as you, you just take all

546
00:19:57,754 --> 00:19:59,554
of that and then like the excitement's

547
00:19:59,554 --> 00:20:01,274
just getting ahead of me, but if you

548
00:20:01,274 --> 00:20:03,185
take all of that and you put it with

549
00:20:03,185 --> 00:20:05,675
the messaging and how Visit Knoxville is

550
00:20:05,675 --> 00:20:08,034
marketing this destination and telling the

551
00:20:08,034 --> 00:20:09,925
story of why you should visit Knoxville,

552
00:20:10,175 --> 00:20:12,855
It's just going to mean increased tourism

553
00:20:12,855 --> 00:20:15,345
numbers, which when tourists come to your

554
00:20:15,345 --> 00:20:18,004
destination, you need to celebrate that,

555
00:20:18,004 --> 00:20:20,745
especially in a sales tax driven state

556
00:20:20,754 --> 00:20:22,724
like the state of Tennessee, because

557
00:20:22,735 --> 00:20:24,905
all of those people are visiting us from

558
00:20:24,905 --> 00:20:26,855
all over the world, they're spending

559
00:20:26,855 --> 00:20:29,155
their money and they're going back home.

560
00:20:29,215 --> 00:20:31,524
So all of that money can go into,

561
00:20:31,764 --> 00:20:33,735
you know, enhancing the resources

562
00:20:33,745 --> 00:20:35,335
for all of us that live here.

563
00:20:35,335 --> 00:20:36,635
And that is a big deal.

564
00:20:36,635 --> 00:20:38,605
And that's why tourism is the number two.

565
00:20:39,004 --> 00:20:40,495
You know, industry in the state

566
00:20:40,495 --> 00:20:43,145
of Tennessee and Knoxville is

567
00:20:43,145 --> 00:20:44,935
holding its own as a county.

568
00:20:44,935 --> 00:20:47,274
You know, we are the fourth driving

569
00:20:47,274 --> 00:20:49,665
county in this state, only behind

570
00:20:49,854 --> 00:20:51,764
Memphis and Nashville and Sevier.

571
00:20:51,774 --> 00:20:54,884
So, it's a big deal and telling the

572
00:20:54,884 --> 00:20:57,425
story of East Tennessee, I truly believe.

573
00:20:57,919 --> 00:20:59,790
means telling the story of the state

574
00:20:59,820 --> 00:21:02,720
because the way we market the state is the

575
00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,120
soundtrack of America made in Tennessee.

576
00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:07,679
Well, that soundtrack has music,

577
00:21:07,830 --> 00:21:09,929
scenic beauty, and history.

578
00:21:10,230 --> 00:21:11,600
Well, where do you find

579
00:21:11,610 --> 00:21:12,709
all three of those?

580
00:21:12,740 --> 00:21:15,459
And the one caveat there is scenic

581
00:21:15,459 --> 00:21:17,880
beauty, and obviously music was implied.

582
00:21:17,890 --> 00:21:21,095
So, you know, I think That's why East

583
00:21:21,095 --> 00:21:23,345
Tennessee helps drive that message.

584
00:21:23,345 --> 00:21:26,225
And as was in Knoxville, in Knoxville,

585
00:21:26,225 --> 00:21:28,615
you know, I have a passion, um,

586
00:21:28,654 --> 00:21:31,124
competitive to a fault and, you

587
00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:33,574
know, I want us to be the best and.

588
00:21:34,010 --> 00:21:35,800
There's so many more things that we'll

589
00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,740
be announcing in the coming months,

590
00:21:37,780 --> 00:21:40,140
but you know, the Sun Sphere truly

591
00:21:40,140 --> 00:21:41,680
shows you how we're collecting the

592
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,520
data and how we're telling that story.

593
00:21:43,610 --> 00:21:44,400
Julia Hurley: I can't believe that.

594
00:21:44,420 --> 00:21:45,480
I mean, I can believe it, but

595
00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:46,540
I can't believe what he said

596
00:21:46,540 --> 00:21:47,769
that many people had visited.

597
00:21:47,769 --> 00:21:48,459
I was like, what?

598
00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:49,530
Really?

599
00:21:49,530 --> 00:21:53,109
I say that with surprise.

600
00:21:53,790 --> 00:21:55,710
Because whenever we go downtown,

601
00:21:55,710 --> 00:21:57,090
it's still, I mean, it used to

602
00:21:57,090 --> 00:21:59,470
be a 15 minute drive, but in all

603
00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:00,840
fairness, it's a 30 minute drive.

604
00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:02,720
It's a 30 minute drive from where

605
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,560
we are, one county over, and I'm,

606
00:22:04,619 --> 00:22:06,830
I'm like, way over in one county.

607
00:22:06,930 --> 00:22:08,720
It's a 30 minute drive, I still

608
00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:10,129
don't feel overwhelmed, I can still

609
00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:11,610
get into a restaurant with a 15

610
00:22:11,610 --> 00:22:13,810
minute wait on a Saturday night.

611
00:22:14,409 --> 00:22:16,830
And we have, we have so many

612
00:22:16,830 --> 00:22:18,550
people visiting that it still seems

613
00:22:18,550 --> 00:22:21,370
so intimate and accessible and

614
00:22:21,370 --> 00:22:23,190
affordable and conversational and

615
00:22:23,229 --> 00:22:23,799
local.

616
00:22:23,939 --> 00:22:26,060
I still run into people that

617
00:22:26,060 --> 00:22:27,839
I went to college with, I won't say

618
00:22:27,839 --> 00:22:30,569
how long, 25 years ago, 25 years ago,

619
00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:32,559
and we still see each other at the

620
00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:33,870
tailgates, we still see each other at

621
00:22:33,870 --> 00:22:36,170
Calhoun's, Everywhere you go, you see

622
00:22:36,170 --> 00:22:38,520
someone local that you've met previously

623
00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,840
before or knew, and yet we have a

624
00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:42,970
million people visiting basically a

625
00:22:42,970 --> 00:22:44,779
month and saying, hey, Knoxville's my

626
00:22:44,780 --> 00:22:46,959
place, and I still feel like I can go

627
00:22:46,959 --> 00:22:49,080
anywhere that I need to go quickly.

628
00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,060
And that is the gift, I think, that

629
00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:54,320
Knoxville brings to the table and

630
00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:55,730
the associations where you don't

631
00:22:55,730 --> 00:22:57,510
feel like you're at Disney, I guess.

632
00:22:57,510 --> 00:22:59,840
You're just packed in for an experience.

633
00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,499
It's still an open experience

634
00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:02,649
because there's so much to

635
00:23:02,650 --> 00:23:05,009
have that it's spread out.

636
00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:06,359
It's a big, small town.

637
00:23:06,859 --> 00:23:09,109
So, this episode will probably

638
00:23:09,129 --> 00:23:12,489
air in about three months, right?

639
00:23:12,709 --> 00:23:16,645
So, we have about six We've done and

640
00:23:16,645 --> 00:23:17,795
I'm going to say that to say this.

641
00:23:17,835 --> 00:23:19,335
Is there anything that you

642
00:23:19,335 --> 00:23:21,775
can tell us might be coming?

643
00:23:22,215 --> 00:23:24,605
Kim Bumpas: I can't tell all the secrets.

644
00:23:24,975 --> 00:23:26,454
Um, but you know, I mean

645
00:23:26,455 --> 00:23:28,184
we are launching a new.

646
00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,310
Film Festival in November.

647
00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,210
Yeah, Film Fest Knox will be,

648
00:23:34,250 --> 00:23:35,940
uh, November 9th through the

649
00:23:35,940 --> 00:23:38,170
12th, and that will be exciting.

650
00:23:38,170 --> 00:23:39,600
I don't know, I may be talking

651
00:23:39,610 --> 00:23:41,630
about this a little bit after we've

652
00:23:41,630 --> 00:23:43,909
already done it, but it is something

653
00:23:43,909 --> 00:23:45,749
that's going to be an annual event.

654
00:23:45,769 --> 00:23:47,760
We're partnered with Regal Riviera

655
00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,690
downtown, so it's a great way to think

656
00:23:50,690 --> 00:23:52,560
about why you should visit Knoxville.

657
00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,560
I mean, as Visit Knoxville, the

658
00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,895
organization, you know, we have The

659
00:23:56,895 --> 00:23:58,945
Sports Commission under our umbrella, the

660
00:23:58,945 --> 00:24:00,925
Film Office under our umbrella, we have

661
00:24:00,925 --> 00:24:03,175
a housing agency, we have four tractor

662
00:24:03,195 --> 00:24:05,945
trailers with all of the premier sport

663
00:24:05,945 --> 00:24:08,204
court, basketball, and volleyball systems

664
00:24:08,204 --> 00:24:11,174
in the Southeast, so we're very robust,

665
00:24:11,204 --> 00:24:14,554
but the Film Festival, Film Fest Knox,

666
00:24:14,604 --> 00:24:16,315
is a way we're going to help tell that

667
00:24:16,455 --> 00:24:19,235
story to producers on why you should

668
00:24:19,235 --> 00:24:21,514
use Knoxville as your next location, and

669
00:24:21,855 --> 00:24:24,754
Uh, we'll have a new and revised Tour

670
00:24:24,754 --> 00:24:27,465
Delights in December, which will also

671
00:24:27,465 --> 00:24:30,615
be fun, which is a lighted bike ride,

672
00:24:30,645 --> 00:24:33,285
and that really helps continue to tell

673
00:24:33,285 --> 00:24:35,575
the message of how bike friendly we are.

674
00:24:35,895 --> 00:24:38,445
We did say farewell to USA Cycling

675
00:24:38,735 --> 00:24:41,135
in 2023, and they'll be gone

676
00:24:41,135 --> 00:24:42,645
for about five years, but we'll

677
00:24:42,645 --> 00:24:44,355
hopefully have them back one day.

678
00:24:44,365 --> 00:24:46,295
We had them for seven, which was a

679
00:24:46,305 --> 00:24:49,385
great one, but we've already announced.

680
00:24:49,660 --> 00:24:51,470
And we're excited that we'll

681
00:24:51,470 --> 00:24:53,430
be hosting USA Diving Olympic

682
00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,240
Trials next June in Knoxville.

683
00:24:56,270 --> 00:24:58,710
So, that is, I'm excited because

684
00:24:58,750 --> 00:25:01,529
that's an inside event in June versus

685
00:25:01,530 --> 00:25:03,610
running USA cycling in the heat.

686
00:25:04,230 --> 00:25:08,004
So, I'm excited for that reprieve and You

687
00:25:08,004 --> 00:25:10,115
know, we just have so many more things.

688
00:25:10,115 --> 00:25:11,435
And like I said, there'll be more

689
00:25:11,435 --> 00:25:13,545
information coming next year about the

690
00:25:13,545 --> 00:25:15,655
visitor center build out at the Sun

691
00:25:15,725 --> 00:25:18,565
Sphere, but there's so many reasons why

692
00:25:18,565 --> 00:25:21,475
you should visit Knoxville and, you know,

693
00:25:21,544 --> 00:25:23,175
just keep checking out visit knoxville.

694
00:25:23,495 --> 00:25:25,834
com and our event calendar is the

695
00:25:25,835 --> 00:25:28,514
most robust in the, in the town.

696
00:25:28,684 --> 00:25:30,864
So, uh, that's a great way to

697
00:25:30,864 --> 00:25:32,254
learn about all the new things.

698
00:25:32,605 --> 00:25:34,255
Julia Hurley: How do you feel that

699
00:25:34,365 --> 00:25:38,024
Knoxville has grown, and how can

700
00:25:38,024 --> 00:25:40,764
it grow more in retaining younger

701
00:25:40,794 --> 00:25:42,804
talent to stay when they graduate?

702
00:25:42,805 --> 00:25:46,305
We have, what, 48, 43 to 48 thousand

703
00:25:46,305 --> 00:25:47,635
young people that graduate every

704
00:25:47,635 --> 00:25:49,965
year, or are on campus every year.

705
00:25:50,820 --> 00:25:53,280
And they usually leave and

706
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:54,450
they mostly always come back.

707
00:25:54,450 --> 00:25:55,350
They go, well, Knoxville was

708
00:25:55,350 --> 00:25:56,370
the best place I'll come back.

709
00:25:56,370 --> 00:25:57,540
How do we keep 'em here?

710
00:25:57,690 --> 00:25:59,580
What are we doing to build out things

711
00:25:59,580 --> 00:26:01,680
to retain them as employee employees?

712
00:26:01,830 --> 00:26:03,330
And what are we doing in the future?

713
00:26:03,330 --> 00:26:05,240
Because visit Knoxville from where

714
00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:06,920
we are looking on the outside in is

715
00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,430
one of the most future and forward

716
00:26:10,435 --> 00:26:12,320
thinking organizations and more younger.

717
00:26:13,170 --> 00:26:14,240
People coming in with their

718
00:26:14,250 --> 00:26:15,870
big ideas that we embrace and

719
00:26:15,870 --> 00:26:16,850
we're like, that sounds great.

720
00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:17,280
Let's go.

721
00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,620
So what can we do and what are we

722
00:26:19,620 --> 00:26:21,030
doing to embrace younger people to

723
00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,200
stay and build their futures here?

724
00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,540
Kim Bumpas: I think as I can answer that

725
00:26:25,550 --> 00:26:27,870
as Visit Knoxville, you know, and I think

726
00:26:28,285 --> 00:26:30,795
The big ways that we entice a lot of

727
00:26:30,805 --> 00:26:33,685
people to stay is through our internships

728
00:26:33,685 --> 00:26:35,785
and through showing them how to volunteer

729
00:26:35,785 --> 00:26:37,605
and get connected with the community.

730
00:26:37,605 --> 00:26:39,244
I think a lot of people that leave

731
00:26:39,275 --> 00:26:41,664
Knoxville when they're young, it's truly

732
00:26:41,665 --> 00:26:43,895
because they didn't know how to get the

733
00:26:43,895 --> 00:26:46,905
information that inspires them to stay.

734
00:26:47,255 --> 00:26:50,025
And because we have everything

735
00:26:50,025 --> 00:26:51,535
that they're looking for.

736
00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:53,460
They just don't know how to get

737
00:26:53,470 --> 00:26:55,810
to that information, and they're

738
00:26:55,810 --> 00:26:57,680
misinformed sometimes, because

739
00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,920
we are in the age of information

740
00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:02,790
overload, especially for our youth.

741
00:27:02,939 --> 00:27:05,259
So, they're like, oh, well, Atlanta

742
00:27:05,260 --> 00:27:07,530
has everything, but it's only because

743
00:27:07,530 --> 00:27:09,580
they didn't look for that in Knoxville.

744
00:27:09,630 --> 00:27:10,409
It's here.

745
00:27:10,690 --> 00:27:13,150
It just might not be as forward facing

746
00:27:13,150 --> 00:27:15,610
sometimes because we do have so much

747
00:27:15,660 --> 00:27:18,420
going on and I do think one of the big

748
00:27:18,450 --> 00:27:20,490
things that we focused on through some

749
00:27:20,490 --> 00:27:22,829
of our concert, uh, partnerships is

750
00:27:22,830 --> 00:27:26,010
just enhancing that variety of who we're

751
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,449
recruiting and what does that look like

752
00:27:28,450 --> 00:27:30,189
and trying to partner up and tell the

753
00:27:30,249 --> 00:27:32,969
story so that an artist didn't come and

754
00:27:32,969 --> 00:27:35,509
go from Knoxville and some people didn't

755
00:27:35,570 --> 00:27:37,360
know about it, you know what I mean?

756
00:27:38,295 --> 00:27:39,845
I truly think it's just getting

757
00:27:39,845 --> 00:27:41,385
that information out there.

758
00:27:41,395 --> 00:27:43,395
As far as jobs in the tourism

759
00:27:43,395 --> 00:27:45,135
sector, there's plenty of them.

760
00:27:45,635 --> 00:27:48,124
But whether that's what, you know, people

761
00:27:48,125 --> 00:27:50,355
coming out of college want or not, you

762
00:27:50,355 --> 00:27:52,154
know, now we have a whole hospitality

763
00:27:52,154 --> 00:27:54,675
and tourism major, so that's exciting.

764
00:27:54,964 --> 00:27:57,450
People are really, Majoring and

765
00:27:57,450 --> 00:27:58,620
wanting to learn how to work

766
00:27:58,620 --> 00:28:00,520
in a hotel or a restaurant or

767
00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,770
anything that's hospitality driven.

768
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,430
But for me personally, you know, I

769
00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,090
have a lot of, you know, mentees,

770
00:28:08,130 --> 00:28:09,680
so to speak, and leadership,

771
00:28:09,690 --> 00:28:11,300
Knoxville and some other things,

772
00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:13,599
and I just try to show them the fun.

773
00:28:14,145 --> 00:28:16,675
People want to live where they

774
00:28:16,695 --> 00:28:19,505
consider it fun, and whether you

775
00:28:19,505 --> 00:28:21,625
like it, or you don't like it, or you

776
00:28:21,625 --> 00:28:23,925
agree with it, or you don't, people

777
00:28:23,945 --> 00:28:26,065
take their own backyard for granted.

778
00:28:26,284 --> 00:28:27,875
They take where they grew up

779
00:28:27,985 --> 00:28:29,484
for granted, and they take where

780
00:28:29,484 --> 00:28:31,165
they went to college for granted.

781
00:28:31,165 --> 00:28:33,574
And the reason they do that is because the

782
00:28:33,575 --> 00:28:36,025
grass is always greener on the other side.

783
00:28:36,380 --> 00:28:39,390
And then we see they jump over there and

784
00:28:39,390 --> 00:28:41,310
then they're always jumping right back.

785
00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,610
It wasn't greener over there.

786
00:28:44,630 --> 00:28:47,360
And so I just try to go ahead and open

787
00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,320
their eyes to that and say, you know what?

788
00:28:49,690 --> 00:28:51,510
Sometimes you do have to experience

789
00:28:51,540 --> 00:28:53,560
for yourself to understand, but if you

790
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,599
don't want to do it the hard way, then

791
00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:58,590
just go right here and look and engage

792
00:28:58,610 --> 00:29:00,649
and go to Volunteer East Tennessee.

793
00:29:00,929 --> 00:29:04,309
Volunteer for these events and you'll see.

794
00:29:04,625 --> 00:29:06,565
what Knoxville has to offer and you

795
00:29:06,565 --> 00:29:09,385
will see how awesome Knoxville truly is.

796
00:29:09,385 --> 00:29:10,965
I mean, that's the gift of my job.

797
00:29:11,095 --> 00:29:13,125
I get to be reminded how awesome Knoxville

798
00:29:13,125 --> 00:29:15,094
is every single day because I look at

799
00:29:15,094 --> 00:29:18,185
Knoxville from the eyes of a visitor and

800
00:29:18,335 --> 00:29:20,574
from the eyes of the visitor, Knoxville

801
00:29:20,575 --> 00:29:22,544
has everything that you need right here.

802
00:29:22,565 --> 00:29:24,855
So, the folks that are here right now,

803
00:29:24,855 --> 00:29:27,235
you need to hunker down and stay because,

804
00:29:27,585 --> 00:29:29,735
you know, one day somebody's going to

805
00:29:29,745 --> 00:29:31,635
bounce and want to bounce back and there's

806
00:29:31,635 --> 00:29:33,514
nothing there for them to get into.

807
00:29:33,514 --> 00:29:35,810
So, You know, if you're at UT right

808
00:29:35,810 --> 00:29:38,260
now, there's a reason to stay.

809
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:39,406
There truly is.

810
00:29:40,505 --> 00:29:41,105
Julia Hurley: Where can people

811
00:29:41,105 --> 00:29:43,045
find information on internships

812
00:29:43,045 --> 00:29:44,235
and volunteer opportunities?

813
00:29:44,295 --> 00:29:46,535
Kim Bumpas: Go 100 percent to VisitNoxel.

814
00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:49,145
com, go to About Us, and then you'll

815
00:29:49,145 --> 00:29:51,115
figure out everything you need to know.

816
00:29:51,125 --> 00:29:53,675
How to volunteer, how to engage, if

817
00:29:53,815 --> 00:29:56,625
VisitNoxel has any job openings, and

818
00:29:56,625 --> 00:29:58,625
then I'll also give you other resources.

819
00:29:58,715 --> 00:30:00,955
I also think, You know, checking

820
00:30:00,955 --> 00:30:02,695
out what the Knoxville Chamber has

821
00:30:02,725 --> 00:30:05,705
to offer is also a good resource.

822
00:30:05,755 --> 00:30:08,205
And then, you know, if you're in school

823
00:30:08,205 --> 00:30:10,125
and you're listening to this, engage

824
00:30:10,125 --> 00:30:12,075
with your advisors and your teachers.

825
00:30:12,085 --> 00:30:13,265
They know how to find us.

826
00:30:13,950 --> 00:30:15,460
You know, I'm pretty sure all you

827
00:30:15,460 --> 00:30:16,950
have to do is Google my name and

828
00:30:16,950 --> 00:30:18,890
you can get my email and cell phone

829
00:30:18,890 --> 00:30:20,970
number quite easily, so feel free.

830
00:30:21,130 --> 00:30:21,870
Julia Hurley: And everybody in the

831
00:30:21,870 --> 00:30:23,370
nation that's listening, where's

832
00:30:23,370 --> 00:30:25,050
the best place for them to start

833
00:30:25,130 --> 00:30:26,790
looking at Knoxville for vacations?

834
00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:27,810
Kim Bumpas: Visit Knoxville.

835
00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:28,550
com.

836
00:30:28,770 --> 00:30:29,890
100%.

837
00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:30,860
You can even build your

838
00:30:30,860 --> 00:30:32,340
itinerary right there.

839
00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:33,820
Julia Hurley: Well, that's exciting.

840
00:30:33,890 --> 00:30:35,210
I'm gonna fake do that and

841
00:30:35,210 --> 00:30:36,270
just see what it tells me to

842
00:30:36,270 --> 00:30:37,920
do that I haven't already done.

843
00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:38,175
I

844
00:30:38,175 --> 00:30:40,470
mean, the best place for me to go to.

845
00:30:40,470 --> 00:30:41,745
We've actually hit our time

846
00:30:41,745 --> 00:30:43,274
limit and we didn't even get

847
00:30:43,274 --> 00:30:45,890
to the fire round.

848
00:30:46,050 --> 00:30:47,480
We'll have to do another episode

849
00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:49,120
and just base it on you and

850
00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:50,150
everything else that's going on.

851
00:30:50,150 --> 00:30:52,290
Kim, thank you for taking your time today.

852
00:30:52,630 --> 00:30:53,570
Thank you for teaching us

853
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,120
all about Visit Knoxville.

854
00:30:55,310 --> 00:30:56,890
Everybody in the nation, if

855
00:30:56,900 --> 00:30:58,480
you have not visited Knoxville,

856
00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,070
Tennessee, you are missing out

857
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,000
because it's the only 10 you'll

858
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,810
see every time.

859
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:07,110
Crack myself up with that joke.

860
00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:08,429
Kim, I

861
00:31:08,430 --> 00:31:09,730
appreciate you so much.

862
00:31:10,170 --> 00:31:11,130
Thank you very much.

863
00:31:11,290 --> 00:31:13,000
Everybody, thank you so much for visiting.

864
00:31:13,290 --> 00:31:14,620
You've listened to another

865
00:31:14,620 --> 00:31:16,280
episode of Connect the Knox.

866
00:31:16,310 --> 00:31:18,390
I'm your host, Julia Hurley, and today's

867
00:31:18,390 --> 00:31:21,050
guest was Kim Bumpus of Visit Knoxville.

868
00:31:21,060 --> 00:31:21,810
Thank you.

869
00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:23,450
Kim Bumpas: Thanks, appreciate it.

870
00:31:23,970 --> 00:31:24,530
Julia Hurley: Thank you

871
00:31:24,530 --> 00:31:25,720
for tuning into the show.

872
00:31:26,020 --> 00:31:28,100
Make sure to like and subscribe.

873
00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:29,570
Leave a five star review on

874
00:31:29,570 --> 00:31:31,210
your podcast player of choice.

875
00:31:31,470 --> 00:31:32,390
And if you would like

876
00:31:32,390 --> 00:31:33,540
information on moving

877
00:31:33,540 --> 00:31:36,150
to Knoxville, send me a private message.

878
00:31:36,380 --> 00:31:37,790
As always, this is Julia

879
00:31:37,820 --> 00:31:39,340
Hurley, Connecting Knoxville.

880
00:31:39,515 --> 00:31:40,255
To the nation.