DMO SERVICES
The South Central Tennessee Tourism Association (SCTTA) works alongside local Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), tourism commissions, chambers of commerce, and community tourism leaders to strengthen destination marketing efforts and expand tourism opportunities throughout our 13-county region.
Successful tourism development requires collaboration between local, regional, and state partners. By connecting communities with marketing resources, professional expertise, industry relationships, and funding opportunities, SCTTA helps local tourism organizations maximize their impact and reach new audiences.
Through our consumer-facing brand, Experience Tennessee, SCTTA provides regional marketing programs, cooperative promotional opportunities, media relations, professional consulting, and industry advocacy designed to complement and strengthen local tourism efforts.
Whether a community has an established tourism department or is just beginning to develop its destination marketing strategy, SCTTA serves as a resource, collaborator, and partner.
Our DMO Support Services
1. Fundamental Local & Regional Marketing Programming
Strong destination marketing begins with a consistent presence and a coordinated strategy.
SCTTA provides foundational marketing support that helps communities promote their attractions, events, businesses, and visitor experiences to regional, domestic, and international audiences.
Through Experience Tennessee and our regional marketing initiatives, local destinations benefit from digital promotion, website exposure, social media storytelling, content development, visitor information distribution, and inclusion in regional travel itineraries.
Our goal is to ensure communities of all sizes have opportunities to participate in professional destination marketing programs, while connecting individual destinations to the broader South Central Tennessee visitor experience.
2. Cooperative Marketing (Co-op) Programs
Collaboration creates opportunities for local tourism organizations to extend their marketing reach and maximize available resources.
SCTTA develops and coordinates cooperative marketing programs that allow DMOs and tourism partners to participate in larger promotional campaigns through shared investments and coordinated strategies.
Programs may include digital advertising, social media campaigns, professional photography, video production, editorial features, influencer partnerships, and targeted promotional initiatives.
By combining resources, participating communities can access marketing opportunities, professional services, and broader audiences that may be difficult to reach independently.
3. Media Tours, Familiarization Tours & Editorial Support
Compelling destination storytelling is essential to attracting visitors and generating interest in our communities.
SCTTA works with travel writers, journalists, content creators, influencers, and media outlets to generate coverage that highlights the people, places, and experiences that make South Central Tennessee unique.
Support includes coordinating media tours and familiarization (FAM) trips, developing itineraries, connecting media professionals with local tourism partners, identifying story opportunities, and assisting with editorial content and media outreach.
We also work with local DMOs to develop story ideas, identify media-ready experiences, and position their communities for regional and national exposure.
4. Tourism Industry Consulting
Every destination faces unique opportunities and challenges, and local tourism leaders benefit from access to experienced industry guidance.
SCTTA provides professional consulting and strategic assistance to DMOs, tourism commissions, chambers of commerce, and community organizations seeking to strengthen their tourism programs.
Services may include destination marketing strategy, organizational development, tourism funding structures, visitor experience development, tourism product development, partnership coordination, and long-term planning.
Whether a community is establishing a new tourism program, evaluating an existing initiative, or exploring opportunities for growth, SCTTA offers practical guidance informed by regional experience and tourism industry best practices.
5. Grant Development & Administration
Access to grant funding can help local tourism organizations expand marketing programs, develop visitor experiences, and invest in tourism-related infrastructure.
SCTTA assists local DMOs and tourism partners throughout the grant process, from identifying potential funding opportunities and developing project concepts to preparing applications and coordinating implementation.
Support may include grant research, application development, project budgeting, partnership coordination, grant administration, reporting, and project management assistance.
Our goal is to help local tourism organizations pursue available funding opportunities and successfully implement projects that strengthen their destinations.
6. Tourism Industry Advocacy
A strong tourism industry requires informed leadership, effective partnerships, and a coordinated voice.
SCTTA advocates for the interests of South Central Tennessee's tourism industry by helping communicate local and regional priorities to industry organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and other decision-makers.
Our advocacy efforts focus on increasing awareness of tourism's economic contributions, supporting industry development, strengthening tourism funding opportunities, and encouraging policies that benefit destinations and the businesses that serve visitors.
Through participation in regional and statewide tourism initiatives, SCTTA works to ensure that the perspectives and needs of our local destination partners are represented in conversations affecting the future of Tennessee tourism.