Tom Gaddis new head of Knoxville tourism alliance

Gaddis began his two-year term in December. He has been at Pellissippi State for seven years and has 26 years of hospitality experience.

Gaddis was appointed in November, after being recommended by a nominating committee and elected without opposition by the KTA executive board.

KTA is the voice of the local lodging and hospitality industry, Gaddis says. It was formed by combining the Knoxville Tourist Bureau and the Greater Knoxville Hotel/Motel Association. The organization is a regional member of the Tennessee Hotel and Lodging Association.

“Our industry is also the second largest in the state,” Gaddis said.

Gaddis hopes his faculty position at a non-partisan institution will be of value as president of KTA.

“This is a particularly challenging time for the industry in Knoxville,” he said. “There is a very political climate here as discussion continues on whether to build a publicly funded hotel. I hope the college's neutrality will benefit that discussion.”

Gaddis' relationship with Pellissippi State is already benefiting the tourism organization in another way. KTA, with the help of its new president and his students at the college, is starting a program to provide training at the front-desk level. The team is also putting together a book about what there is to do in Knoxville. The content is designed for hotel personnel. An intern from the Hospitality program is assembling a portion of the book.

“If you go anywhere—Atlanta, Chicago—and ask the desk clerk, 'What is there to do around here?'” said Gaddis, “the answer is the same: 'Nothing.' We want to change that answer in Knoxville.”

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