Experience Tennessee tourism services guide
sctta. org
ExperienceTN.com
SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEE TOURISM STAFF
Ryan French
Executive Director & CEO Ryan@ExperienceTN.com
Amanda McGowan Chief Operations Officer Amanda@ExperienceTN.com
Dominic Gialdini
Communications Coordinator Hannah@ExperienceTN.com
Jeff Wohlgemuth
Grant Coordinator Dominic@ExperienceTN.com
Director of Visitor Services Jeff@ExperienceTN.com
Hannah Helton
Billy Hoffman
Operations Manager Hannah.Helton@ExperienceTN.com 1
Hannah Wallace
Senior Travel Advisor Info@ExperienceTN.com
who we are Supporting Stronger Tourism Marketing The South Central Tennessee Tourism Association, also known as SCTTA, is a state-recognized, non-profit regional tourism organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing tourism across South Central Tennessee. Created by the state of Tennessee, SCTTA serves as a catalyst for regional economic and community growth by helping communities strengthen their visitor economy through strategic marketing, tourism development, and statewide collaboration. SCTTA is one of nine regional tourism organizations recognized by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. In this role, SCTTA works closely with the state, local destination marketing organizations, municipal governments, attractions, small businesses, community partners, and tourism leaders to promote the region and support grant opportunities, marketing strategies, and visitor-focused development across our service area. Through the award-winning Experience Tennessee brand, SCTTA promotes the people, places, stories, businesses, and communities that make South Central Tennessee a meaningful destination for travelers. Our region includes 13 counties, 37 cities and towns, and hundreds of unincorporated communities across Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne counties.
An Award-Winning Tourism-Ready Network SCTTA’s work is rooted in collaboration. Through our Tourism-Ready strategy, we connect major attractions, local businesses, downtown districts, service providers, community organizations, destination marketing offices, and regional partners into a stronger, more visible tourism network. This approach has earned statewide recognition. In 2024, SCTTA received the Purple Iris Award from the Tennessee Tourism and Hospitality Association and was recognized as Destination Marketing Organization of the Year. That same year, SCTTA Executive Director Ryan French received the Purple Iris Award for DMO Director of the Year. The following year, SCTTA’s Sophia Posey received the Purple Iris Award for DMO Employee of the Year. These recognitions reflect the heart of SCTTA’s work: building practical, accessible, and high-impact tourism programs that help communities grow their visibility, strengthen their partnerships, and welcome more visitors.
What We Do SCTTA promotes South Central Tennessee to travelers while helping communities, governments, and businesses become more tourism-ready. Our work combines regional marketing, content creation, public relations, visitor services, destination development, partner support, and grant-aligned strategy. For DMOs, this means access to a team that understands both statewide tourism priorities and the day-to-day needs of local communities. Our staff produces and manages much of this work in-house, including photography, graphic design, journalism, itinerary development, social media content, digital advertising, campaign planning, guide production, brand development, and partner promotion. Because so much of this work is handled directly by the SCTTA team, we are able to offer services at prices that are intentionally accessible for communities of all sizes. This is especially important for rural communities working to build a strong foundation for tourism marketing with limited staff, limited budgets, or grant-funded resources. 2
About This Services Guide This guide is designed to help DMOs and other tourism entities select tourism marketing services for the fiscal year. These services may be purchased using Tennessee Marketing Grant funds, other available grant funds, local tourism budgets, partner contributions, or any other eligible funding source. Many of the services in this guide have been intentionally structured to align with tourism promotion needs and categories that are typically reimbursed with the Marketing Grant. Our goal is to help every community make the most of the grant opportunities available to them while also building long-term marketing assets that continue to support tourism beyond a single campaign or funding cycle. While these services are especially useful during annual grant planning, they are not limited to grant-funded projects. DMOs may purchase services at any time of year for any tourism-related purpose, whether that means launching a new campaign, refreshing local photography, supporting social media, building visitor materials, promoting events, expanding regional visibility, or strengthening the community’s overall tourism presence. The following menu is organized to help each DMO identify the services that best fit its goals, budget, timeline, and marketing priorities.
grant administration
FREE
SCTTA offers grant administration support to help manage eligible tourism grant projects with greater organization, transparency, and confidence. This service is designed to support the grant recipient throughout the grant period by helping track requirements, maintain documentation, follow grant guidelines, and keep the project aligned with applicable deadlines and compliance expectations. Grant administration may include assistance with project organization, documentation, reimbursement preparation, communication support, and general guidance related to the grant process. SCTTA’s role is to help administer the grant according to the applicable grant guidelines and the SCTTA Grant Administration Policy. All final decisions, responsibilities, approvals, and obligations related to the grant remain with the grant recipient. SCTTA serves as the administrator and support partner, while the DMO or awarded organization remains the official grant recipient. Free, as allowed by grant guidelines 3
sctta. org
photo services
$600 - $15400
Work with our team of professional staff photographers to deliver the visuals that best represent your community. Each of our photographers are on bulk contracts, which allows us to pass on the co-op value to your organization.
1 Shoot Day: $600 | 20 Edits and up to four shoot locations 2 Shoot Days: $1,100 | 40 Edits and up to eight shoot locations 3 Shoot Days: $1,500 | 60 Edits and up to twelve shoot locations
social media reels
$1,500 - $2,800
Video continues to dominate online attention, but it is forever changing. Sure, there is a place for long-format video, but today the most effective approach is through short “reel”-style videos showcasing your community or destination. All contracted social media reel posts will be posted as collaboration posts with Experience Tennessee socials. 4 Pack of Reels: $1,500 6 Pack of Reels: $2,200 8 Pack of Reels : $2,800
social media & Digital Management
$6,800
Work with our media team to develop a comprehensive social media strategy that moves the needle for your community. This year all services include a photo shoot and four social media reel shoots and require a minimum paid ad plan. The plan includes Facebook, Instagram, & Google Business. Social Media Management: $6,800 2 Standard Weekly Posts Monthly Reporting on Audience, Exposure, Engagement, & Engagement Rate Post-Review Portal Single-day photo shoot with 20 edited photos Social Media Reels Shoot with 4 edited reels All Reels posts will be collab posts with Experience TN Minimum Ad Budget: $500 Website Network (Annual): $1,200 Website Buildout: $5,000 4
journalism & PR services
$1,500 - $3,500
Blogging and journalism are essential for visibility and SEO. Fresh, keyword-rich content boosts search rankings, ensuring attractions, festivals, and experiences reach potential visitors. Beyond SEO, quality journalism builds trust, offering insider tips, interviews, and deep dives into local experiences. Travelers crave authentic stories, not just ads. Blogging and journalism go beyond storytelling—this year, SCTTA is elevating its journalism services by integrating Public Relations. This expansion enhances our media outreach efforts, ensuring stronger alignment with local, regional, and state PR initiatives. By streamlining media pitches and calls, we maximize the region’s exposure, driving greater visibility and impact.
Quarterly Articles - $1,500 Monthly Articles - $3,500
$850 - $3,000
content creators
The Content Creator Program helps generate fresh, authentic destination content through scheduled creator visits throughout the year. You may choose from one, three, or five creator visits, with each creator providing a different set of guaranteed deliverables outlined separately. This program is ideal for seasonal campaigns, event promotion, new attraction highlights, itinerary inspiration, downtown features, outdoor experiences, and targeted pushes for specific travel themes. Each creator visit requires the DMO to provide and coordinate one overnight stay and one meal for the visiting creator.
One Content Creator Day- $850 Three Content Creator Days - $2,000 Five Content Creator Days - $3,000 Creator
strength
use
deliverables
Drew Takes a Photo
Photography, Content Capture
Events, Photo Assets, Community Storytelling
Edited Photo Gallery, Usage Rights, Event Coverage
Hey Y’all
Reach, Engagement
Awareness, Day Trips, Events, Business Spotlights
Collaboration Post, Itinerary-Style Promotion, Reach Reporting
Muletown Moments
Vlog-Style Content
Downtown Features, Local Recommendations, Business Spotlights
Collaboration Post, Recommendation-Based Content
Pretty Old Places
Reach, Engagement, Photography, Storytelling
History, Architecture, Backroads, Heritage Tourism
Collaboration Post, Photography, Story-Driven Captions
Vintage Remnants
Reach, Engagement, Niche Antique Audience
Antiquing Itineraries, Vintage Shopping, Downtown Retail
Collaboration Post, Itinerary Promotion
RunningChann
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Active Travel, 5k Races, Reach, Engagement, Walkable Downtowns, Outdoor Running-focused content Recreation
Collaboration Post, TikTok Post, Featured Tags
sctta. org
The Experience Tennessee Travel Guide The Experience Tennessee Travel Guide offers a fresh, narrative-driven take on exploring the South Central Tennessee Region. This guide delves into the rich tapestry of the area’s 13 counties while providing an immersive exploration of diverse themes, from Tennessee’s Whiskey Country, Southern BBQ, and antique pickin’ to history and the scenic Natchez Trace. What sets this travel guide apart is its innovative integration with Experience Tennessee’s signature Virtual Brochure Rack, offering readers scannable access to detailed travel breakdowns by category and links to other online brochures. The guide is also prominently featured on ExperienceTN.com through a dedicated tab, allowing every piece of content, from articles and activations to advertisements, to be interlinked with additional online information. Distributed to Ardmore, Nickajack, Smith County, Wayne County, Lynchburg, Memphis, and Chattanooga Welcome Centers.
Digital guide featured on ExperienceTN.com Clickable ads on digital guide 150,000+ prints distributed annually
The AFter Jack Traveller’s Guide The After Jack Guide is one of South Central Tennessee’s most powerful and strategic marketing tools, targeting travelers immediately after their visit to the world-famous Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. As one of Tennessee’s most visited destinations, the distillery draws international and domestic tourists alike, all looking for their next adventure once their tour wraps. This exclusive guide is designed to steer visitors away from the interstates and instead guide them through the heart of our region—inviting them to explore the charming small towns, hidden gems, and unforgettable experiences across all 13 counties of South Central Tennessee. Featuring curated routes to Nashville, Memphis, Huntsville, and Chattanooga, the After Jack Guide reaches travelers right as they’re choosing what comes next. Clickable ad in digital guide Branding on After Jack Routes Promoted on Visit Lynchburg and Trailhead websites
experience guides These listing guides are organized around specific travel interests, from outdoor adventure and family-friendly getaways to local food, music, history, shopping, agritourism, lodging, and craft beverage experiences. Each Experience Guide connects directly to online brochures and easy-to-navigate listing pages on ExperienceTN.com, giving advertisers added visibility through digital trip-planning resources that help travelers discover destinations, attractions, events, and businesses across South Central Tennessee. Tennessee Flavor Guide Outdoor Adventure Music, Culture, & Arts Streams & Fields Playcation: Kid-Friendly Travel Guide
History of the Volunteer State Rooted in Farms Guide Whiskey, Wines, & Brews Tennessee Pickin’: Antiques & Boutiques Destination Lodging
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$250 - $6,000
Brochure Sponsorship Program
Tourism partners have the opportunity to advertise in Experience Tennessee guides and brochures that are distributed throughout the region, promoted across SCTTA’s digital platforms, and made available to travelers online. These sponsorships are designed to keep your destination, business, event, or attraction visible in both physical and digital spaces where visitors are actively looking for travel ideas. Each sponsored brochure benefits from a combination of print distribution, digital access, social media promotion, and direct fulfillment to interested travelers. experiencetn.com
Print Visibility: Your ad will be prominently featured in the guide or brochure you select. Experience Tennessee brochures are distributed to state welcome centers, regional state parks, local welcome centers, hotels, short-term rentals, and other visitor-facing locations across the region. Digital Reach: Every Experience Tennessee brochure is available on the Experience Tennessee website and the Virtual Brochure Rack, making it easy for travelers to access your message before, during, and after their visit. Each guide is also supported by a branded social media post on Experience Tennessee channels. Linked Digitial Ads: Each ad in Experience Tennessee digital publications are linked. This allows visitors to click directly thorugh to your website or perfered link.
experience tn app
Direct Mail Fulfillment: Brochure sponsors benefit from SCTTA’s travel information fulfillment program. When visitors request travel information through ExperienceTN.com or participating DMO websites, SCTTA mails relevant brochures and guides directly to them, helping sponsors reach people who have already expressed interest in visiting. REgional Guides
Experience TN Travel Guide After Jack Traveler’s Guide Experience Guides (10)
Local Visitor Guides Lynchburg Map & Visitor Guide Amish Country Map
new, all-in guide sponsorship virtual brochure rack
The All-In Guide Sponsorship gives tourism partners a presence in every Experience Tennessee guide, creating consistent visibility across our full print and digital guide collection. Your ad will appear in guides built around a wide range of traveler interests, giving your message repeated exposure across one of Experience Tennessee’s most comprehensive print visibility opportunities.
AD TYPE
TRAVEL GUIDE
AFTER JACK
TRAVEL GUIDE & AFTER JACK
EXPERIENCE GUIDES
ALL-IN GUIDES
Full Page
$2,500
$2,500
$3,500
$500
$6,000
Half Page
$1,250
$1,250
$2,000
$350
$4,500
Quarter Page
$900
$900
$1,500
$250
$3,500
Back Cover
$3,500
$3,500
--
$2,000 Sponsor
--
Inside Front
$3,000
$3,000
--
$1,000
--
Inside Back
$3,000
$3,000
--
$1,000
--
PREMIUM ADVERTISING
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Experience tennessee brochure rack program
$1,500 - $5,000
The Experience Tennessee Brochure Rack Program is a simple yet powerful way to engage your community and elevate the visitor experience. By installing branded brochure racks throughout your town, you’re not just increasing visibility—you’re transforming key locations into regional information hubs that inspire exploration and boost local tourism. This turnkey program makes participation easy. Experience Tennessee manages all aspects, including: Rack placements in high-traffic areas Locations listed on ExperienceTN.com as “info station” Branded poster and VBR insert changed annually Insert upgrades available for themes, events, etc. - $100 each Regular stocking and maintenance Top 25 Locations with Custom Poster installations to support VBR Customize stocking plan for each location Single Location - $1,500 Annually Three Locations - $3,000 Annually Six Locations - $5,000 Annually Virtual Brochure Poster Sponsorship Program
$750 - $1,500
The Virtual Brochure Rack gives travelers easy digital access to Experience Tennessee guides and brochures anytime, anywhere. It extends the reach of printed materials by connecting visitors to online brochures through ExperienceTN.com, regional promotions, and QR-code signage throughout the region. Virtual Brochure Rack sponsors will have their local visitor guide featured on the sponsored posters placed throughout their community. If the sponsor does not have a local guide with SCTTA, we can feature their existing guide or include their logo, and each sponsor will receive posters to display locally. poster Sponsorships
25 Posters (SCTTA will hang 20 posters) - $750 50 Posters (SCTTA will hang 40 posters) - $1,500
information fulfillment Program
$3,000
Each month we mail out dozens of guides and information about visiting Tennessee. Our Literature Mailing Program allows for you to get in on that action! This sponsorship allows you to place a rack card of your business inside each envelope we mail out. It also includes a mention in the letter that we send folks, pointing out that we are able to send this to them thanks to your partnership. This sponsorship also comes with a banner ad on the “guides” page on ExperienceTN.com and continuous social media ad.
Annual Sponsor (1,000 Envelopes) - $3,000 Includes:
Direct mail fulfillment from Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead & Welcome Center in Lynchburg. Custom rack-card included in region requests. Custom branded envelopes for direct orders. Digital fulfillment of requests, personal email from welcome center staff. SCTTA will provide a link or embed to a “information request form” on designated tourism website.
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sctta. org
Local Visitor Guide Development
$3,000
A local visitor's guide is a valuable asset for hotels, short-term rentals, events, and more. These 4x9 booklets feature 16 pages of essential travel information (8 pages dedicated to local ads), helping visitors navigate dining, shopping, lodging, and attractions in your community. SCTTA handles the entire process, from content creation and photography to printing and distribution. Guides are strategically placed at three state welcome centers, the Trailhead, the Natchez Trace Welcome Center, and local lodging partners, ensuring maximum reach and impact. 5,000 Prints Digital Guide Provided with links SCTTA Provides Distribution Brand & Social Kit Provided Annual Price: $3,000
Local Guide Development
2 Guide Promo Posts* 1 Experience TN Collab Post* Up to 8 Ad Pages sold by Experience TN *Designed using SCTTA Program Standards *Social Media Posts require social media plan
$3,000
SCTTA is now offering local guide development to help bring your tourism concept to life. Work with our expert team to create custom branding, eyecatching design, and compelling content tailored to your needs. Plus, your brochure will be featured in the all-new Experience Tennessee Digital Guide featured on the Virtual Brochure Rack, expanding your reach like never before! 4X9, 12-page, 2,500 prints Digital and PDF Copies provided Distribution Provided Placed on the online VBR Initial Print: $3,000
app version of local guide
2 Guide Promo Posts* 1 Experience TN Collab Post* 4 Ad Pages sold by Experience TN
*Designed using SCTTA Program Standards *Social Media Posts require social media plan
+$1,500
Add an app version of your brochure to the Experience Tennessee App. This addon app version helps make your local experience guide more accessible to travelers before and during their visit, creating another simple way to promote featured stops, attractions, businesses, and experiences through Experience Tennessee’s digital platforms. This add-on is best suited for Local Guides that are informational, tour-based, or interpretive in nature. Strong examples include local history tours, downtown walking guides, mural trails, heritage guides, scenic driving routes, cemetery tours, architecture guides, or other brochures designed to guide visitors through a story, place, or route.
Annual Price: $1,500 9
sctta. org Email Marketing
$1,500
Build and reach a custom audience of travelers who are specifically interested in your community. SCTTA will create a customized email collection form that can be embedded on your tourism website and linked through social media, allowing visitors to sign up for more information, travel inspiration, events, and updates from your destination. This annual partnership includes a monthly localized section in the Field Notes Regional Newsletter, which currently reaches an audience of 25,000+ subscribers, as well as four seasonal direct newsletters to the DMO’s custom audience. SCTTA will handle email design and scheduling, you simply provide information in blog format. These touchpoints help support local events, seasonal campaigns, travel planning, and ongoing destination awareness.
Annually - $1,500 Includes:
Customized email collection form embed on designated tourism website and linktree on social media. Monthly localized section in the Field Notes Regional Newsletter. (must be provided in blog format) Four seasonal direct newsletters to custom audience to support events & campaigns.
digital billboard
$1,500 - 90 day (min)
The Digital Billboard Program helps you reach travelers in key drive markets through high-visibility digital billboard placements. SCTTA will focus placements in strategic markets including Alabama, Nashville, and Chattanooga, helping communities build awareness among audiences who are within a realistic travel distance. You will select the campaign goal, preferred time of year, and number of months the campaign will run, with a 90-day (3 month) minimum required. This program includes a campaign kick-off meeting, billboard design, DMO approval, campaign launch, and optimized reporting. SCTTA will work with each DMO to develop creative that supports the selected goal, whether that is general destination awareness, event promotion, seasonal travel, or a specific visitor-focused message.
Alabama Market: $500/m (61k to 88k impressions) $750/m (92k to 132k impressions) $1,000/m (121k to 174k impressions)
Nashville Market: $500/m (61k to 88k impressions) $750/m (92k to 132k impressions) $1,000/m (121k to 174k impressions)
Chattanooga Market: $500/m (71k to 102k impressions) $750/m (103k to 148.7k impressions) $1,000/m (132k to 192.3k impressions)
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Tourism-ready community marketing program
$3,500 - $10,000
The Community Project is designed to bring all of the Tourism Ready fundamentals together and take them to the next level. It demonstrates how the work happening on the DMO side supports local businesses, and how business engagement strengthens the DMO and the broader tourism strategy. A thriving tourism ecosystem should not only support visitors but also contribute to a higher quality of life for residents. That is why this program is designed to connect tourism development with broader community growth.
10 Businesses - $3,500 20 Businesses- $6,500 30 Businesses - $10,000
Includes:
Tourism-Ready Workshop hosted by SCTTA in your community. Up to 30 participating businesses in the tourism sector: lodging, dining, shopping, and attractions. One full year of Fundamental Experience TN Partnerships at no charge to the business. A dedicated blog feature written by SCTTA for each participating business.
Each participating business receives a full partnership package that includes the following and more: A partner page on ExperienceTN.com A listing card on TNVacation.com A listing on the TRVA Geotourism page by National Geographic & The TVA A visit from SCTTA ambassadors, Hey Y’all Recognition as a Featured Place on ExperienceTN.com Invitations to quarterly partner networking events Placement as a community recommendation in the Experience Tennessee Travel Guide The ability to submit monthly blogs for publication on ExperienceTN.com Discounts on ad buys and co-op advertising opportunities A media kit developed by SCTTA to support media outreach and pitches
Tourism branding development
$10,000
The Community Project is designed to bring all of the Tourism Ready fundamentals together and take them to the next level. It demonstrates how the work happening on the DMO side supports local businesses, and how business engagement strengthens the DMO and the broader tourism strategy. A thriving tourism ecosystem should not only support visitors but also contribute to a higher quality of life for residents. That is why this program is designed to connect tourism development with broader community growth.
Starting at $10,000 Includes:
2 Community Roundtables Survey County-Wide Tourism Brand Name Original Artwork Support Branding Full Brand Kit: multiple logo colors, brand colors, font(s), brand story, etc.
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sctta. org $5,000 - $5,550
local visit commercial
A professionally produced tourism commercial designed to capture the attention of travelers. This package includes a pre-production meeting with the videographer and SCTTA team to define the campaign direction, key messaging, featured locations, and overall look and feel of the commercial. The final deliverables include one fully produced 30-90-second commercial with voiceover, along with three 15-second vertical video clips designed to support social media promotion. DMOs are encouraged to add a separate digital ad budget to place the commercial across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. For communities looking to maximize the value of the commercial, this service can also be paired with the TV Advertisements add-on to expand reach through traditional broadcast placements. 30-SECONDS - $5,000 60-SECONDS - $5,550 Includes:
Pre-production meeting with videographer & SCTTA team. 30-60-second commercial fully produced with voiceover. 3: 15-second vertical video clips to support socials. Ad placements on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook. (seperate budget)
$1,500 (MIN)
tv advertisements
TV Advertisements allow you to extend the reach of your Local Visit Commercial through traditional broadcast placements. SCTTA will schedule a kick-off meeting to discuss audience, campaign goals, and recommended placement strategy, with reporting provided on overall campaign reach. *Local Visit Commercial required $1,500/month: 30K - 70K impressions Samples: $2,500/month: 50K - 117K impressions $3,500/month: 70K - 163K impressions $4,500/month: 90K - 210K impressions
Bag Sponsorship
$1,500 - $3,500
The Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead and Welcome Center hands out over 10,000 bags annually with customer purchases, and another nearly 10,000 for brochures and merchandise inside the store. This sponsorship includes your logo on one side of the bag, printed on over 20,000 bags. For special events or short runs, we can work in "splash printing” that covers 5,000 bags and up to three months in rotation.
LYNCHBURG, TENNESSEE
LYNCHBURG, TENNESSEE
Distributed at the Trailhead, Ardmore, and the Nickajack State Welcome Centers.
Recycle Today For A Better Tomorrow WARNING: TO AVOID DANGER OF SUFFOCATION KEEP THIS BAG AWAY FROM BABIES AND CHILDREN.
Primary Annual - $3,500
Secondary Annual - $1,500 12
sctta. org
ExperienceTN.com