9:20 a.m. August 21, 2013
New Director for Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Council

PIGEON FORGE, TN -- The Smoky Mountain Tourism and Development Council (SMTDC) has named Mary Hope Maples as their new Director.

Maples currently resides in Sevierville, was born and raised in Gatlinburg, and has worked in Pigeon Forge for the past 10 years. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in Media Journalism and Broadcast Communications. Maples grew up in the local tourism/hospitality industry working with her family in the restaurant business and has continued to work in the Sevier County tourism industry throughout the past 20 years.

"We are excited to announce Mary Hope as our new director," said SMTDC member Leon Downey. “She has the education, experience and background that we were looking for to fill this position.”

The SMTDC is comprised of representatives from three Sevier County destination promotion organizations, Sevier County and the County’s Economic Development Council.

SMTDC members include Vicki Simms, Director Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau; Leon Downey, Director Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism; Brenda McCroskey, Director Sevierville Chamber of Commerce; Perrin Anderson, Sevier County Communications/Marketing Coordinator, and Allen Newton Director Sevier County Economic Development Council.

The mission of the SMTDC is to foster cooperative marketing by the three member destination promotion organizations, county, economic development council and local tourism businesses as well as to serve as a forum for the discussion of both economic development projects and planning initiatives that are judged to be beneficial to the tourism industry in Sevier County, Tennessee.

With the assistance of Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville the SMTDC has undertaken cooperative marketing projects for over 25 years, including the creation of the award winning Smoky Mountain Winterfest Celebration.

Published August 21, 2013