Case Study: Lisa Knight

Case Study: Lisa Knight
Administrative Assistant, Anchored In Truth Ministries

History: The Alabama-based organization held a youth conference with 900 attendees in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Requirements: For the high school and college attendees, it was important to have activities and amenities in close proximity to the conference. Organizers also did not want to deal with the traffic and congestion problems they had experienced at other popular destinations. 

Results: Knight says Chattanooga worked out well for the teenagers. “They could set out on foot to see a lot of things and not have to load on and off a bus.” The conference was held at the Holiday Inn Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, which has outdoor covered space and lots of indoor space, including an indoor pool. “It was important to have room for them to get out between meetings and move around … to get all that energy out.” Participants who had been to previous conferences “fell in love” with the city and want to return, Knight says. She agrees. “We felt like we had the entire staff of the Chattanooga CVB at our disposal. Representatives from restaurants, attractions and other groups came onsite with directions, coupons and other information and took all that planning off our hands. We didn’t have to ask for anything.”

Inspiration: “It doesn’t matter what your mindset is, whether you’re an outdoor type or you want to be indoors … shopping, historic sights, the aquarium, restaurants—it’s all there and convenient,” says Knight, commenting on the city. She’s returning with another group and adding activities tailored to them: The couples’ conference will offer riverboat cruises and dinner theater.

This article was originally published in the December 2008 issue of Rejuvenate magazine.