The Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Unclaimed Baggage Center and Visit North Alabama are proud to introduce the Jackson County Hospitality Association. This group is open to all tourism businesses, entities or organizations that are dedicated to the unified growth of tourism in Jackson County, Alabama. We plan to start with quarterly gatherings in 2020, each meeting will take place at 11:30 AM at Reclaimed for Good located at 509 W Willow Street in Scottsboro; lunch is included. During the 4th class of the year, Jackson County Tourism Director Sarah Stahl will provide a complete overview of where the tourism industry currently stands, where we are headed, and what the industry can expect in 2021 & beyond. All meetings are free, include lunch, and open to tourism industry professionals can come expecting to collaborate and learn industry trends. More info can be found at www.mountainlakeschamber.com

1. WHERE THE
MOUNTAINS
MEET THE LAKE
Jackson County's Voice of
Economic Progress for the
Tourism & Travel Industry

2. INITIATED IN 1992
Our now President/CEO Rick Roden
was hired as the 1ST Jackson Co.
Tourism Director under partnership
with Goose Pond & The Chamber
OUR HISTORY
2001 INDUSTRY REHAUL
J.P. Parson was hired under the
Chamber's 1ST five-year plan called
Focus Jackson; when tourism was
identified as a county-wide
economic development need with
feedback from 100+ local leaders
2019 NEW HIRE
Chamber hires the 3RD Tourism Director

3. SERVICE COVERAGE AREA
The area of responsibility for the association was
designated as the sole tourism entity for all 13
Jackson County Municipalities. All are part of the
fertile Tennessee River Valley region in Alabama.
W E A R E 1 0 0 %
C O U N T Y - W I D E
F O C U S E D
BRIDGEPORT
SCOTTSBORO
STEVENSON
DUTTON
HOLLYWOOD
HYTOP
LANGSTON
PAINT ROCK
PISGAH
PLEASANT GROVE
SECTION
SKYLINE
WOODVILLE

4. WHAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR
Goose Pond Colony - Lake Guntersville
Scottsboro Boy's Museum
Russell Cave National Monument
Walls of Jericho
Pisgah Gorge
Buck's Pocket State Park
Cathedral Caverns State Park
Weathington Park Overlook
An abundance of Caves - County-wide
Hunting & Wildlife Observation/Management
Jackson County Park
Trade Days
ATTRACTIONS
RETAIL & RESTAURANTS
Unclaimed Baggage Center
50 Taters
KC's BBQ
Pikeville Store & Grill
Cumberland Mountain Outdoors
Payne's Soda-Fountain

5. INSTRUMENTAL TOURISM PROGRESS
Russell Cave - Paved Co. Road 98
Big Bass Splash - Over 16 Years
Riverline Project - Bridgeport
Siege of Bridgeport - STS Event of 2020
1ST Monday Trade Day's - STS Event of 1998
Scottsboro Boy's - Civil Rights Trail
Alabama - Tourism Professionals of the Year
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

6. TAXES SAVED EACH
ALABAMA FAMILY
$537
$17M IN 2001
TO $70M IN 2019
280%
JACKSON COUNTY
TOURISM JOBS
868
TRAVEL EXPENDITURES
CREATE 1 DIRECT JOB
$119K
IMPACT
SUMMARY
#'S PROVIDED BY THE STATE TOURISM OFFICE

7. 2017 2018 2019 2020
1,000
750
500
250
0
2017 2018 2019 2020
75,000,000
50,000,000
25,000,000
0 2017 2018 2019 2020
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
0
ON THE RISE
VISITOR SPENDING JOBS LODGING TAX EARNINGS
CURRENTLY DOWN 34% DUE TO COVID-19

8. Partnership helped secure several annual
travel bloggers from Germany & Italy
Promotions on the State Tourism website
Russell Cave National Monument
Visit Jackson Co. Commercial - 2020
The Caves of Jackson Co.
Paynes Soda Fountain -150 Years Old
Unclaimed Baggage Center
Goose Colony
Stephen's Gap Cave
Skyline Farms Heritage Association
Gorham's Bluff Lodge
STATE & REGIONAL TOURISM
NATIONAL GEORGRAPHIC
SOUTHERN LIVING
IN THE PRESS

9. PUBLIC
RELATIONS
2020 PR PARTNERS
Jackson Magazine
The Clarion Newspaper
98-3 Wild Country
256 magazine
New South Outdoor, LLC
North Jackson Press
Jackson County Sentinel
Southern Living
WAAY-TV
WAFF 48 News
WHNT News 19
Thrive Regional Partnership
Cityview Magazine
Atlanta Magazine
Alabama Living
Business Alabama Magazine
National Geographic
State & Regional Tourism Partners

10. with over 1,000 new annual
followers across multiple social
platforms the social story format
has increased brand awareness &
trust among our target audience
DIGITAL
MARKETING
60% ORGANIC ENGAGEMENT

11. 20+ VIDEOS
IN 2020
During the past year we have produced &
distributed new videos on YouTube, Channel 10,
on our website and across social media.

12. Visit Jackson County Commercials
are cut to one-minute segments and run on
Alabama networks connected to channel 10
6 press release stories were picked up and
shared on the evening news; regionally - in
the spring/summer of 2020
3 month's of commercial ads with Southern
Torch Media promoting road trip giveaway
CHANNEL 10
WHNT NEWS 19 & WAAY 31
RICK & BUBBA
RADIO & TV
MARKETING

13. PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS
PRESS COVERAGE
We distribute monthly story ideas to
over 40 newspaper, magazine,
radio, TV and online travel editors
along with bloggers throughout the
Tennessee Valley Region.

14. CONSUMER TRAVEL SHOWS
Partnered with North Alabama during
annual consumer travel shows in 12 cities
in 7 states reaching more than a quarter-
million consumers.

15. We provide brochures at local destinations that
incude hotels, restaurants & retail partners.
LOCAL PARTNERS
North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism
Association distributes at all 8 locations.
The Jackson County Visitor's Center is located
at 407 E. Willow Street in Scottsboro.
ALABAMA WELCOME CENTERS
VISITOR'S CENTER
BROCHURE
DISTRIBUTION

16. HOW TOURISM
DOLLARS SUPPORT
OUR ECONOMY
Travel Expenditures support Employment,
Infrastructure & Local Taxes that directly effect
job creation, education & annual dues.
Breakdown: 14% lodging tax + 1$ surcharge
State=5% City=7% Chamber=1.75% Heritage=.25%
FUNDING DISTRIBUTION

17. WE'RE FAR FROM FINISHED
Although we are proud of the progress,
recognition and economic impact that has
been made so far, we understand there is
still work to be accomplished.
MOVING
FORWARD

18. GROWTH
POTENTIAL
AREAS WORTH INVESTING IN
ROAD BIKING
CAMPING
PADDLING
MOUNTAIN BIKING
AS OF JUNE 2020 SALES ARE UP 63%
REACHING $697M
AS OF JUNE 2020 SALES ARE UP 56%
REACHING $172M
AS OF JUNE 2020 SALES ARE UP 31%
REACHING $605M
25,000 CYCLISTS A YEAR RIDE THE
TRAILS, ADDING AN ESTIMATED $2
MILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY
ACCORDING TO OUTDOOR RECREATION ROUNDTABLE

19. Focused on recruiting tourism
businesses - qualify for Tax
Abatements according to the
Alabama Department of Revenue
RECRUITMENT
The low hanging fruit to drive
new visitors looking to easily
access our outdoors is through
the development of new trails.
TRAILS
The Jackson County Hospitality
Association was started in 2020
in partnership with Unclaimed
Baggage & Visit North Alabama.
STAKEHOLDERS

20. PROJECTED
GOALS
Identify & recruit new
lodging accommodations
& investment opportunities.
DECEMBER 2022
Have a 5-10 year tourism
growth plan in place,
hopefully with this County-
wide Hospitality Association
DECEMBER 2021
Have 3 new trail plans
mapped out & turned in to TVA
Finalize Velo Vie bike tour routs
DECEMBER 2020
BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDING

21. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
We couldn't do what we do without our partners
and we are grateful to each and every organization
who supports our vision and guides our future!
LET'S
PARTNER UP

22. 256-259-5500
sstahl@scottsboro.org
407 E. Willow Street
Scottsboro, AL 35768
PHONE NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS
GET IN TOUCH
SARAH STAHL - DIRECTOR
MARKETING & TOURUISM @MTLAKESCHAMBER
SOCIAL MEDIA