Eastern Tennessee
VisitChattanooga.com; @VisitChatt
Chattanooga’s designation as North America’s first “National Park City” reflects how the city functions day to day, according to Sean Phipps, marketing director for Chattanooga Tourism Co. “Green space, river access, and mountain trails are woven into our fabric of life,” Phipps says. “Planners return here because the infrastructure is solid, the setting is dramatic, and the city consistently surprises attendees who weren’t expecting much from a mid-sized Southern city.”
Phipps notes that visitors can kayak on the Tennessee River, walk the 13-mile paved Tennessee Riverwalk, or hike or bike mountain trails within minutes of downtown. Hang gliding or paragliding at Lookout Mountain Flight Park offers “one of the most distinctive teambuilding options in the Southeast,” he says.
On the Riverwalk, the new Erlanger Park mixed-use development is anchored by the new Chattanooga Lookouts Minor League Baseball stadium, which offers significant event space, including the 500-seat Coca-Cola Pattern Shop, the 7,000-square-foot Powerhouse, and additional spaces for up to 500 event guests.
Also new, the 184-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga Downtown has 2,871 square feet of meeting space plus a rooftop bar. The Waymark Chattanooga, Tapestry Collection by Hilton opened in early 2026 in a restored historic downtown building; it offers 148 guest rooms and five meeting rooms. The 123-room Caption by Hyatt has event space for up to 80 guests. Two additional downtown hotels are expected to open in 2027: a 200-room Drury Plaza Downtown and Chattanooga’s first AC Hotel by Marriott, which is expected to offer 135 guest rooms.
The Read House, a downtown landmark since 1872, has 241 guest rooms and 12 event spaces, including the elegant Silver Ballroom and a new 3,000-square-foot formal garden. The 260-room Westin Chattanooga has almost 15,000 square feet of indoor function space, plus outdoor venues, while the 199-room Chattanoogan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton has 22,061 square feet of event space. The 186-room DoubleTree by Hilton Chattanooga Downtown has 11,368 square feet of newly renovated event space, and Hotel Chalet at the iconic Chattanooga Choo Choo has traditional hotel rooms, restored vintage train cars, and indoor/outdoor event space. The 340-room Chattanooga Marriott Downtown offers 9,862 square feet of meeting space and directly connects to the Chattanooga Convention Center, which can accommodate 500 exhibit booths or seat more than 5,000 theater style. The convention center and most downtown hotels and attractions are on the city’s free electric shuttle route.
Classic offsite venues include Ruby Falls, with a 3,500-square-foot event space; the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and African American Museum, with a 400-person-capacity performance hall and outdoor function areas; the Tennessee Aquarium, which accommodates up to 3,000 event guests; and the 4,000-square-foot event hall at Chattanooga Whiskey.
Approximately 90 minutes north of Chattanooga, Falls Creek Falls State Park offers nearly 30,000 acres of outdoor experiences, including its namesake 256-foot waterfall. The park features a stunning new lodge with more than 5,000 square feet of indoor event space.
