GATLINBURG – The City of Gatlinburg’s Special Events Office was presented with eight awards at the International Festival and Events Association’s (IFEA) 50th Anniversary Reunion Convention & Expo in San Antonio, Texas this past week.
This year’s competition for the prestigious IFEA/ Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards competition drew 1,510 entries from among the world’s top festivals and events. The winning entries came from organizations as diverse as The Kentucky Derby Festival and Memphis in May to international events such as the Rotterdam Festival in the Netherlands, and the Nanning International Folk Songs Arts Festival in Beijing, China.
Gatlinburg competes in the “$250,000 or less budget” category:
Gold- Best Direct Mail Piece or Brochure
Gold- Best New Product or Service
Silver- Best Street Banner
Silver- Best Environmental Program
Silver- Best Direct Mail Piece or Brochure
Bronze- Best Full Length TV Program
Bronze (tie)- Best Promotional Brochure
Bronze (tie)- Best Promotional Brochure
“We are very pleased for Gatlinburg to receive recognition on an international level,” said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager who represented Gatlinburg at the convention.
 “We would like to congratulate all of our Pinnacle Award winners for their outstanding entries into this year’s competition, “said IFEA President & CEO, Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE.
“This prestigious awards competition recognizes the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions, and in doing so, has raised the standards and quality of media promotions industry-wide.”
Hawkins also attended educational seminars at the convention including a class taught by Jean McSpadden, former producer and director of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as classes being taught by top executives from Disney, China and Singapore.

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