Selling Knoxville — with biscuits!

The Knoxville Convention Center's "biscuit expert," Cynthia Hartzog ready to get the party started.

The Knoxville Convention Center's "biscuit expert," Cynthia Hartzog, ready to get the party started.

Last week about 20 conference and meeting planners were in Knoxville for what is known in the industry as a “fam tour” — which is short for familiarization tour. The three-day event was organized by Visit Knoxville, formerly the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation (KTSC). One of the stops on the tour was, naturally, the Knoxville Convention Center, which is a Moxley Carmichael client, and the Blue Streak was invited to stop by and check out the action.

It was a blast! Every fam tour has a theme, says Kim Bumpas, executive director of Visit Knoxville. The theme for this one was, “Look What’s Cooking in Knoxville!” and the folks at the Convention Center took this theme literally. They decided to teach the visitors how to make biscuits as part of the tour of the Convention Center’s huge catering kitchen.

In addition to the planners, the Convention Center invited members of City Council and top city administrators. I guess everybody needs to learn how to make biscuits! The result was a great time for team-building and camaraderie while, at the same time, a chance to show off the Convention Center’s fabulous versatility and options for accommodating conferences and meetings for anywhere between 50 and 5,000 guests.

Eddie Mannis, left, and Bill Lyons, both deputies to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, getting into the spirit of the event.

Eddie Mannis, left, and Bill Lyons, both deputies to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, getting into the spirit of the event.

Although the Blue Streak was only present for one stop on the fam tour, the rest of the group’s trip was chock-full of non-stop activity. Wednesday started with an evening reception at the Four Points by Sheraton followed by a stop at the Sunsphere and a “showcase” at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Thursday started bright and early with breakfast at the downtown Hilton, a downtown driving tour, stops at James White’s Fort, the East Tennessee History Center and Market Square before lunch at the Crowne Plaza. Then came the biscuit making at the Convention Center followed by a stop at the Marriott, bike riding and hiking courtesy of the Knoxville Outdoor Adventure Center and a bluegrass and barbecue dinner there. After that: nightcaps at the Oliver Hotel. Friday was breakfast at the World’s Fair Holiday Inn followed by trips to the airport. Whew!

Bumpas says Visit Knoxville produces about three of these tours per year. They are extremely intense, both for the visitors and the hosts. “The idea of the fam tour is to overwhelm them with what Knoxville has to offer,” Bumpas said. “We run them from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. When those planners leave, they feel like family.”

The idea, she said, is for them to get a “big picture perspective of what Knoxville is all about.” Usually, at the opening reception, Bumpas said, all kinds of area attractions and accommodations are represented and pass out material to the planners. “It’s like a trade show,” she said. Then the tour visits selected locations with the Convention Center almost always the centerpiece of the tour.

The goal is to get several of the visitors to come back for a more individualized site visit. That’s when Visit Knoxville really sells the planner on what might be perfect for his or her specific group’s event in Knoxville and its surroundings. Bumpas said she thinks the fam tour that just ended will result in several site visits. “I could tell they were surprised and impressed about what Knoxville has to offer,” she said.

A side benefit is that everyone will be eating better biscuits as a result of the visit!

Rebecca Williams of the Knoxville Convention Center, lays out the aprons each visitor got to wear and take home.

Rebecca Williams of the Knoxville Convention Center, lays out the aprons each visitor got to wear and take home.

Nice.

Nice.

Mary Bogert, general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center, gave the group an overview of the Convention Center's capabilities.

Mary Bogert, general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center, gave the group an overview of the Convention Center's capabilities.

"We sell hospitality!" she told the guests.

"We sell hospitality!" she told the guests.

City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, chats with Executive Chef Chris Moore of the Convention Center.

City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, chats with Executive Chef Chris Moore of the Convention Center.

Meanwhile, Kim Beets of the Convention Center pours mimosas.

Meanwhile, Kim Beets of the Convention Center pours mimosas.

The group divided around five stations, each of which was set up like this.

The group divided around five stations, each of which was set up like this.

Look at all the yummy add-in options!

Look at all the yummy add-in options!

Kim Bumpas, CEO of Visit Knoxville, with City Councilman Finbarr Saunders

Kim Bumpas, CEO of Visit Knoxville, with City Councilman Finbarr Saunders

Chef Moore talks with Rebecca Davis of Location Management Services of America.

Chef Moore talks with Rebecca Davis of Location Management Services of America.

Cynthia gave some quick instructions. The recipe was one developed by famous chef Thomas Keller.

Cynthia gave some quick instructions. The recipe was one developed by famous chef Thomas Keller.

Everyone dove right in!

Everyone dove right in!

Including City Councilman Nick Della Volpe!

Including City Councilman Nick Della Volpe!

Carl Stasiunus of Flair Tours looks a little dubious.

Carl Stasiunus of Flair Tours looks a little dubious.

Carolyn Daniels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta took the project seriously.

Carolyn Daniels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta took the project seriously.

Renatee Stasiunas of Flair Tours and Maurice Hollins of the Youth Amateur Travel Sports Association

Renate Stasiunas of Flair Tours and Maurice Hollins of the Youth Amateur Travel Sports Association

Stacy Thibodeaux of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Stacy Thibodeaux of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cynthia Hartzog gives a hands-on demo.

Cynthia Hartzog gives a hands-on demo.

Bill Lyons digs in.

Bill Lyons digs in.

Eddie Mannis' competitive spirit kicked in as he started working the dough. He wanted to make the best biscuit!

Eddie Mannis' competitive spirit kicked in as he started working the dough. He wanted to make the best biscuit!

Councilman  Grieve was undaunted.

Councilman Grieve was undaunted.

Sous chef John Martin

Sous chef John Martin shows Rosemary Williams how to pat out the dough. She's with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Here's how it's done!

Here's how it's done!

Bill wields a mean cookie cutter!

Bill wields a mean cookie cutter!

So does Eddie!

So does Eddie!

Councilman Saunders carefully places his biscuits on the cookie sheet.

Councilman Saunders carefully places his biscuits on the cookie sheet.

Time to baste with butter.

Time to baste with butter.

Danielle Bellerose of Conference Direct seemed to be having fun.

Danielle Bellerose of ConferenceDirect seemed to be having fun.

I don't think she likes whatever is stuck on her hand!

I don't think she likes whatever is stuck on her hand!

Some folks got a little "creative." This mound was made by Kim Bumpas.

Some folks got a little "creative." This mound was made by Kim Bumpas.

Eddie Mannis made a Sunshpere biscuit!

Eddie Mannis made a Sunsphere biscuit!

While the group toured the Center, the biscuits baked! Don't they look great?

While the group toured the Center, the biscuits baked! Don't they look great?

Here's another sheet of biscuits.

Here's another sheet of biscuits.

The cooked Sunsphere biscuit!

The cooked Sunsphere biscuit!

Um, the "mound" didn't come out so well!

Um, the "mound" didn't come out so well!

The chef selected this one as the best biscuit. Eddie claimed it was his. "Nothing excites me more than perfection!" he bragged.

The chef selected this one as the best biscuit. Eddie claimed it was his. "Nothing excites me more than perfection!" he bragged.

A wide array of condiments were made available.

A wide array of condiments was made available.

And everyone fixed his or her own mid-afternoon snack. The smell was out of this world!

And everyone fixed his or her own mid-afternoon snack. The smell was out of this world!

Diane Smith of ConferenceDirect seemed pleased with the result.

Diane Smith of ConferenceDirect seemed pleased with the result.

As he bade adieu, Eddie Mannis told the visitors, “If you bring your group to Knoxville, I’ll make all your biscuits!” Now that’s something I’d like to see!

Click here for a link to Mary Bogert’s blog about this event on the Convention Center’s website.

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Events, Food, Knoxville. Bookmark the permalink.

8 Responses to Selling Knoxville — with biscuits!

  1. Gay Lyons, on October 15th, 2012 at 1:31 pm said:

    I am glad (and surprised) to learn that I can retire my rolling pin and turn all family biscuit-making duties over to Bill. It looks like a lot of fun. Who wouldn’t want to visit Knoxville after this?

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on October 15th, 2012 at 1:40 pm said:

    Bill was an awesome biscuit-maker! (But I don’t think you should hang up your pin just yet.)

  3. Alan Carmichael, on October 15th, 2012 at 4:55 pm said:

    I think Kim’s biscuit was a “volcano” biscuit.

  4. Kim Davis, on October 15th, 2012 at 5:01 pm said:

    Great Post!! Looked like everyone had a great time, and got to see a little behind-the-scenes of KCC. LOVE IT!!

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on October 15th, 2012 at 5:08 pm said:

    Alan: Perhaps you are correct.

  6. Cynthia Moxley, on October 15th, 2012 at 5:18 pm said:

    Kim: It was a really great idea! Hope some of them come so we can see Eddie make all those biscuits!

  7. Kim Bumpas, on October 15th, 2012 at 8:32 pm said:

    Cynthia: Thanks for all you do and I really appreciate you featuring my “volcano” biscuit, as it was a very special creation. And no worries, we are going to take Eddie up on his offer to make biscuits galore for all new pieces of business!

  8. Cynthia Moxley, on October 15th, 2012 at 10:58 pm said:

    Kim: It was great. But before our visitors return, I think you may want to perfect your “volcano!” Ha!

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