The Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association is forming a political action committee to bolster candidates and elected officials who support the region’s powerhouse tourism industry, which spurred an estimated $1.7 billion in visitor spending in 2023.
Hugh Morrow, president and CEO of Ruby Falls, said the tourism and hospitality sector is the second largest employer in Hamilton County, noting the new PAC would give a voice in local politics for more than 31,000 workers.
Unlike major employers like Erlanger, Unum or BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the tourism industry is segmented across multiple businesses, Morrow said.