Dolly Parton’s business advisor honored with others in Sevier County Tourism as ‘Stars of the Industry’
Members of the Sevier County tourism industry were honored for their work to improve the guest experience when on a Tennessee vacation.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The “Stars of the Industry” were honored in Kingsport for their work to promote tourism by providing a great guest experience.
Ted Miller, Dolly Parton’s long-time business advisor, was honored with the “2025 Spirit of Tourism” award for his work expanding the tourism industry in Tennessee. His work dates back to 1976 with the start of Silver Dollar City Tennessee.
During the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Governor Bill Lee and Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell honored other attendees. Four Sevier County tourism leaders were honored during the event.
| Lodging Employee of the Year - Large | Steve Smith | The Resort at Governor’s Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging General Manager of the Year - Small | Lee Douglas | Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg |
| Lodging Manager of the Year - Large | Jennifer McPhail | The Resort at Governor’s Crossing |
| Restaurant Manager of the Year - Chain | Valarie DeRose | Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Waterpark |
The annual TNHTA Stars of the Industry Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across Tennessee’s hospitality and tourism sector.
“The Sevier County Hospitality and Tourism Alliance is proud to recognize the amazing talent in Sevier County with the Stars of the Industry. We recognize employee, managers, business and non-profits that are the corner stone of southern hospitality in our community,” said Josh Norris with the Sevier County Hospitality and Tourism Alliance.
Previous Coverage: Hospitality industry honors the best of Sevier County
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