Representatives from ExploreSullivan (Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association) presented the county’s quarterly tourism marketing report and forthcoming national advertising, and the commission approved the quarter’s occupancy‑tax appropriation to NEDA.

Alicia Phelps, lead for the county partnership, reviewed metrics from July through September, reporting nearly 11,000 site visits to exploreSullivan.com and a surge in specific assets distributed to Tennessee welcome centers and Tri-Cities Airport. Phelps highlighted earned and paid campaigns, content-creator collaborations and recent marketing placements including MLB-affiliated digital ads and streaming/video placements aimed at Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh and Washington, D.C. She also summarized lodging-tax receipts and noted county sales-tax gains tied to visitor spending, saying the county generated “almost $15,000,000 direct” in local unrestricted tax revenue last year from visitor spending.

After the presentation the commission took up a resolution (item 11) to appropriate $137,336.43 in Sullivan County occupancy-tax collections to the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association to fulfill the county’s quarterly commitment for tourism marketing and promotion. Commissioner Vanover introduced the resolution and requested waiver of rules so the county could act that night. The clerk recorded the roll call and the commission adopted the appropriation.

Phelps and county economic-development partners noted several ongoing and upcoming promotions, including national streaming, content-creator visits and cross-promotions with Tri-Cities air service; they said those activities are intended to expand visitation from new markets and support local lodging and hospitality businesses. No budget amendment or additional conditions were discussed during the appropriation vote.