GATLINBURG, Tenn. – Gatlinburg.com, the official website for the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), has earned recognition at four major digital marketing award competitions following its website redesign launched in March 2024. The new website, created in partnership with Simpleview, has been honored in the Tourism Website category with a Gold award at the prestigious Davey Awards, a Silver award at the w3 Awards, an Honorable Mention at the MarCom Awards and an Outstanding Website award at the Web Marketing Association WebAwards.

Revolutionizing the User Experience

The redesigned Gatlinburg.com was built with a mobile-first approach and a focus on creating a more engaging, user-friendly experience. The overhaul included a modern aesthetic with updated navigation, color strategies and more efficient use of screen real estate, ensuring that visitors can easily explore the site and access relevant content with a more personalized experience. Key features of the redesign also include the prominent placement of the Vacation Guide to boost user interest and lead generation.

In line with the brand’s new style guide, the site delivers a personalized experience to users and strives to improve engagement through earlier delivery of content and a refined structure designed to boost both organic traffic and overall site performance. The redesign’s success is evident in the almost immediate increase in traffic and other key performance metrics, including sessions, active users, time on site and pageviews.

Immediate ROI and Growth

Since its launch, the website redesign has delivered significant results, with notable improvements in organic traffic and an increase in all engagement metrics. These improvements underscore the effectiveness of the redesign in enhancing the user experience while ensuring that visitors can more easily access the information they seek about the popular tourist destination.

Gatlinburg CVB’s Digital Media Manager, Gretchen Pardon, commented, "We are incredibly proud of the new website for Gatlinburg.com. To be recognized with these prestigious awards is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between the CVB and Simpleview. We remain committed to continually improving Gatlinburg.com, not only in SEO, but also in enhancing the overall user experience and usability of the site."

Award Recognition

The website redesign has received significant recognition in the industry, with awards from some of the most respected competitions in the digital marketing space.

  • 2024 Davey Awards: Gold in the Tourism Website category. The Davey Awards, judged by an esteemed panel of professionals from top-tier media, advertising and marketing firms, honors the most creative and effective digital work.
  • 2024 w3 Awards: Silver in the Tourism Website category. The w3 Awards recognize excellence in digital marketing, focusing on creativity, usability, navigation and design. Entries are evaluated by an invitation-only body of experts in the field.
  • 2024 MarCom Awards: Honorable Mention in the Tourism Website category. The MarCom Awards are among the largest and most prestigious creative competitions globally, honoring excellence in marketing and communications with only 13% of submissions receiving recognition.
  • 2024 Web Marketing Association WebAwards: Outstanding Website Award. Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association’s WebAward Competition has set the standard for website excellence, recognizing top developers and marketers. Expert judges review sites across 86 industries, awarding only the best.

Continued Commitment to Excellence

The Gatlinburg CVB and Simpleview are committed to further enhancing the site’s features and functionality, ensuring that Gatlinburg.com remains a valuable resource for prospective visitors, as well as a high-performing digital asset that drives the success of Gatlinburg’s tourism marketing efforts.

About Gatlinburg CVB

The Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Gatlinburg as a world-class travel destination. Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and attractions. The CVB works to enhance the visitor experience while supporting local businesses and fostering economic growth.

For more information about the new Gatlinburg.com website, visit gatlinburg.com.