CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 21, 2026) — Chattanooga Tourism Co. welcomes more than 400 travel content creators, influencers and industry professionals to the Scenic City this week for the 2026 Women in Travel Summit (WITS), organized by Wanderful. The three-day summit, running May 29-31, brings together some of the travel industry's most influential storytellers — creators who share their experiences with engaged audiences across blogs, social media and multimedia channels.
WITS is the premier event for women and gender-diverse travel creators, industry executives and tourism organizations. Now in its 13th year, past host cities include New York City, Salt Lake City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Chattanooga joins that roster as the 2026 host city.
"WITS attendees will spend the week exploring Chattanooga’s neighborhoods, scenic landscapes and restaurant scene, with pre- and post-conference experiences extending their visit across the region. There's no better way to experience everything this city has to offer," said Susan Harris, interim CEO of Chattanooga Tourism Co.
As a destination that welcomed 11.1 million visitors in 2024, Chattanooga continues to grow as a place where leisure travel, meetings, conventions and events fuel economic opportunity and put the Scenic City on the map for travelers around the world.
"We can't believe that WITS Chattanooga is right around the corner" said Beth Santos, CEO and founder of Wanderful. "WITS is a really special opportunity to connect travel creators with unique destinations and help them tell the full story of that place to millions of followers around the world. Between visiting Rock City, making candles at The Chattery, visiting the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, and eating at dozens of restaurants around town, we can't wait for the media magic that's coming and are so grateful to the many, many local businesses that have gotten involved."
What sets WITS apart is its attendees: creators who collectively reach millions of followers and will continue to share Chattanooga with new audiences long after the summit concludes. When a travel creator shares their experience, it becomes a recommendation that lives online indefinitely, introducing the Scenic City to future visitors near and far.
For more information, visit visitchattanooga.com/wits.
Media Availability
The following are available for interviews Friday, May 29:
- Susan Harris, interim CEO, Chattanooga Tourism Co.
- Beth Santos, CEO and founder, Wanderful
To schedule an interview or for more information, contact Dawn Kimberlin, Communications Manager, Chattanooga Tourism Co., at dawnk@chattanoogatourism.com or (907) 360-4874.
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About Chattanooga Tourism Co.
Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Hamilton County, dedicated to sustainably increasing visitation and connecting guests with authentic Chattanooga experiences. The organization aims to strengthen the local economy and enrich the community by establishing Chattanooga as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events, and leisure travel. Hamilton County welcomes more than 11.1 million visitors annually, who generate an economic impact of $1.8 billion. This visitor spending contributes $186 million in local and state tax revenue, saving each resident household $1,232 in taxes and supporting more than 30,000 jobs. VisitChattanooga.com
About Wanderful
Wanderful is a global community of women travelers and travel content creators on a mission to make travel better for all women. With thousands of members around the world, Wanderful connects and empowers travelers through a thriving membership network, local meetups in cities across the globe, curated group trips, and world-class events like the WITS Travel Creator Summit and Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival for women. Learn more at sheswanderful.com.
