When strategizing on how to price the nightly rate of your Short Term Rentals, don’t forget to consider all of the events that the towns in the Great Smoky Mountains have lined up! Some events are annual events that will recur within the same time frame each year while others are one time events. Find a few “calendar of events” sites, take some notes, and you will be able to capitalize on dates that will have a higher than usual influx of visitors to the Smokies. Strategies like this are a form of dynamic pricing, where you adjust pricing according to the market and accounting for various factors. Don’t miss an opportunity to optimize your pricing!
In addition to helping you anticipate busier than normal dates, familiarizing yourself with events in the Smokies will also be useful because you can use events to attract guests. Imagine someone is trying to decide between a stay at your cabin in the Smokies or another cabin elsewhere and your listing shares events in town that they know their vacation group will enjoy. Now a visit to the Smokies is even more appealing and your cabin is at the top of their list!
And the best part of this plan is that you did not have to plan anything, the great towns that make up the Smokies did it for you! Be sure to share information on events/attractions with your renters. Show them that the Smokies have so much to offer!
We’ve compiled a short list of events but encourage you to search for additional comprehensive calendars of events. Please note that dates for festivals and events can change.
Some events are one time / one day events but many have extended dates. These entertainment opportunities are perfect for visitors who need a little bit of flexibility when choosing their dates.
Annual Events and Festivals
June 6 – June 9, 2022
July 8 – July 17, 2022, October 13 – October 30, 2022
Jul 23, 2022 – Jul 23, 2022
Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference
August 18-21, 2022
Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival
August 20, 2022
Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival
August 30 – September 5
September 10 – 11
September 15-17
Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival
September 23 – October 30, 2022
September 24, 2022
Pigeon Forge Bluegrass Festival
October 1 – October 2, 2022
Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament
December 9 – December 11, 2022
Yama-Con Anime and Comic Convention
Local Attractions Hosting Events
Don’t forget to check the websites of local attractions to see if they have special events going on.
April – June
Gatlinburg Skylift Park: Fireflies and Flowers
Jun 18, 2022 – Aug 07, 2022
Dollywood’s Summer Celebration
September 23 – October 29, 2022
November 5 – January 1, 2022
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
Ongoing:
Country Tonite: Celebrity Concerts and Shows
Events and Pricing
Being aware of factors that can impact the number of visitors to the Smokies during specific time frames can be helpful to owners of short term rentals wanting to optimize their AirBNB price. Even if you use a dynamic pricing tool like Price Labs, you are able to adjust your pricing using information about events. Events being held in the Smokies directly impact tourism and the number of people looking for short term rentals. Familiarizing yourself with events can help you optimize your pricing and promote your properties.
Karen is an EXP ICON real estate agent and private investor specializing in short-term rentals (Black Sheep Realty). She has been investing in and operating short-term rental accommodations since 2015. Her cash-flowing portfolio includes smoky mountain cabins, glamping resorts and Emerald Coast condominiums. She is a general partner in the Accelerate Capital Partners short term rental syndication. Karen is a smoky mountain resident who has developed a deep knowledge of the smoky mountain market. In addition to owning a multitude of cabins (Stargazer Stays), she also owns and operates The Heavenly Roast Coffee Shop, and Stargazer Stays Glamping Village. As a smoky mountain local and business owner she has exceptional insight into the dynamics and intricacies of the smoky mountain economy. She has developed an extensive network of local resources to assist out of state investors with all aspects of cabin setup (The Best BNB Host).
As Karen’s client, you’ll have the commitment, expertise and support of a local like-minded real estate investor to help you acquire and successfully manage a cash-flowing investment property. All of Karen’s professional information and opportunities can be seen at https://linktr.ee/karenlchenaille.