PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee—(Nov. 17, 2025)—Mike Gwinn, senior sales manager for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, attended this year’s National Tour Association meeting to promote the destination to tour operators and travel advisors. He came home the winner of one of the organization’s most prestigious awards.
Gwinn won NTA’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award at this year’s conference which took place Nov. 9-12 in Ottawa, Ontario. The national trade organization honors its members and travel industry leaders who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the association and/or the tourism industry overall. The Volunteer of the Year Award is significant because it is the only award for which the recipient is nominated by NTA staff and approved by the NTA Board. (The NTA board makes the final determination on the recipients of the remaining awards.)
“Mike Gwinn is one of the most respected tourism representatives in Pigeon Forge, and he consistently goes above and beyond to represent our city and our businesses to a variety of organizations throughout the year,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “He is most deserving of this prestigious honor from the National Tour Association.”
Gwinn is a five-year NTA member. The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism has been a member for more than 35 years. Gwinn joined the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism in 2021 and brings 25 years of travel and tourism experience to his role.
The NTA Volunteer of the Year Award eligibility applies to all NTA members and recognizes and honors individuals who volunteer their time to the association for the benefit of its members.
NTA is the gathering place—in-person and online—for packaged-travel professionals including tour operators, travel advisors, and people from the places and experiences that make memorable itineraries. NTA’s buyer members partner with the association’s seller members—representatives of destinations and tour suppliers—and serve customers traveling to, from, and within North America.
—MyPigeonForge2025—
Media Contact: Trish McGee at [email protected] or 865-453-8574
About Pigeon Forge: Pigeon Forge is in East Tennessee, approximately 35 miles from Knoxville and McGhee-Tyson Airport. Two-thirds of the nation’s population east of the Mississippi River live within a day’s drive, making it an easily accessible family vacation destination. The city’s neighbor is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the U.S. It also is home to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, Tennessee’s most-visited ticketed attraction. More information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge is available at MyPigeonForge.com or toll-free at 1-800-251-9100.