Greater Nashville Hospitality Association

What Greater Nashville Hospitality Association does

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association (GNHA) is a non-profit, membership-based trade association founded in 1970 that serves as the collective advocacy voice for the hospitality and tourism industry across Davidson County and surrounding counties in Tennessee. The organization represents four member categories—Lodging (priced per room, $2-$6 annually depending on location), Dining (flat $365 base plus $100 per additional location), Allied/Vendor ($500 flat), and Attractions/Tourism ($250 flat)—with annual billing. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues and event sponsorships; no investment, funding, or external capital is evidenced.

GNHA's core offerings are integrated advocacy, networking, workforce development, and member services rather than technology products. The Atlas member portal (web.gnha.net/atlas) provides directory access, event registration, and member login; there is no proprietary technology platform or AI capability. Programmatic activity centers on a three-pillar event framework—LEARN (webinars), CONNECT (happy hours, coffee hours), and GATHER (member receptions)—supplemented by three anchor annual events: the GNHAPAC Golf Tournament, the Stars of the Industry Awards, and the Hospitality Championship Series, totaling 20-24 events per year. The organization operates GNHAPAC, a Political Action Committee, and retains external lobbyists to engage with Metro Council and state legislators.

GNHA is led by President & CEO Anne Elizabeth McIntosh, with Dee Patel (Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel) serving as 2026 Chairman. The board comprises senior executives from anchor Nashville hospitality employers including Gaylord Opryland, Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons, Conrad Nashville, Loews Hotel, Tennessee Titans, Music City Center, and Frist Art Museum, among others. Strategic partnerships span the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (NCVC), American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Middle Tennessee Hotel Association, Tennessee ProStart, Transit Alliance, Metro Nashville DOT, and member-benefit vendors (BMI, Mercury Legal Group, C&B Linen, RestauRent, BBB). The membership base serves primarily small and mid-sized Nashville hospitality businesses, with the largest lodging operators functioning as both anchor members and governance stakeholders.

Name

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association

Legal name

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association

Website

https://gnha.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association (GNHA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1970 that represents the lodging, dining, vendor, and tourism industries across Davidson County and surrounding Tennessee counties through advocacy, networking events, and workforce development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from lodging properties (per room), restaurants (flat fee plus per-location), vendors/allied members, and attractions/tourism organizations. Billed annually.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for annual events including Hospitality Championship Series, GNHAPAC Golf Tournament, Stars of the Industry awards, and general alliance partnerships. Sponsors receive visibility and access at various contribution levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GNHA is a non-profit membership trade association representing hospitality and tourism businesses in the Greater Nashville area. It sells tiered annual memberships (Lodging, Dining, Vendor, and Attraction/Tourism categories) that bundle legislative advocacy, networking events, workforce development resources, member discounts, and access to the Atlas member portal and GNHAPAC political advocacy.

Product overview

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association is a membership-based industry association, not a technology product company. GNHA operates as a unified association offering advocacy services for the Nashville hospitality and tourism industry, combining membership programs, events, workforce development, and industry resources into a single service portfolio. The core offerings include membership (with four tiers: Lodging, Dining, Vendor, and Attraction/Tourism), the Atlas member portal for directory and event management, GNHAPAC for political advocacy, event programming (LEARN webinars, CONNECT networking, GATHER receptions), annual events (GNHAPAC Golf Tournament, Stars of the Industry Awards, Hospitality Championship Series), workforce development partnerships, and a regular newsletter. There are no separate product modules or add-ons—the association provides its services as an integrated package under membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GNHA Membership Program Tiered annual membership program for hospitality and tourism businesses in the greater Nashville area, with categories for Lodging (per-room dues), Dining (base + per-location), Vendors/Allied ($500 flat), and Attractions/Tourism ($250 flat). Membership bundles legislative advocacy, networking events, member directory access, workforce development resources, and member discounts.
• GNHAPAC (Political Action Committee) Political Action Committee supporting candidates, issues, and policies favorable to the safe and profitable operation of Nashville's hospitality industry at local and state legislative levels. Accepts contributions from $50 to $20,000 and funds lobbying and candidate support efforts.
• GNHAPAC Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament fundraiser for the GNHAPAC, offering team and individual player registration and sponsorship packages across multiple contribution levels.
• GNHA Stars of the Industry Awards Annual awards ceremony that recognizes excellence across multiple categories in the Nashville hospitality industry, with sponsorship and table/registration opportunities.
• Hospitality Championship Series Annual competitive event series for hospitality professionals in the Nashville area, offering participation and sponsorship opportunities.
• Event Programming (LEARN, CONNECT, GATHER) Recurring event programming including virtual educational webinars (LEARN), networking happy hours and coffee hours (CONNECT), and in-person member receptions with industry speakers (GATHER), offered throughout the year to GNHA members.
• Workforce Development Programs Workforce development offerings provided through partnerships with Tennessee ProStart (high school culinary program), NCVC job fairs, the American Hotel & Lodging Association Education Foundation (AHLEI), the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF), Servsafe Certification, and Visit Music City's Platinum Ambassador Training.
• Event Sponsorship and Alliance Partnership Program Tiered sponsorship program offering visibility and access at GNHA events, including the GNHAPAC Golf Tournament, Stars of the Industry awards, Hospitality Championship Series, LEARN webinars, CONNECT networking, and GATHER receptions, plus alliance partnership support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record $10.77 billion in direct visitor spending in Davidson County (2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation (NCVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA partners with NCVC to sponsor job fairs for the hospitality industry through the Hospitality Works program. NCVC and GNHA co-host events including the Hospitality Industry Mayoral Forum and collaborate on workforce development initiatives.
• Metro Nashville Airport AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoug Kreulen, CEO of Metro Nashville Airport Authority, presented at a GNHA GATHER member meeting on all things BNA (Nashville International Airport), providing updates on airport operations relevant to hospitality businesses.
• Adams KeeganminorOthersGNHA shared an Adams Keegan article on immigration enforcement in the workplace as a member resource, helping hospitality employers prepare for ICE visits and legal compliance.
• Tennessee ProStartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA sponsors Tennessee ProStart, a culinary and restaurant management program for high school students. GNHA staff attend student skill showcases in management and culinary arts to connect with future hospitality workers.
• Transit AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA's Leesa LeClaire joined Jessica Dauphin of Transit Alliance to support the Choose How You Move transit referendum, advocating for transportation improvements benefiting Nashville's hospitality industry.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA partnered with AHLA and Middle Tennessee Hotel Association to host a Nashville Mayoral candidate forum at Sonesta Nashville Airport, with AHLA and Sherwin Williams sponsoring the event and networking happy hour.
• Middle Tennessee Hotel AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with GNHA and AHLA to host the Mayoral Forum bringing together 4 Nashville mayoral candidates for hospitality industry engagement.
• Music City CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA partnered with NCVC and Music City Center to host the Hospitality Industry Mayoral Forum, providing venue and collaborative support for industry advocacy event.
• Platinum Ambassador Training (Visit Music City)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA promotes Visit Music City's Platinum Ambassador Training as a workforce development resource for hospitality employees.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association Education Foundation (AHLEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA links to AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute) as a workforce development and education resource for members.
• National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNHA references NRAEF (via chooserestaurants.org) as an education and workforce development resource for restaurant members.
• MNPD (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)minorOthersMNPD participated in GNHA's Safety in Nashville webinar alongside Operation Rose, Sexual Assault Center, and Red Frogs to educate hospitality workers on safety initiatives.
• Operation RoseminorOthersParticipated in GNHA's Safety in Nashville webinar to discuss safety initiatives for Nashville hospitality venues.
• Sexual Assault CenterminorOthersParticipated in GNHA's Safety in Nashville webinar covering safety resources and initiatives for the hospitality industry.
• Red FrogsminorOthersParticipated in GNHA's Safety in Nashville webinar to discuss youth safety initiatives relevant to Nashville's bar and nightlife industry.
• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGNHA has a partnership with BMI offering member discounts: 5% GNHA member discount on BMI fees automatically at renewal, additional 5% GNHA Online discount when paying at bmi.com/paynow, and 10% Timely Payment Discount for restaurants/bars paying in full within 30 days.
• Mercury Legal GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGNHA members receive 1-hour free legal consultation from Mercury Legal Group as a member benefit.
• Better Business BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGNHA members have the BBB application fee waived as a member benefit.
• C&B LinenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerC&B Linen offers special pricing for GNHA members as an exclusive member discount.
• Mylls Hospitality MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMylls Hospitality Marketing offers a free hour consultation on restaurant marketing to GNHA members.
• RestauRentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestauRent has partnered with GNHA to help members increase revenue through Private & Group events. Members receive an exclusive 3-month free trial.
• Metro Nashville Davidson County (Department of Transportation)coreOthersDirector Diana Alarcon of Metro Nashville's Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure presented at a GNHA membership luncheon on transportation planning, street maintenance, traffic engineering, and parking—issues directly affecting hospitality operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): National lodging trade association that partners with GNHA on mayoral forums and workforce development. Comparable as a hospitality industry association, but national in scope and serves as an umbrella body that GNHA operates underneath for federal advocacy.
• U.S. Travel Association: National trade association representing the broader travel and tourism industry. Comparable mission and advocacy structure to GNHA, but operates nationally across all travel segments rather than focusing on a single metro hospitality market.
• National Restaurant Association: National restaurant industry association whose education foundation (NRAEF) is referenced as a GNHA member resource. Comparable as a hospitality trade association but operates at national scale; GNHA effectively functions as a regional affiliate layer for its restaurant members.

Regional players

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau: Destination organization for Atlanta with similar hospitality advocacy and tourism promotion role to GNHA/Visit Music City's Nashville scope. Comparable as a Southern metro hospitality association, though operating in a different geography with a distinct membership and advocacy structure.
• Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau: Metro destination organization combining destination marketing with industry advocacy. Thematically comparable to GNHA's combined advocacy and networking mission, though larger in scale and serving a different geography.
• Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau: Destination organization for Austin serving a similar role for hospitality stakeholders in a comparable high-growth Southern tourism market. Comparable to GNHA in scope and member types, but does not directly compete in the Nashville territory.
• Tennessee Restaurant Association: Statewide restaurant trade association with analogous advocacy and education mission for the restaurant segment of GNHA's membership. Operates at the state level versus GNHA's regional focus, but overlaps in member base and advocacy priorities.
• Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association: Statewide lodging trade association operating in the same state as GNHA. Comparable as a hospitality trade association, but broader geographically and narrower in vertical focus (lodging only vs. GNHA's multi-segment scope).

Direct peers

• Middle Tennessee Hotel Association: State/regional lodging association that co-hosted the Nashville Mayoral Forum with GNHA and AHLA. Directly comparable as a regional hotel association with overlapping membership in the Nashville lodging market, representing a subset of GNHA's lodging segment.
• Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (Visit Music City): Destination marketing organization for Nashville that collaborates closely with GNHA on workforce development, job fairs, and the Hospitality Industry Mayoral Forum. Operates the same geographic territory with overlapping hospitality/tourism stakeholder base, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_GNHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NashvilleHospitality

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Nashville Hospitality Association