Melanie Clifford
Regional Director of Sales
Melanie oversees the sales, marketing and social media for our M. Gibson Marriott hotels in Pigeon Forge and Kodak, Tennessee.
Melanie’s 25 year plus journey in hospitality began as the Public Relations-Guest Relations Director in Panama City Beach, Florida with the Paradise Found Hotel Group featuring 6 IHG and Hilton brand hotels. She then joined Cooper Hotels at the Holiday Inn in Gatlinburg, Tennessee starting as the Guest Relations-Activities Director moving to their Catering Manager. From there she went to the new Dancing Bear Lodge as their Director of Sales. Finally moving to Pigeon Forge in 2014, joining the Gibson family as the Director of Sales for the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, adding the Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Kodak. She played a key role in the opening and sales of the new Fairfield Inn by Marriott Pigeon Forge which opened in March 2019 then becoming the Regional Director of Sales. And now she is also overseeing the sales and marketing for the new Residence Inn by Marriott, opening Spring 2022.
Melanie is very active in the community and with meeting, hospitality & tourism organizations. She is on the board of directors for the Pigeon Forge Hospitality & Tourism Association. She is a past president of the Tennessee Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, past chairwoman of Meeting Professionals International Chapter Membership Advisory Council and the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce Advisory board. She has won numerous awards with Meeting Professionals International, the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce, East TN Meeting Professionals, and the Sevier County Hospitality Association.
Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, camping, cooking and reading.