Crystal Fairless
Director of Tourism Marketing
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce
Connect with Crystal:
LinkedIn Bio
QUICK FACTS:
Events: Tourism / Visitor Bureaus, Marketing, Festivals/Special Events
Years in Sports: 11
Fueled by: Morning gym routine
Inspired by: Crystal finds Maya Angelou to be a timeless and powerful influencer. Her life taught persistence and how to overcome obstacles. Her words inspire leaders to do what’s right and to lead with purpose.
FROM VOLUNTEERING TO LEADING IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY…
When Crystal moved to the north Georgia mountains, after vacationing there for years, she began volunteering at the Chamber and slowly fell in love with the Chamber and the tourism industry. She has had experience in most of the roles in the Chamber operations but her favorite is Tourism Marketing. Crystal serves as the Director of Tourism Marketing, helping support the local area, visitors, and 1,000 members.
It brings Crystal great joy to be able to support the local tourism partners and businesses. She loves to help make connections and supply resources needed to help the businesses succeed. Crystal has taken immense pride in contributing to the growth of tourism in the area over the past decade.
One of the greatest challenges the industry faces is navigating the economic environment, as it becomes harder for businesses to make decisions and move forward with enhancements. Crystal helps businesses think creatively and outside the box to strategically use their resources in the best way. Crystal believes being able to be adaptable, move quickly and easily pivot are skills needed to navigate these times.
Crystal’s favorite event memory is from hosting the Bassmaster Angler of the Year Tournament on Lake Chatuge in north Georgia. The Anglers were so kind and personable, creating a true VIP experience for her and her kids. She has the best memories from that day and is so grateful for the experiences she gets because of her job.
BEYOND THE EVENTS:
Crystal really enjoys traveling to see and experience new places and this role allows her to take road trips to other towns conducting site visits. This nurtures her adventurous spirit and allows her to do another pastime of learning about history, culture, and visiting historical buildings.
Crystal is originally from Florida and moved to the north Georgia mountains 11 years ago after vacationing there many times with her kids, who are now 20 and 22 years old. Crystal is a foodie and loves to try different restaurants and wineries. She has to fuel up from the calories she burns hiking the area’s trails in her free time, including the Appalachian Trail.
Maya Angelou has profoundly impacted Crystal and she uses Maya as a great example of how to lead. Her favorite Maya Angelou quotes are “Nothing will work unless you do.” and “ You can’t use up creativity, the more you use, the more you have.”