Data from a software program that tracks cell phone usage shows thousands of people visited two Upper Cumberland festivals this spring.
UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley said the agency purchased a software program called Placer AI last September to track tourists. The software program can calculate data going back five years.
“It has proven to be very valuable,” Farley said. “Now, you can really look and see how people move, and especially with the interstate and a few locations, you don’t really fully understand the impact of certain retail establishments.”
One such establishment is Buc-ee’s in Crossville. Farley said the Placer AI showed the travel center in Crossville hosted six-million visitors last year.
Farley said the program revealed seven-thousand folks attended the Banana Festival in Monterey on April 5th and five-thousand made the trek to Celina for the Chocolate Gravy Festival on March 22nd.
Farley said the cell phone data that’s collected shows how long a person stays at one location.
“We’re able to look and see how people move within the region,” Farley said. “It does not track individual phones. I can’t have any idea who anybody particular is, it just gives me raw data of saying — this number of people visited this business or this festival or this event during this time period.”
Farley said the one year subscription to Placer AI cost $40,000. Farley said the agency did receive some matching grand funds to pay for it. Farley said the one year subscription ends this September.
“Obviously, the mayors are aware of it, it’s a service,” Farley said. “We’re working with the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association. We work with our local Chambers of Commerce, Tennessee Tech as well. So, every way we can, the main partners, that might use that data, we’re trying to get it in their hands.”
