Nashville Adventures lands two GNHA finalist nods after founder's 2025 win streak

Nashville Adventures earned two finalist spots in the 2026 Greater Nashville Hospitality Association Stars of the Industry Awards, while founder Paul Whitten and Operations Director Cody Witten drew fresh recognition in Nashville tourism. The nominations put a three-year-old veteran-owned company in the spotlight ahead of the July 30 awards ceremony at Nissan Stadium.

Why it matters: - Nashville Adventures is getting recognized in a crowded Nashville tourism market for both community impact and operational leadership. - The company’s Community Service finalist nod ties directly to its model of donating 1% of revenue to veteran-related causes. - The recognition extends a 2025 winning streak for founder Paul Whitten and signals that the company’s leadership bench is drawing industry attention.

What happened: - Nashville Adventures became a finalist in the GNHA 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards in the Community Service category. - Operations Director Cody Witten was named a finalist for Tourism Manager of the Year. - Winners in all 18 categories will be announced live Thursday, July 30, at Nissan Stadium. - Founder Paul Whitten won Tourism General Manager of the Year for both Nashville and Tennessee in 2025.

The details: - Nashville Adventures is a veteran-owned walking tour and storytelling company founded in September 2023. - The company gives 1% of all revenue, not profits, to veteran-related causes, including Operation Stand Down Tennessee. - Nashville Adventures offers history walking tours, ghost tours, pub crawls, and corporate and team-building events. - The company says the Community Service nomination reflects how giving back is built into the business model. - Whitten founded Nashville Adventures after an Army career that included leading electronic warfare operations in Afghanistan in support of more than 2,000 service members. - Whitten also served three years with the Peace Corps in Armenia. - Whitten credited the company’s guides and managers, led by Cody Witten, for shaping the guest experience. - The company’s website is nashvilleadventures.com.

Between the lines: - The nominations show Nashville Adventures turning a mission-driven brand into measurable industry credibility. - The company’s awards momentum suggests the hospitality sector is rewarding both service to guests and visible community investment. - Cody Witten’s finalist spot indicates the recognition is spreading beyond the founder and across the leadership team.

What's next: - The GNHA will reveal the 2026 Stars of the Industry winners on July 30. - Nashville Adventures can add the results to a growing list of awards attention as it heads toward its third year in business. - The company’s veteran-focused giving and tourism offerings will remain part of its public identity as the awards cycle continues.

The bottom line: - Nashville Adventures is emerging as a Nashville hospitality standout, with awards recognition now matching its veteran-owned, give-back-first brand.