As we get ready to launch our sustainable tourism initiatives, I never forget that the hum I hear in the background is our dedicated Chamber/Bureau staff planning and delivering the services that help our members succeed. One testament to their effectiveness is our growth. Last fiscal year, we welcomed more than 100 new partners to reach a total of 902!
Our newest innovation is the Business University, a lunchtime gathering with a fresh topic each month focusing on education, marketing, and best practices partners can put to work as soon as they return to the office. We were excited by the concept because we get to partner on topics and presenters with the Referral Community, Utah’s premier network of business professionals supporting each other’s work.
More than 30 Chamber members attended the kickoff, getting tips on making selling fun, easier, and more interactive from Referral Community presenters Brett Lichtenberg and Matt Gibbons. Feedback was fantastic, and we’re fired up about our next event October 4 on team development and training at Intermountain Park City Hospital’s Blair Education Center. The event is open to all, register at visitparkcity.com/members. Click on ‘Chamber events.’
Another monthly event we are proud to host, our member mixer, is coming up on September 21 at 4 p.m. at Soaring Wings Montessori School. Networking is easy and relaxing when food, drink and fun facility tours are part of the deal. Getting to know somebody who knows somebody is one of the main reasons businesses join the Chamber. We’re happy to facilitate. We know B2B relationships strengthen our economy, keeping commerce and tax dollars local and allows companies to help each other. Members are welcome to bring their employees, too. Please register at visitparkcity.com/members. Click on ‘Chamber events.’
On September 27, we will present the finished Sustainable Tourism Plan to a joint Summit County and Park City council meeting. I can’t wait for this public unveiling where we can acknowledge our Chamber staff, the volunteer board members on our Stewardship Council who drafted the Plan, and the contributions of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the Coraggio Group. They amassed the data that informed our results and engaged thousands of Parkites in the process.
The annual Utah Tourism Conference will also be held that week, where our team will be part of the educational workshop. We’ll be presenting with Dr. Kelly Bricker and will talk to tourism leaders from around the state about kickstarting sustainable tourism in their communities and how the experts at the GSTC (Dr. Bricker led GSTC’s Park City assessment) are essential partners and guides. It is gratifying to know Park City is pioneering sustainable tourism strategies in Utah and so many communities are eager to develop their own plans. That says good things about Utah’s awareness of the need to balance economic development with our environment and quality of life.
October promises to be just as eventful as we get ready for the Tourism Fall Summit on November 1. Please stop by my next Coffee Chat on October 4 for an in-person update from 9-10:30 a.m. at our Kimball Junction Visitor Information Center. I am excited to meet you and hear your thoughts!