In these challenging economic times, there are still bright spots of growth and energy in our community. One of these is tourism and the resulting impact it has on all of us who live here. Unless you are involved in the hospitality industry, most never stop to think about tourism one way or another. However, the effect it has on all of our residents is important and measurable.
At the Ogden/Weber Convention and Visitors bureau, we work with partners on a local and state level to secure meetings, conventions, and events. Successful events are a collaborative effort of so many and the¬ recent Winter Dew Tour is one example of these efforts. Without the support, leadership¬ and collaboration of the Utah Sports Commission, we would not have secured this event. They are a vital partner in numerous events, and we are grateful and appreciative of their partnership.
With the size and scope of Winter Dew Tour, many other partnerships were also necessary. The time, resources, and world-class facilities Snowbasin provided ensured the success of the event. They went above and beyond, which we heard over and over from the enthusiastic athletes and Alli (The Alliance of Action Sports, Dew Tour production company).
Snowbasin's recommendation and encouragement to bring the energy and excitement from the mountain to the downtown community on Friday night provided an amazing experience for the spectators and athletes. The Marriott Ogden stepped in as Host Hotel and made the athletes, media, and production team immediately feel welcome in our community.
They were also a major piece in the puzzle in providing rooms, services, and amenities to attract the event. Lodging was also provided by other downtown hotels and Ogden Valley properties - all of which provided exceptional service and a wonderful experience for our visitors resulting in repeated comments of "I'm coming back."
We would like to also thank all of the downtown businesses for supporting this event with Dew specials, welcoming staff, and great offerings. Thanks especially go to Heidi Harwood for being a central voice downtown, rallying the troops and making sure everything happened seamlessly. With the combined efforts of Heidi and Carolyn Brierley and the support of Weber County and Ogden City, the Alli Team commented over and over what a great team it was to work with.
Any event, and especially one of this size and scope, could never happen without the support of volunteers. The GOAL Foundation and their amazing network of volunteers is an invaluable asset to this community. Thanks go to each and every person who offered their time to make the event run smoothly and maintain the safety of athletes and spectators.
And finally to the spectators...thank you! With your support, we were able to break Winter Dew Tour's single-day attendance records and bring an amazing concert to town; you sent this international group of people away buzzing about the amazing destination this is!
With an estimated 30,000 people in attendance, the economic benefits to our community are undeniable. From the restaurants where visitors ate to the gas stations where they filled up, we all experience the benefits of these types of events. Tourism is a 7 billion dollar industry for the state and a critical part of our overall economic engine; individually it also provides $700 in tax relief per Utah Household. As your Visitor's Bureau, we are continually striving, with these amazing partnerships, to increase the exposure of our area and therefore the number of meetings, conventions, and events we host. As the Dew Tour illustrates these are big community-wide efforts and we can use your help. Through our Bring It Home campaign, we are asking for you to think of any of those organizations, boards, groups, or associations of which you are a part.
If these groups hold an annual meeting, a retreat, a networking social of any kind, please let us know. Our job is to help bring these events and meetings to our community and aid in the planning and production.
As we begin this tough Legislative session, we thank our Senators and Representatives for their support of tourism. We would not be where we are without the support of our State partners through the Utah Office of Tourism and Utah Sports Commission. The funding they receive has a direct impact on our tourism efforts here in Weber County.
Thank you all again for the partnerships and passion that made the Winter Dew Tour such a unique success. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming them back and continuing to attract other conventions and events that provide this critical boost to all of us.
Sara Toliver is president/CEO of the Ogden/Weber Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Comments