Partner Highlights Blog:
Summit County
Our team was also able to spend time in Park City ahead of the Utah Office of Tourism Board Meeting held on June 14th.
Visit Park City recently completed a rebranding effort which has been well-received by the public. Their organization is a well-polished machine with so many good projects and programs underway. Yes, Park City has a brisk visitor economy, but it’s worth noting that they have an eye on even small details that impact their visitor economy. One such project highlights the owners of small businesses by sharing their stories online and through an ongoing article in the local paper, the Park Record. The idea is not just to boost business, but also to create more understanding for visitors who might be arriving at busy or challenging times. This paves the way for visitors to become advocates of small businesses, rather than critics.
Visit Park City has also merged operations with the Park City Chamber of Commerce. It’s an innovative step that might work well in other communities where the economy is closely tied to tourism. For the business owner, it can mean joining one organization for leadership and guidance rather than joining both a chamber and a tourism office, which might have competing calendars or redundant communications.
Like many communities around the state, Park City opted to utilize funding from the Utah Office of Tourism to develop a ten year plan with the Coraggio Group in 2019. As a result of their study, they hired a full time sustainability staffer and are making great strides in that area.
A couple members of our team were able to experience an e-bike history tour offered through White Pine Touring. This is a fun and effective way to explore local history while also being introduced to more options for things to do in town. Perhaps bike shops elsewhere in the state could add something similar to their offerings.
Our Community and Partner Relations team, as well as several board members, also took a short walking tour of Park City’s Main Street provided by Park City Ghost Tours. This long-running tour has been popular among visitors as an after-hours activity.
Like the rest of Utah, Park City is anxiously awaiting the formal announcement of the host city for the 2030 and 2034 Olympic Winter Games, which is expected later this month. There is no doubt they’ll be ready to host events and visitors. The Utah Olympic Park is still a top notch facility providing athletic training, as well as great visitor experiences ranging from outdoor concerts to interactive museum exhibits.