This page will feature resources that may be of interest and benefit to our industry partners and others.

Utah Grant Playbook

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget created the Utah Grant Playbook for state agencies, local government, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders, and hope the guide will be a valuable resource for all involved to collectively elevate Utah’s infrastructure.

The Playbook is intended to connect grant applicants to necessary resources to learn about grant programs, find appropriate grants to apply to, understand what resources are necessary to apply, find resources for applications, understand what steps are necessary after submitting an application, receiving an award, and receiving and using grant funds, as well as finding resources necessary for these post-application steps. The Playbook is divided into three main sections: Preparing to Apply, Grant Application, and Post-Application.

Utah Microload Fund

The Utah Microloan Fund classes are free, open to the public, and held virtually for statewide access. 

Lead with Clarity: Elevating Communication & Feedback for Business Success 10/29 @ 9:30am 
Good business requires good communication—with staff, with suppliers, with customers. In this workshop we will strengthen our communication skills, learning how to convey messages effectively and how to give and receive feedback in ways that work. We’ll explore the key components of impactful communication, including tone, body language, and message framing, while offering practical techniques for handling difficult conversations, navigating conflicts, and fostering collaboration. Whether you’re leading a team or managing client relationships, this session will equip you with the tools to communicate with confidence and clarity. Register now: www.eventbrite.com/e/999666719067

Utah Community Development Office 

In 2013, the Community Development Office was established as a resource of Programs + Support and Regional Planning for rural Utah. With funding from the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board, their office supports regional planning professionals, facilitates communication and coordination between stakeholders, and creates and delivers training, tools, and informational resources.

View their website on the link above or contact them at [email protected], 801-468-0133.

The Utah State University, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism’s GNAR Academy

GNAR (Gateway & Natural Amenity Region) Academy is an online course library that seeks to fill in the gap between what community leaders and practitioners have the capacity for, and what their communities need, by providing accessible training around critical topic areas to help communities better understand and advocate for their own needs.

This course consists of seven lessons introducing key concepts and principles, important for helping GNAR communities thrive and effectively navigate challenges and change. Lesson topics are found on the registration site.

For more information and to register, visit the GNAR Academy website.

2024 Utah Wildfire Prevention Campaign

Fire sense is common sense. The trick is just using it. You already know heat or sparks plus dry grass equals a whole lot of trouble, so the next time you’re camping or shooting or otherwise enjoying the great outdoors in this great state of ours, use your brain before things get too hot to handle.

For more information on how you can use to promote safety in your region, visit utahfiresense.org.

The 2024 Utah Tourism Conference just wrapped up, and it was incredible! 

There were one-on-one meetings between DMOs and UOT staff, inspiring speeches, informative panel sessions, and perhaps best of all, endless networking opportunities! Here’s a short recap.

The conference was held at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. It began on Tuesday, September 24th, with a series of one-on-one meetings where Destination Marketing Organization leaders from around the state were able to make the rounds between Utah Office of Tourism, Utah Film Commission, and UOT international representatives teams. These meetings are so valuable for everyone involved as they foster face-to-face communication and an opportunity to focus on individual challenges. Thank you to all who participated! Following the one-on-ones, a social was held next door at Roosters, hosted by the owner Kym Buttschardt, who is also the Chair of the Board of Tourism Development. Great food, great networking, and an all-around amazing start to the conference. Thank you, Kym!

Wednesday’s activities included morning meetings for the Utah Office of Tourism and Utah Tourism Industry Association, followed by an afternoon of activities around Davis County. Some of the options for attendees included riding side-by-sides in the Wasatch Mountains, riding horses on Antelope Island, or taking a guided stroll along Bountiful’s historic Main Street. Geographically, Davis County is one of Utah’s smallest counties, but these activities highlighted the strength and diversity of their offerings. And if riding horses and side-by-sides wasn’t enough, Wednesday evening’s Opening Reception had attendees riding roller coasters! Lagoon provided conference attendees with exclusive access to the amusement park. With no wait lines, several conference-goers made repeat rides on park’s biggest attractions, including Cannibal and Primordial. This capped off a day which solidified that Davis County is indeed “Utah’s Amusement Capital”. A big thank you is in order for Julie Freed and her staff at Lagoon.

Information and inspiration abounded at Thursday’s conference sessions. Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson spoke at the General Session. She shared how her visits to Utah’s National Parks did not begin until she was in her 40’s, highlighting the need for awareness and immersion in tourism by Utah residents. Keynote Speaker Joe Veneto talked about the art of engineering immersive experiences for visitors to build emotional connections. He also elaborated on this process during one of the many breakout sessions held Thursday afternoon. Other panel topics delved into research from the Utah Office of Tourism, and capitalizing on messaging and moments through public relations and social media.

On Friday morning, four new inductees to the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame were honored, including recently retired UOT Managing Director Vicki Varela, Visit Salt Lake CEO Kaitlin Eskelson, legislative strategist Des Barker, and Temple Square Hospitality legend Neil Wilkinson. Utah Tourism Hall of Fame recipients are selected based on their history of contributions to the state’s tourism industry. Friday morning panels were well attended. Among them, a discussion about how to utilize UOT’s Cooperative Marketing Fund.

In addition to all the scheduled meetings, sessions, and panels, the entire conference buzzed with non-stop activity. Many tourism partners staffed dozens of booths, offering information on a variety of topics. The Utah Film Commission showed off a prototype of the impressive, built-to-last Utah Film Trail signs that will soon pop up around the state. Agricultural vendors from Utah’s Own sold mouthwatering goods, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary brought adoptable kittens and puppies to the conference!

Many thanks to UTIA, Celina Sinclair and Discover Davis for pulling together such an exciting and meaningful conference, and we hope to see you all again in 2025.

Our Community and Partner Relations team has been on the road this summer visiting many of our partners around the state. This installment features some highlights from Cache, Daggett, and Wasatch Counties.

CACHE COUNTY

When you think of Cache County what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many Utahns the answer is likely, cheese, Logan, or Utah State University. And while those are all great things, Cache County has incredibly diverse offerings, including an especially vibrant performing arts scene.

In downtown Logan there are a trio of historic theaters which host live performances year-round. 

The Ellen Eccles Theater is home to the Utah Festival Opera. The theater seats 1,100 people and also hosts musicals and touring Broadway shows. Cache County resident and renowned opera singer Michael Ballam rallied the community to save the historic theater from a date with the wrecking ball many years ago, and he’s still at the helm today. Meeting Michael was a highlight for our team. 

Just a stone’s throw away are the Lyric and Utah theaters. Both have been lovingly restored. The Lyric has professional performers and offers year-round musical productions, while the Utah can also host plays as well as showing silent movies in style. The theater has a massive vintage pipe organ and during silent films, the accompanist who plays the organ rises up from the stage on a hydraulic lift!

In the summer, it’s possible to take in six live productions at these theaters over the course of three days! There are large cities across the country that can’t match what Logan has to offer. 

As if three theaters aren’t enough, this same part of downtown is also home to the historic LDS Tabernacle and a brand new outdoor performance space on Main Street at Laub Plaza. The plaza was part of a long-term plan to create a more vibrant and walkable downtown. It also features spaces for seating, games and a water feature that transitions into an ice ribbon in the winter. Laub Plaza is a perfect centerpiece for an activated downtown which includes the restored Bluebird Candy Company, and newer offerings such as a popular pizza place and Logan’s first brewery, Prodigy. 

By the way, have you met Julie Hollist Terrell? If you’ve met her once, you can’t forget her! Julie is the Tourism Director for Cache County, and an all-around dynamo with energy, creativity and humor to spare. Along with her one full time employee, one part-time employee and a few volunteers, their passion and organization have taken tourism to new heights in and around Logan.

During our visit we were also introduced to representatives from the Chamber of Commerce as well as county government representatives who all have a vested interest in tourism.

Another fantastic – and still quite new – asset is The Cache County Convention Center. It’s a busy facility hosting everything from weddings to conferences to fundraising events. Julie emphasized that tourism dollars paid for this multipurpose building!

Elsewhere in Cache County, Julie’s team promotes numerous other events and facilities including a “Foodie Trek” each summer. It’s a self-guided tour with 20 participants like Cox Honey, Café Ibis Coffee, Aggie Ice Cream, and select retail. 

The American West Heritage Center provides breathtaking views of the Cache Valley and offers so many great immersive experiences for visitors. Volunteers teach about the Shoshone Tribe, mountain men and demonstrate aspects of life during pioneer times.

Next time you’re in Logan, make time for a stop at the historic courthouse on Main Street where there’s a great visitor’s center. Julie and her crew work out of the same building and they’ll likely be around, planning the next big thing! 

DAGGETT COUNTY

Daggett County is one of Utah’s smaller counties, but with Flaming Gorge and verdant high altitude forests, it’s one of Utah’s most beautiful.

Ryan Kelly is the Tourism Director there. He described Daggett as a “do it yourself” kind of place, and wow, is he ever a “do it yourself” kind of guy! He knows Daggett County like the back of his hand. There isn’t a dirt road or fishing hole he doesn’t know about, and he shares so much of Daggett County with the world through his top-notch social media and video production. He has over 100k followers on his greenriverflyfisher Instagram account. Newly posted videos typically amass tens of thousands of views the first day. Many of his followers are people in far away places that become inspired to travel all the way to Daggett County to visit the places Ryan features. 

There aren’t a lot of lodging options in Daggett, but the few they have are great. Our team spent the night at Dutch John Resort which has a variety of small cabins, each with its own bathroom. The resort is open year-round for those hardy ice fishers too!

Flaming Gorge Lodge is another great partner in Daggett. In addition to indoor lodging, they have RV and campground spaces. They also have a good sized restaurant which is very popular, and sometimes has a wait list.  

Ryan and his wife Amber also made sure that we saw Red Canyon Lodge. They also have a variety of cabins and serve great food with indoor or outdoor seating, overlooking a meadow and pond. The lodge has been around for decades, but has newer owners who are refurbishing some of the older cabins as well as adding new cabins. The trees in and around their property are some of the biggest, greenest pines to be found anywhere in Utah, and a couple miles up the road is a most spectacular viewpoint atop rocky cliffs looking down into steep canyons with Flaming Gorge below. It’s the kind of vista that even the best photography can’t quite capture, so you’ll just have to go yourself!

It’s worth noting that Daggett County has some good VRBO options as well, which can be especially helpful when visitation is up, usually summer weekends. 

The massive Flaming Gorge reservoir is partially in Daggett County, but extends for several miles to the north into Wyoming. Boating is a big draw, with Labor Day weekend possibly being the busiest time on the water. The fishing visitors are a bit more spread out during the year, and most are male. Ladies take note; Ryan says at peak times, the ratio of men to women in Daggett County might be as high as 7 guys for every gal.

Ryan is also working hard to expand trails for hiking and ATV use in Daggett County. Currently there are no places to rent ATV’s in the county, so people bring their own, or make the drive in from Vernal.

Daggett County is also beginning to host more events such as concerts. Local leaders are hopeful this will engage locals and visitors alike.

WASATCH COUNTY

Wasatch County’s tourism offerings are already so good, and so many…with more on the way.

Dallin Koecher and Jessica Broadhead lead the way in Wasatch, with a combination of tourism, economic development, and chamber activities tying many of the pieces together.

When our team arrived, they met us at The Midway Mercantile, a top notch restaurant in Midway whose owner says that tourists are the lifeblood of his business. It’s a great example of how tourism benefits a community by creating jobs and adding a desirable asset which the community also gets to enjoy.

Midway and nearby Heber City have largely retained their small-town identities while also bringing in residents and attractions. Tourism is the third largest industry in Wasatch County. Several destination properties around the county contribute to the tax base. There are well-known entities like Zermatt and the Homestead Resort which is undergoing multi-million dollar renovations including an outdoor pool which may be the best in Utah. The first phase of the new pool just opened. Closer to Jordanelle Reservoir and the south end of Wasatch County there are a few massive new lodging properties being developed which will provide guests with easy access to ski runs at Deer Valley. Rumor has it that health and alternative medicine champion Deepak Chopra is also renovating an existing property in Wasatch County with the intention of turning it into a retreat for his international clients. This is a great fit for the “adventure, health, and wellness” identity the county is cultivating. 

With all the big projects around the county, it might be easy to overlook a smaller, but critical development underway in the center of Heber City. The tourism team and their partners are closely following suggestions from a development plan created by Roger Brooks a few years back. It calls for a gathering spot in the center of town, much like the one mentioned in Logan earlier in this blog. Ground was recently broken at the edge of a city park where a performance stage will be erected. It will be double-sided so that a large concert can play toward the park, or a smaller event can play to a side street which will eventually become home to more small businesses, creating a pedestrian-friendly area a short distance away from Heber City’s very busy Main Street. The street is also a state highway, linking motorists to Vernal, Provo, and Park City, so having a more human-friendly area will be a welcome addition for residents and visitors alike.

Wasatch County is also actively working on an arts center nestled in the foothills above Heber City. When completed, it will have both indoor and outdoor spaces, including the amphitheater which is already up and running.

One of the county’s old favorites, the Heeber Creeper, is getting some new life too. At a meeting with several city and county officials we heard from County Councilman Mark Nelson, who is also the Executive Director of the Heber Valley Railroad. The historic railroad has been running up and down Provo Canyon for decades, and has been especially popular with local families who purchase special event rides like the “Halloween Express”, “North Pole Express”. Nelson has been working behind the scenes (and with the legislature) to purchase new train cars which will allow for a bigger variety of experiences aboard the train. They’ll soon have options for fine dining aboard the train, better seating, and heating systems that will allow the train to become an upscale winter attraction. All of this is being done with great consideration for the locals. The family-friendly, affordable themed events will not go away just because the railroad has new and better assets. Instead, there will be something for everyone. 

This spirit of collaboration is seen and felt throughout Wasatch County and all the projects undertaken by Dallin Koecher and Jessica Broadhead. Theirs is a delicate dance of blending old and new. Their deep knowledge and care for their community make them the perfect “dance partners” for Wasatch County.

WE’RE NOT DONE YET…

The Community and Partner Relations Team truly appreciates all of the learning and sharing that has been underway with our partners around the state. The information found in this blog is the tip of the iceberg. While we’re in each area, we also take the time to share information about grants, research, education, and opportunities available through the Utah Office of Tourism, and other state agencies. 

Read about our additional Partner Highlight tours on the road:

Cache County
Daggett County
Duchesne and Summit Counties
Emery and San Juan Counties
Morgan County
Piute and Sevier Counties
Rich County
Wasatch County

The annual Utah Tourism Conference is almost here! We hope to see you September 24-27, 2024, at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. Each year, state tourism partners look forward to attending Utah’s premier industry conference where professionals gather from around the state to network, learn, and seek inspiration. 2024 is no exception – with another year of connection and collaboration at this high-energy conference.

Register and view the conference agenda here. What opportunities does the conference offer?

• National and Utah keynote TourismTALKS speakers of important issues
• Four sessions of breakouts with Utah industry leaders, including UOT staff, sharing the latest and greatest educational information
• Tourism Hall of Fame honoree breakfast
• Tourism Works Silent Auction of 100+ amazing items and gift packages
• Fun social activities to experience Davis County, including Discover Activities, evening socials and games, an exciting opening dinner reception at Lagoon Amusement Park with ride access to Primordial roller coaster, morning outdoor recreation experiences, and dinner opportunities in town
• Network and get to know new industry members and renew friendships across the states
• A vendor cuddle lounge with adoptable pets from Best Friends Animal Society for instant bliss
• And much more! Visit the official Utah Tourism Conference website.

Starting in mid-2026, oversized vehicles will be rerouted from Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway to improve and protect resources.

Did you know the historic Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway was built almost 100 years ago? With today’s oversized vehicles, some cannot use the road without crossing the center-line into oncoming traffic. And vehicles over 50,00 pound exceed the weight limits for multiple historic bridges. Also, vehicles taller and wider than the limit cannot pass through the historic tunnel without stopping oncoming traffic. With these issues, a change in traffic flow is needed.

Read the Information Sheet which explains the history of the road, size limits, traffic today, and has a map for more information.

If you’re a partner applying for our Co-Op grants, due June 28, 2024, we created a webinar to review ROI best practices. This was recorded by our Grants Compliance Specialist Kevin Blomquist on June 7, 2024, with helpful information and tips for filling out and completing the required RIO spreadsheet, to make sure your application is thorough and accurate. Deadlines for applications are as follows:

• Application Opens – May 31st, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. MT
• Optional Review Deadline – June 21st, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. MT
• Application Deadline – June 28th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. MT
• Oral Interviews – July 29th & 30th, 2024
• Awards Announced – August 9th, 2024

For more information, please visit our Co-operative Marketing Program webpage.

For more information or questions regarding the program, contact:

UOT’s Community & Partner Relations Team
Rachel Creer, Partner Resources Manager
Kevin Blomquist, Grants Compliance Specialist
[email protected]

Our next UOT UADMO (Utah Office of Tourism / Utah Association of Destination Marketing Organization) Connect will be on Tuesday, June 18th at noon. Please invite your local business partners to join us by registering here.

Natalie El-Deiry, the Program Director for the Utah Center for Immigration and Integration, accompanied by national experts on the BridgeUSA programs, will share about the Department of State’s J-1 non-immigration visa programs and how they can support your tourism business in the future.