Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1526858
T O U R I S M Tourism Great Falls has a comprehensive master plan to grow the travel industry economy! This is a monumental day for our community as it is the first of its kind and it was done collaboratively with community leaders, residents, visitors, industry leaders, and organizers of groups. The way forward is anchored around the following four objectives: 1. The Great Falls Visitor Experience 2. An Active-Lifestyle Outdoor Recreation City 3. Hospitality Industry Workforce and Related Community Issues 4. Community Awareness and Unity The strategies involve a variety of partners, making it a true community effort to grow the travel industry economy of Great Falls. The work that lies ahead of us all can be found at www. VisitGreatFallsMontana.org/plan, along with the research that informed the directions. For its part, Great Falls Montana Tourism will be focused on the following organizational strategic objectives: Marketing and Public Relations; Group Business Development; Advocacy for the Local Travel Industry; Organizational Excellence and Sustainability. Immediately, our organization will begin working to reallocate resources to support increased marketing of Great Falls. Last year, our organization spent $181,178.76 on media to make more travelers aware of Great Falls' unique offerings. To be competitive against the over 400 cities of our size in the United States, and many more that are larger, we need our message of outdoor recreation and art to reach more people. As we look forward to 2024 and beyond, Great Falls is expected to see more travelers staying in Great Falls' lodging properties for work. Last year, 43% of overnight stays came from skilled workers and business travelers. With announced projects at Benefis and Malmstrom Air Force Base, new housing construction, and the growth of Touro University, among other expansion projects, Great Falls Montana Tourism will be working with its partners to welcome these temporary residents with the information they need to have a great experience in Great Falls. One more bit of good news for the Great Falls travel industry for 2024 is the elimination of vehicle reservations for the St. Mary and Two Medicine entrances on the east side of Glacier National Park! We welcome more overnight visitors to Great Falls to grow our local economy, so we ask that if you are attending a conference, convention, sporting contest, or event that could be held in Great Falls, let our team know! Sincerely, Great Falls Montana Tourism 25 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org