Valet parking, live guitar music, linen-clothed tables and a wide array of food greeted guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Carbon County Office of Tourism. Director Shalee Johansen turned a routine ribbon cutting event into a spectacular occasion to showcase the move of the information center from the Prehistoric Museum into the Office of Tourism.
Johansen explained that showcasing all the resources and assistance available from the Office of Tourism was a main focus of the event. She wanted businesses and promoters to understand how partnering up with the Office of Tourism can improve the quality and excitement of events that occur in the Castle Country area, which brings in more tourists and helps local businesses thrive.
Information was also available for the many projects that received 2013 Tourism Tax grants. 24 projects, ranging from the USRA Wilderness Motocross to the Lunatic Triathlon, have benefited from the tax collected from restaurants and hotels.
The luncheon was catered by Lynn Wells and the Cowboy Kitchen. “Happiness Within”, the gourmet coffee shop in Helper, was also on hand to provide refreshments and guitarist Brady Bills entertained the crowd with his music. Johansen wants to extend a “thank you” to David Johnson for staging the event and for the wonderful table decorations.
The Office of Tourism can help with local businesses in a multitude of ways including referrals, creating strategic alliances, generating lead lists, developing marketing plans, maps and resources. There are even more ways that they can assist so it is encouraged for local businesses to stop in or call the office to find out how. For more information about resources and grant applications, call (435) 636-3701. www.castlecountry.com also provides applications and information.
