Tourism Association Article for Area Media

Submitted: 5/7/08

Contacts:
Jane Chaney, Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association, 275-3166
Beth Buehler, Buehler Communications Inc., 349-1168

How the Tourism Association Operates

This is the second in a series of articles to explain the purpose, structure and functions of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association (TA).  This month’s article will focus on how the TA operates.  To view past articles, go to www.gcbta.com .

How the TA was created
The TA is the result of a 2002 ballot initiative that was passed to create a Local Marketing District (LMD) for the purpose of marketing Gunnison County as a tourist destination by increasing the lodging use tax from 1.9 percent to 4 percent.  The tax is paid by guests renting accommodations while staying in Gunnison County, not locals. 

Governance & Staff
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) serves as the LMD’s board of directors, which contracts the TA annually to do the work of marketing Gunnison County to potential guests.  The TA formed a board of directors, hired Executive Director Jane Chaney, and began operations in 2003.  The board of directors is made up of representatives from both ends of the valley, who are elected by members of the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce and Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce.

The board meets at 7:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Almont Resort and gives updates to the BOCC and the town councils of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte on a regular basis.  The county provides office space for the TA at 202 E. Georgia, across from the courthouse in Gunnison.  The TA’s mission also is carried out by Marketing Coordinator Rob Strickland and Public Relations Director Beth Buehler.   

Reporting & TA Information
The TA closely tracks the amount of LMD tax coming in, number of visits to www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com , requests for visitor information through the phone and web, and retail, restaurant and lodging sales as the various ways to measure the impacts of tourism on the economy. The results of this tracking are posted at www.gcbta.com , along with a list of board members, board meeting agendas and minutes, public relations reports, Colorado tourism information and more.

An annual meeting, quarterly email newsletter, and articles submitted to local media are just a few other ways that the TA keeps the public informed.

Please contact the TA with questions or topics for future articles at www.wewanttoknow.info .

Tourism works for all of us.