Tourism Association Article for Area Media

Submitted: 8/26/08

 

Contacts:

Jane Chaney, Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association, 349-7744

Beth Buehler, Buehler Communications Inc., 349-1168

 

Working Together for a Better Economy

Tourism Association, Chambers & RTA each have a specific niche

 

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley has four organizations that are linked to tourism, business and transportation, but all have very distinct roles to keep these economic engines progressing. 

 

Roles

The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce and Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce have been around the longest and encourage economic prosperity by promoting and protecting the business interests of the community.  The organizations also operate the visitor centers on both ends of the valley, serving as the local marketing arm to welcome visitors to our destination and provide them with information.

 

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association (TA) serves as the area’s destination marketing organization, meaning the organization works to bring tourists to the area and also supports air service to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport by marketing our airline partners and flights. 

 

The RTA’s role is to maintain and expand air service as well as ground transportation, both serving locals and tourists.  Crested Butte Mountain Resort is also a leader supporting additional flights and marketing.

 

Funding

The Chambers of Commerce are funded by selling memberships to local businesses, selling marketing partnerships on behalf of the TA, events and other means unique to both Chambers.

 

Funding sources to support the TA and Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) were established by two separate ballot initiatives passed by local voters in 2002.   

• ·        The funding sources for the TA are the Local Marketing District (LMD) tax that was approved by voters in 2002 and a portion of the admissions tax collected by Mt. Crested Butte, which the town council allocates to the LMD. The LMD ballot initiative increased the lodging use tax from 1.9 percent to 4 percent.  This tax is paid by guests renting lodging accommodations while staying in Gunnison County, not by local citizens.   
• ·        The RTA’s funding comes from a local sales tax that was approved by voters. The tax rate is 0.6 percent in Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and unincorporated Gunnison County and 0.35 percent in Gunnison.   This money is used to guarantee flights into our airport, as a match for grants that allowed the RTA to purchase buses and for the operation of the buses.

 

Synergy

Each organization has its own volunteer board of directors and paid staff and operates independently of the others.  However, there is a great deal of interaction and synergy.  Staff and some board members attend each others’ board of director meetings.  Also, the RTA and both Chambers of Commerce executive directors do double duty by serving on the TA’s advisory board.

 

Direct any questions about these organizations to Tammy Scott, Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce, 641-1501; Christi Matthews, Crested Butte/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce, 349-6438; Jane Chaney, TA, 349-7744; and Scott Truex, RTA, 275-0111.

 

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Tourism Works for All of Us!