Thermopolis to host Office of Tourism

During the regular meeting of Hot Springs Travel and Tourism, Director Amanda Moeller said Thermopolis will be home to the Wyoming Office of Tourism board meeting on Tuesday, April 17 at 8 a.m. She expects many of the members to stick around and attend the Travel and Tourism Board meeting, which is the same day.

Tourism board members will be coming into town April 16, and Moeller is putting together an itinerary for visits they would like to make. She is also working to get some of the leaders in the community together for a dinner with the visiting board members.

In action at the meeting, the board chose to renew a billboard near Wapiti, through Lamar, for five years at a rate of $440 per month for the first two years and $460 for the remaining three. The rate is an increase from the $414 per month currently paid, and the billboard is up for renewal in April.

Though a second billboard outside Worland was also up for renewal, Moeller noted it is a narrow board in a location where people can’t really see it unless they’re looking for it. It was decided to do a renewal for the Worland board on a month-to-month basis that could be revisited later in the year.

Moeller also reported the Keys to the City campaign ended this past Sunday. Though two motels where the key chains were being distributed were closed when she was collecting leftover chains, most did not have many leftovers.

During Keys to the City, Moeller said, 2,904 were given out, 45 were distributed to businesses and there were 261 left over. She further added the leftover chains would not be used next year, as there was not even enough for one motel. Her recommendation was to give the leftovers to the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce to be put in visitor bags.

Moeller noted a recent lodging survey was completed, but she hadn’t had an opportunity to go over it. She provided board members with the information, to review for their upcoming work session on April 4, during which they will also discuss budget and special event funding.

Speaking to the recent Governor’s Conference, Moeller said each year has a theme and this year’s was all about enhancing the community and quality for life for citizenry to make for a better tourism community. Many of the workshops and speakers provided information about civic pride and community.

One point, she noted, is people want to be doing what the locals are doing. For example, visitors will inevitably make their way to the hot springs, but might rather instead want to take advantage of a river float.

Another key point, she said, is to have a passion for the community. Rather than being negative about it and causing that negativity to spread, people should embrace the attitude of “I love this town.”

Also during the meeting, Kevin Skates noted there will be a public meeting in Worland at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 14 for conversation with the Wyoming State Parks Outdoor Recreation Office about recreation in the Big Horn Basin and what activities will benefit everybody.

Skates also mentioned Hot Springs State Park is working with the Red Dirt Master Gardeners for an Arbor Day celebration.

Though Arbor Day is April 27, the celebration is May 10 as the master Gardeners are also working with the school district for some activities.

Skates is also working on a Sounds of Summer concert series, with five concerts set up right now and the possibility of a sixth.