Inaugural Convergence
A Celebration for National Travel & Tourism Week
To recognize Tourism as one of our state’s leading industries, the Montana Chamber of Commerce will celebrate #NTTW, and tourism’s intersection with the film and outdoor recreation industries as vehicles to harness the power of place, #TheLastBestPlace, as an economic driver at our Inaugural ‘Convergence” event on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Established in 1983, National Travel & Tourism Week is an annual tradition when the U.S. Travel Association and the entire industry come together to celebrate the power of travel as an economic driver for the U.S. economy. This year’s event marks its 40th anniversary and the theme is moving #travelforward whereby we are spotlighting travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating diverse communities, creating fresh job opportunities, inspiring new businesses, and uniting millions of Americans in a fundamental connection—travel.
Tourism is the leading service export for the Treasure State. In 2022, Montana played host to 12.5 million non-resident visitors who spent $5.15B. This contributed $387 million in state and local taxes according to the UM Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR), which supported approximately 47,800 jobs, the study estimates, a figure associated with $1.3B in direct labor income. Estimates for 2022 show 12.5 million visitors came and spent $5.82B and supported 43,900 jobs.
Montana’s outdoor recreation heritage and brand are vital to tourism – both leisure and business travel – and the film industry. It’s draw for visitors and residents alike, coupled with its importance for business attraction is undeniable. Outdoor recreation makes up a substantial component of Montana’s economy, generating $2.5 billion of annual gross domestic product (GDP) and accounting for 4.4% of total GDP in 2021 per the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Only Hawaii has a greater concentration of outdoor recreation. The sector employs more than 27,000 Montanans, translating to 5.4% of all employment in the state.
This year we wish to honor the resilience of the Greater Yellowstone, its Gateway Communities from Livingston to Gardiner, the greater Paradise Valley, Cooke City/Silver Gate and West Yellowstone, which experienced a 500-year historic flooding event in early June 2022.
So join us and 150 industry allies at the Owl’s Rest Event Barn at Yellowstone Valley Lodge & Grill nestled in Paradise Valley on the banks of the Yellowstone River, with the Absaroka Mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop for the #NTTW23 Luncheon. Make a day of it and come with us over to Sage Lodge for a hands on filmmaking demonstration with JP Gabriel of Filmlites Montana followed by a discussion about the importance of the MEDIA (Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement) film tax credit and where it landed post 68th Legislative Session with Lynn-Wood Fields, owner of Montana Film Tax Credits and Media Training Center. We will end the day with a networking reception and some cornhole on the lawn.
On Friday, we begin the day outside the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce celebrating community, the business owners, employees and local residents who endured the hardship of last summer due in large part to the philanthropic efforts of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Park County Community Foundation in partnership with the Greater Gallatin United Way. Then Superintendent Cameron “Cam” Sholly and Park staff will take us into Yellowstone National Park to view the newly constructed road between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs and to share the story of recovery and resiliency of the Greater Yellowstone.
Let’s kick off the 2023 summer tourism season together.
It is our intention for this to become an annual celebration to be held each year in a different location.
for More information
On the event, tickets and/or sponsorship opportunities, contact:
Candace Strauss, VP – Marketing & Communications [email protected] |
(o) 406.640.1331
Or download the event brochure.
2023 Event Schedule At-A-Glance
VIP RECEPTION @ YELLOWSTONE VALLEY LODGE & GRILL – OWL’S REST EVENT BARN | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
SPONSORED BY: MONTANA’S YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY
5:30 PM VIP Networking Reception Begins for Event Sponsors and Invited Guests, Montana Chamber Board and Staff
6:30 PM Montana Chamber Welcome and Remarks from Anner Marble, President Montana’s Yellowstone Country Board of Directors and Deputy Superintendent of Yellowstone, Mike Tranel
7:30 PM Event Concludes
#NTTW23 LUNCHEON AT OWL’S REST EVENT BARN | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
11:00 AM Registration Opens
11:30 AM Networking
12:15 PM Montana Chamber Welcome and Family-style lunch served
1:00 PM Moderated Fireside Chat with Tourism, Film, and Outdoor Recreation Industry Representatives, Q&A
- Kevin Lemme, General Manager of Airline Planning & Network Performance – Alaska Airlines
- Brandon Page – Media Coalition of Montana and Owner – Page 1 Films
- Jenny Pelej, Division Administrator – Brand MT
- Mandy Rambo, Acting Deputy Director of Department of Commerce
- Scott Vollmer, Montana Outfitters & Guides Association and Owner – Scott Vollmer Outfitting, LLC
- Moderator: Candace Carr Strauss, VP Marketing & Communications, Montana Chamber
2:00 PM Luncheon Concludes
For Sponsors / Reserved Seat Ticket Holders:
HEAD OVER TO SAGE LODGE FOR
FILMMAKING DEMONSTRATION & DISCUSSION | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
VIP RECEPTION | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
3:30 PM See for yourself how movies are made going from the film lot to the big screen with a demonstration by JP Gabriel of Filmlites Montana, followed by a discussion led by Lynn-Wood Fields, owner of Montana Film Tax Credits and Media Training Center about how the MEDIA film tax credit makes Montana more competitive, creates jobs, provides workforce training/education, and contributes to community development
SPONSORED BY: VISIT BILLINGS
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TOUR & TALK ABOUT RECOVERY & RESILIENCY IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM (OPTIONAL Tours to the Lamar Valley 1:00 – 4:00 PM)
10:00 – 10:30 AM – COMMUNITY CONNECTION AT GARDINER CHAMBER
Let’s start the day celebrating community and the small business owners, their employees and local residents who made it through last summer, many due to the role of philanthropy. AMB West, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Park County Community Foundation in partnership with Greater Gallatin United Way orchestrated the SW Montana Flood Relief Fund. To date, more than $3 million has been raised and 85% of these funds have been granted to people, businesses, and nonprofits in Park County.
SPONSORED BY: AMB West, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Park County Community Foundation
10:30 AM – SHUTTLES DEPART
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – TALK WITH Q&A AT MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS HOTEL CONFERENCE AREA
Hear the amazing story of recovery and resiliency in the Greater Yellowstone directly from Superintendent Cam Sholly and Park staff.
Depart at 10:30 a.m. via Yellowstone Forever shuttles from the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce offices adjacent to Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner and get a detailed account of the 500-year historic flooding event that occurred in June 2022, which led to the complete closure of Yellowstone National Park for eight days, destruction of the road between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs, and practically a full season closure of the North and Northeast Entrances. See and hear how the newly constructed road was miraculously rebuilt in a short four months’ time.
12:00 – 1:00 PM – LUNCH PROVIDED
Ticket cost of $20/pp is to cover transportation expense and/or lunch.
1:00 – 4:00 PM OPTIONAL TOURS TO LAMAR VALLEY
Tours of the Lamar Valley will be offered separately for anyone who is interested.
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Inaugural Convergence - National Travel & Tourism Week Celebration
May 10, 2023 - May 12, 2023
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
