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 2021, 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.
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 220 industry allies at The Yellowstone Valley Lodge & Grill’s brand new Owl’s Rest Event Barn 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 choose to visit the Yellowstone Film Ranch for a Tour & Talk about the Montana MEDIA film tax credit and where it landed post 68th Legislative Session, and end the day at Sage Lodge for a Networking Reception.
On Friday, Superintendent Cameron “Cam” Sholly, Deputy Superintendent Mike Tranel, and Duane Bucac, Chief of Facility Management and Operations 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 Ecosystem.
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 locati per
for More information
on the inaugural event, Tickets and 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 VIP Networking Reception Sponsor
7:30 PM Event Concludes
#NTTW23 LUNCHEON | 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
2:00 PM Luncheon Concludes
For Sponsors / Reserved Seat Ticket Holders:
TOUR & TALK AT YELLOWSTONE FILM RANCH | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
3:30 PM Hear from media manufacturing and film production industry business leaders about how the MEDIA film tax credit makes Montana more competitive, creates jobs, provides workforce training/education, and contributes to community development
RECEPTION AT SAGE LODGE | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
SPONSORED BY: VISIT BILLINGS
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TOUR & TALK ABOUT RECOVERY/NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK POST FLOOD
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
12:00 – 2:00 PM – TALK & 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, Deputy Superintendent Mike Tranel, and Chief of Facility Management and Operations, Duane Bubac.
Depart 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.
Ticket cost of $20/pp is to cover transportation expense and a brown bag lunch.
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
