This week we hit the slopes with Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau’s international marketing manager. And when we say hit, we mean literally. Ouch.
What’s your main goal for this year?
I would like to spend more time on the slopes this winter. Park City is home to two world-class resorts, Park City Mountain, which is the largest resort in the US and Deer Valley, a top-rated ski-only resort and together they have over 400 runs, so you can never spend enough time up there!
What’s your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?
The opportunity to travel and meet so many interesting and fun people from around the world while sharing wonderful experiences.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Outside, on the ski slopes, in the mountains, hanging out with my partner and dogs, working in the garden, planning adventures and exploring the food scene in Park City.
With so many restaurants focused on sourcing locally, menus are always rotating. I love an after-work gathering with some friends at the Alpine Social Club or OTC Cellars.
Have you managed to do any travelling since restrictions began to ease (domestic or international)?
During the pandemic, I travelled mostly locally within a 4-5 hour drive from my home (in Utah). We’re lucky that we live in an incredibly beautiful part of the world, and we were able to explore the mountains in our backyard and some great small towns with cool outdoor experiences.
Since then, I’ve been to Australia for my first sales mission back in May – it was so great to connect with the trade and meet them face-to-face for the first time and really understand the partnerships and fantastic work they do down here.
What’s your favourite travel company, besides the one you work for?
I love chatting with other mountain town destination companies. Every time I work with a new travel trade or wholesale partner and I learn about each destination they sell, it makes me want to work with them to plan my next trip.
If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?
Alf Engen, Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt.
What’s something positive you’ve witnessed or experienced since the global pandemic hit?
The ‘we are in this together’ attitude from the travel industry has been wonderful to see. I feel like companies that haven’t traditionally worked together are now collaborating regularly and discussing how best we can work together and help each other in the future.
It’s also been great to see the increased focus on sustainability. For example, in Park City we have the most ambitious sustainability goals of any city in North America: use 100 per cent renewable electricity by the year 2030. We’re also working on a sustainability plan that we’re hoping to share with the public soon.
What’s your advice for others in the travel industry on coping with the global pandemic?
Keep your head up and stay positive. Remember at the end of the day, we are in the market of creating fun and memorable experiences and the demand that we’re currently seeing for travel is a really positive thing.
What book and/or TV show can you not get enough of lately?
I am loving Yellowstone and Big Sky. Can’t wait for the next seasons to start in the fall (spring in Australia).
Do you have any travel goals for 2022?
Utah is home to five incredible national parks, so I would love to visit Bryce Canyon National Park in the wintertime. I used to work at a ski resort and winter was a hard time to travel, but now I have a little more flexibility.
Next time I am in Australia representing Park City, I would like to make time to go see the penguins outside of Melbourne.
