The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Stevenson to host Gorge tourism summit

On Oct. 17

October 09, 2012

Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association will be hosting the first Columbia River Gorge Tourism Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Hegewald Rock Creek Center in Stevenson.

Registration is $25 per person and the day begins with a continental breakfast and registration at 8:30 am. Lunch is included with the registration fee.

Suzanne Fletcher, executive director of Washington Tourism Alliance, will be a keynote speaker. A representative of Travel Oregon will also speak.

Friends of the Gorge will present their Trails to Towns project entitled "Bringing Europe to the Gorge." Representatives from other regional marketing organizations have been invited to introduce their successful initiatives. Breakout sessions will also take place to brainstorm and collaborate.

The ultimate goal of the summit will be to create a regional marketing initiative with a shared message, shared outreach and mutual support and to establish the means for sustainable funding.

Stakeholders from around the Gorge have been invited from tourism industry professionals to elected officials to potential entrepreneurs.

To register, visit www.crgva.org. Scholarships are available on a limited basis. Contact casey@skamania.org for more information.