Home Publisher's Point of View Press Trip Hammers Home Importance of Teaming at Regional Level

Press Trip Hammers Home Importance of Teaming at Regional Level

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Every now and then I get invited to join other journalists on a press trip sponsored by a hotel company or management company. I have had some memorable trips in my almost 20 years in lodging journalism. These types of trips include property tours, good food, trips to nearby attractions, and opportunities to do things one typically never would have a chance to do on one’s own—rafting down the Colorado River, zip lining, etc. On such trips, there is always an opportunity to chat with industry leaders who work either at the corporate office or individual property level. Putting together a successful press tour is a lot of work and takes a team effort. Whether you run a green establishment or not, press tours can help create media buzz surrounding a property, company, locality, or region.

I had one of my most memorable trips last week thanks to the folks at Xanterra Parks & Resorts—the largest national and state park concessioner in the United States and well known for its many green initiatives. I stayed at the Salt Fork Lodge in Cambridge, Ohio, as the guest of Xanterra and Keith Cook, general manager. While the Salt Fork Lodge may not be the farthest along of Xanterra’s managed properties when it comes to sustainability, it is doing some good things—dispensers in guestroom bathrooms, guestroom energy management systems, energy misers on vending machines, recycling, on demand water heating systems for many of the Lodge’s cabins, etc.

While learning about Salt Fork Lodge and its green initiatives was worth the trip, it was a couple of other things that happened during the trip that I will never forget. On the first evening of the press visit, various people from the Lodge’s sales team, leaders representing the Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau (the Lodge is located in Guernsey County) and spokespersons from local attractions each stood up to chat about their role in bringing visitors to the County and Salt Fork area. For me, it was a lesson in how connected area businesses are to one another and how important it is to network and work together to bring visitors to any region where natural, cultural and historical attractions can be enjoyed.

Team Efforts Have Ripple Effect

Those in Guernsey County are fortunate to have so many dedicated business people and volunteers. They all benefit from one another’s efforts. Those checking out the Dickens Victorian Village during the holiday season are likely to stay at the Salt Fork Lodge. Those staying at the Lodge are likely to check out the six-mile-long Guernsey Trail, The Wilds safari park and conservation center, and maybe even the National Museum of Cambridge Glass. I hope that representatives of businesses and attractions in your area work as closely together as the folks in Guernsey County. How well do you package your property with other area businesses and attractions?

The second significant part of my trip that I will never forget is my visit to The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio. The property consists of more than 9,000 acres and once was strip mined for coal. Through years of incredible effort, the land has been reclaimed and now is a sanctuary for birds and animals from around the world. I never imagined I would have the chance to feed giraffes or a rhino but that happened at The Wilds. The Wilds offers success stories of species rehabilitation as well as sobering reminders of how terrible we have been to the wildlife on our planet.

Be sure to continue to read Green Lodging News for updates on Xanterra’s green efforts. A search on the Green Lodging News site on “Xanterra” produces many articles. And, I would love to learn how you are working with other businesses and organizations in your region to not only build awareness of sustainability but also create a sustainable tourism structure. I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com or by phone at (216) 848-1406.

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Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

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