PORT TOWNSEND — Representatives of businesses across the Peninsula affected by tourism are invited to the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission’s annual two-day tourism summit this month.
The gathering takes place Oct. 27-28 at the Fort Worden Commons, 200 Battery Way.
The gathering “is our annual time to celebrate our industry and really the economic development impact of tourism for many of our businesses on the Peninsula,” said Christina Pivarnik, an event organizer.
The tourism commission is a marketing partnership of municipalities, chambers of commerce and tourism marketing entities from Hood Canal to Lake Quinault, according to a news release. The commission’s mission is to maintain partnerships to promote tourism to and throughout the Olympic Peninsula.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Honoring the Authenticity of Place.”
“We feel that is a wonderful theme coming on the heels of the 100th anniversary of [the National Park Service],” Pivarnik said.
“Olympic National Park is really at the heart and soul of pretty much all of our tourism efforts.”
Oct. 27 offers “Culinary Day” programs starting at noon that will focus on how food and beverage production and preparation contributes to tourism.
The “Tourism Day” programs Oct. 28 start at 8 a.m. and will include guest speakers and sessions with tips for improving company performances.
Mary Brelsford, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau communications manager, said the gathering allows stakeholders to brainstorm ways to bolster tourism on the Peninsula “and to report on what we have been doing so people can get up to speed.”
The event “is a great networking event for people in the industry,” Brelsford said.
“It is one of the biggest industries on the Peninsula, and I think everybody is effected by tourism in one way or another. It is a chance to get together with other people in the industry to network and to hopefully find ways to improve their businesses.”
Tickets for Oct. 27 are $60 for one company representative and $55 for additional representatives from the same company.
Tickets for Oct. 28 are $120 for one company rep and $110 for more representatives.
Tickets for both days are $180 for one company member and $165 for additional staffers.
Tickets will not be sold at the door and must be purchased in advance online at http://tinyurl.com/pdn-tourismsummit.
For more information, call 360-452-8552 or email communications@olympicpeninsula.org.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
