SALT LAKE CITY, January 2012— Nearly 21,000 manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to the outdoor industry will once again fill the Salt Palace Convention Center Jan. 19-22 during the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012 expo, generating nearly $20 million in direct economic impact to Salt Lake, and the state of Utah.* 

“It is still exciting that outdoor industry continues to embrace our destination and the business opportunity this trade show represents for the industry," said Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “Our community’s commitment to our natural environment, as evidenced by the on-going installation of the nation's largest rooftop solar panel array, is a reflection of our commitment to clients like the outdoor industry. The participants in the two annual Outdoor Retailer Markets have helped to engender a vibrant Salt Lake community that celebrates the outdoors in many ways."

On the tails of the legacy left by the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and as part of the ongoing Outdoor Retailer conventions, the continuing community-wide embrace of active sporting lifestyles is evident. Action sports cultural events have become the norm, with events such as the annual X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival and the premiere of local filmmaker Bill Kerig's Ready to Fly, both coinciding with Outdoor Retailer and the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 Olympic Games.

Having just completed its 12th year, X-Dance has established itself as the premier action sports film festival in the world. Filmmakers and athletes from around the globe make the pilgrimage to Utah as representatives of this cutting-edge cinema. X-Dance has become the platform to showcase talent and continues to elevate the action sports culture in this annual celebration of action sport's best. 

Active Utah outdoor recreation continues to fuel tremendous economic growth in Utah, contributing $5.8 billion annually to Utah’s economy, supporting 65,000 jobs, generating nearly $300 million in annual state tax revenues, and producing nearly $4 billion annually in retail sales and services across Utah, accounting for almost five percent of the Gross State Product. 

* Total visitor spending figures are based on surveys of convention delegates conducted by the University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR). Surveys conducted by BEBR over the last five years indicate the average delegate spends $923 while attending a convention in Salt Lake.

Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Visit Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lak e is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR) brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through tradeshows, product demo events and web-based business solutions. Produced by Nielsen Expositions and based in San Juan Capistrano, California, Outdoor Retailer also provides and promotes retailer education, advocacy, responsibility and critical face-to-face business initiatives within the outdoor industry.

Now celebrating more than 30 years, Outdoor Retailer (www.outdoorretailer.com) connects approximately 46,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Summer and Winter Market shows, and thousands more through its year-round online resources and platforms.