Local beneficiaries include hotels, restaurants, local attractions, convention centers, food services, exhibit companies, audio/visual, sound, light and staging services, local transportation firms and shopping centers, as well as many other support services in the city and surrounding areas.
"Nielsen Business Media, Outdoor Industry Association and Salt Lake have great synergy, and have had an incredible partnership for over a decade," commented Scott Beck, president & CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Salt Lake's natural setting, the infrastructure and the incredible hospitality of our community have helped the OR trade show develop into the world's pre-eminent outdoor products showcase. At the same time the two annual OR shows have helped our destination mature and become a true ‘convention city.' Speaking on behalf of our members and the state's hospitality industry as a whole, I look forward to continuing our role as host of OR's winter and summer shows well into the future, and enhancing each attendees' experience whenever and wherever possible."
Active Utah outdoor recreation fuels tremendous economic growth in Utah. It contributes $5.8 billion annually to Utah's economy, supports 65,000 jobs, generates nearly $300 million in annual state tax revenues, and produces nearly $4 billion annually in retail sales and services across Utah, accounting for almost five percent of the Gross State Product.
The outdoor recreation industry has grown from a few small businesses that started in garages and out of the back of vans in the 1960s and 1970s into a multibillion dollar industrial powerhouse. More than half of the U.S. population participates in outdoor recreation every year, in everything from camping, hunting, running, hiking, boating, skiing, etc.
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the premier trade association for the active outdoor lifestyle industry, and Nielsen Business Media (NBM), parent company of Outdoor Retailer Winter and Summer tradeshows, announced in January a milestone 15-year partnership agreement, indicating the proven strength of the outdoor industry while at the same time introducing a shared passion and investment into the future well-being of the industry and its numerous stakeholders.
"Active outdoor recreation has grown into a major engine for our economy, producing millions of jobs and generating billions in tax dollars," said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA. "Policymakers need to recognize this enormous economic contribution and encourage its continued growth when making decisions about the use of public space and parks and recreation."
Hosting the Outdoor Retailer shows has had a substantial long-term benefit to Salt Lake and the state of Utah in general. A large influx of outdoor recreation-based companies has expanded or relocated operations to Utah after having fallen in love with the climate, the people and the destination during their time at the Outdoor Retailer Trade Shows. "These are companies that would never have had Utah on their radar had it not been for the exposure to Utah they have had while attending the Outdoor Retailer Markets for the past dozen years," said Beck.
*All economic impact figures are based on research from the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR). According to BEBR, Salt Lake convention delegates spend $889 on average during their stay in Salt Lake while here attending conventions.
The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the SLCVB's mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors. Salt Lake 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.
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