Jennifer and Kensie with Digital Relativity’s
Pat Strader (left) and Greater Bridgeport
CVB’s Michelle Duez (right).
Every year in the winter issue of West
Virginia Executive magazine, the staff at
Executive Ink has the opportunity to shine
a positive light on one of the Mountain
State’s most significant industries—the
tourism industry. Our annual tourism
publication, Discover West Virginia, fo-
cuses on all things West Virginia travel:
wedding venues, day trips, long weekends,
family-friendly destinations, outdoor
adventures and meeting and conference
space for events of all types and sizes.
To help us prepare for this special issue,
Jennifer Jett Prezkop, our managing editor,
and I attended the 2017 Governor’s Con-
ference on Tourism at the Mountaineer
Casino, Racetrack & Resort in New Cum-
berland in October. During this confer-
ence we were able to meet with the state’s
tourism gurus, hear about the innovative
ways companies are promoting West Vir-
ginia as a world-class travel destination
and sit in on a variety of educational ses-
sions. We also joined in the celebration
of the industry’s success stories at the
annual awards reception.
This year, we also had the opportunity
to attend Hospitality University at The
Greenbrier in January, which is hosted
by the West Virginia Hospitality and
Travel Association and the West Virgin-
ia Association of Convention & Visitors
Bureaus. While we are veterans of the
Governor’s Conference on Tourism, this
Jennifer and Kensie
at Hospitality University.
was our first time at Hospitality U, and
we were excited about having additional
access to top executives from the state’s
tourism community who offer a unique
perspective for understanding what lies
ahead for the state’s burgeoning industry.
The tourism industry is a great asset to
West Virginia and has a profound impact
on our economy each year. According
to the West Virginia Tourism Office,
the impact of tourism in the Mountain
State includes:
• $4.1 billion in direct spending
annually or $11.3 million per day
• 44,900 people employed, earning
$1.1 billion in wages
• $527 million in travel-generated
state and local tax revenue
West Virginia has so much to offer
the rest of the country, from adrenaline-
pumping adventures to tranquil back-
drops for R&R. Many people are quick
to think of our energy and manufactur-
ing industries when they think of West
Virginia, both of which will be special
focuses in our Spring 2018 issue, but the
state’s breathtaking mountains, unparal-
leled hospitality and variety of outdoor
adventure opportunities may be the coun-
try’s best-kept secret.
It’s important for all West Virginians
to understand that the tourism industry
is so much more than whitewater raft-
ing and hotel room rentals. The tour-
ism industry is the perfect way to invite
outsiders in and allow them to experi-
ence what we all love so much about the
beautiful state we call home. The tour-
ism industry’s marketing strategy can
only do so much. It’s up to each one of
us to be ambassadors of our state—and
its tourism opportunities—everywhere
we go. Help us change the narrative in
the Mountain State by telling everyone
you encounter how wild and wonderful
West Virginia truly is. After all, it’s not
bragging if it’s true.
DESIGN BUILD
CONTRACTOR
CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT
CONSULTING
PHONE: (304) 727-2770
WEBSITE: paramountwv.com
6
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE